The remains of the late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki, the 18th Sultan of Sokoto, who died on Monday at the Nigeria-Turkish hospital, Abuja, after a protracted illness, have been buried.

Dasuki, whose death was confirmed in a statement issued by the Secretary, Sultanate Council of Sokoto, Alhaji Umar Faruk, was buried at the Hubbaren Shehu, Sokoto, after the funeral prayer was conducted at the Sultan Bello Juma’at Mosque in Sokoto.

While commiserating with Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and the late Sultan Dasuki’s family over the loss, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, in a message of condolence issued by his spokesman, Mallam Imam Imam, stated that the deceased gave his all to ensure communal harmony and educational development of the citizenry.

“The history of local government reform in Nigeria will not be complete without the mention of the important role Sultan Dasuki and his colleagues played in giving the country the present structure we are enjoying at the third tier of government.

“For the eight years Dasuki spent on the throne as Sultan of Sokoto, he gave priority attention to the educational development of our people by promoting adult and women literacy in all parts of Sokoto. He equally paid attention to the revitalisation of religious education especially among Imams of various mosques in the caliphate.

“He dedicated time, energy and resources in promoting religious harmony especially between Muslims in the North and South-West of the country. So also was his efforts at promoting peaceful coexistence between and among various religious groups within the country and beyond,’’ Tambuwal said.

While praying to Almighty Allah to grant Sultan Dasuki jannatul-firdaus, Tambuwal said the people and government of Sokoto would continue to cherish the deceased’s contributions to the development of the caliphate and the state at large.

Also, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday extended his condolences to the Dasuki family, the government and people of Sokoto State on the death of Dasuki.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President also commiserated with the Jama’atul Nasril Islam and the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs over the death of the traditional ruler.

He noted that Dasuki devoted his life and tenure of office to the promotion of peaceful coexistence and tolerance among diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria.

He described the deceased as one of Nigeria’s most powerful voices for peace and unity in diversity, who diligently kept faith with the virtues of the Sardauna whom he had served as a public servant.

The statement read partly, “Apart from modernising the traditional institution to bring it in tune with changing times, President Buhari believes that the late Ibrahim Dasuki, who died on Monday at the age of 93, will be long remembered for his role in the creation of the present local government system in the country.

“The President pays tribute to his contribution to national peace and development, particularly his significant role in producing the report that gave birth to the current local government councils.”

Late Dasuki, 92, was the first Sultan of Sokoto between November 6, 1988 and April 20, 1996, from the Buhari line of the house of Dan Fodio.

A close associate of Ahmadu Bello, who was influential in the founding of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, was deposed in 1996 during the military government of late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Meanwhile, the pan-northern socio-political organisation,  Arewa Consultative Forum, has said the news of Dasuki’s  death came to the ACF  as a shock, describing the late Sultan as a “seasoned” administrator, who would be missed by the entire region.

A statement by the ACF’s Publicity Secretary, Muhammadu Ibrahim, said the late Sultan was an epitome of peace and humility.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, also described the late Dasuki as a statesman whose impact was felt in many areas of national life during his active days.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said late Dasuki helped in reforming local government administration in the country and the organisation of Muslims’ pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.