Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Shettima Mustafa died on Thursday, at the age of 83 years.
He died in Abuja on Thursday.
A statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Arc. Kabir Ibrahim confirmed his death.
Kabir said the farmers’ umbrella body considered his death as an irreparable loss.
Mustafa was also Minister of Defence and later, Minister of Interior in the cabinet of late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
According to the statement, “It is with a sense of loss and great pain that I announce the death of our Board of Trustee (BoT) member, Dr Shettima Mustafa.
“AFAN considers the death of one of its founders as an irreparable loss.
“The sacrifice he made in the Agriculture space will forever be remembered and cherished.
Also, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his condolences on the demise of Mustafa.
Buhari in a statement issued by his media aide, Garba Sheu described the former minister as an outstanding academic, administrator and politician, saying that he was leaving behind an indelible record of contribution to national development.
Mustafa, OFR, served as Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources and in 2007 was appointed Minister of Defence in the cabinet of President Umaru Yar’Adua. Later he became Minister of Interior.
“The late Shettima was indomitable, full of life and insightful. He had strong belief in Nigeria’s strength and capabilities.
He inspired many generations of Nigerians to believe in our agriculture,” said the President.
“My condolences to his family, the government and people of Borno State and his many admirers.
We will miss him greatly but we will never forget him,” the President added.
Mustafa, OFR, was born in Nguru, now Yobe State on November 26, 1939.
Later, he became Minister of the Interior. He left office in March 2010, when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved his cabinet.(vitalnewsngr.com)
