Captain Yusuf Sabo Sambo, junior brother of Vice President Namadi Sambo who died in a car crash Sunday, has been buried in line with Islmaic rites. The burial took place at Apo Cemetery in Abuja.

Sabo Sambo, a pilot, aged 58, died in the crash on Bill Clinton Drive in Abuja.

He was a former staff of the Nigeria Airways and the Presidential fleet. He retired recently to start a private business.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Vice President Namadi Sambo, Malam Umar Sani, said Sabo Sambo was survived by his wife, three daughters, 10 brothers and sisters.

Jonathan and Patience with the Sambos

“He was buried in the presence of former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and several other dignitaries and sympathisers,’’ the statement said.

After the burial, Vice President Sambo’s official residence in the Nigerian capital has been witnessing a throng of sympathisers.

President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife led the mourners to condole Sambo over the sad event.

Jonathan, at the Akinola Aguda House the official residence of the Vice President, described human beings as mere mortals, saying ‘death is a journey everybody must make.’

Wreckage of sabo sambo’s car

He said: “we are all mere mortals. All of us are from the Earth; we must all go back to the Earth. We do not know the timing of this journey all of us must make. This world is a place where we come to play our different roles. He (Yusuf) left too early.

“Maybe he left when the ovation is loudest. He left at a time we needed him most. But there is nothing we can do.”

The President also described the circumstances of the deceased’s death as saddening.

Sambo thanked the President for leading government officials to console him. He described his younger brother, as one of the most experienced pilots in the country.

Some of the early callers at the Vice President’s official residence were Gov, Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State; the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Muhammed and Minister of Defence, Aliyu Guasu.

Others were the Minister of State, Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council as well as other top government officials.

The Senate President, David Mark also sent a condolence message to Vice President Namadi Sambo and his family.

Mark in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said that Nigeria had lost one of her best pilots and officers of high repute.

The senate president prayed that Allah should grant the deceased eternal rest and grant the family the grace to bear the loss.