L-R’ Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu, NSA, Major General Monguno leading the FGN delegation, Governor Shettima and Shehu of Bornu, Alhaji Abubakar Elkanemi during the burial of  Alhaji Monguno in Maiduguri

 Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Shettima Ali-Monguno, who died on Friday, was buried at the Gwange Cemetery in Maiduguri on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the burial was preceded by a funeral prayer led by the Chief Imam of Borno, Imam Laisu Ibrahim, at the palace of the Shehu of Borno in Maiuguri.

Thousands of sympathisers, including Gov. Kashim Shettima, former governors of the state as well as former ministers and heads of parastatal agencies attended the event held under tight security at the palace.

Ali-Monguno, an elder statesman, who was also Minister of Mines and Power, Internal Affairs and Education, died at his residence in Maiduguri at the age of 95.

Meanwhile,  President Muhammadu Buhari has described the late former Minister of Mines, Power and Petroleum, Alhaji Shettima Monguno, as “one of the finest statesmen and political actors Nigeria ever had.’’

This is contained in a statement signed by Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Saturday.

The statement said that the president condoled Borno Government and people in a condolence message conveyed by a Federal Government delegation led by retired Major General Babagana Munguno to the funeral of the late elder statesman in Maiduguri on Saturday.

The statement quoted Buhari as saying that the deceased would “always remain fountain of inspiration in life and death’’.

According to the president, the late elder statesman from Borno, ranked among the most respected public figures in Nigeria while in office and while in retirement life.

He recalled that in the course of his public service as a Parliamentarian and a Federal Minister of Internal Affairs in the First Republic, late Monguno “left behind a legacy of untainted and unblemished career’’.

He said such virtues should be emulated by Nigerian leaders at all levels.

“Man’s greatest pride is to leave behind a good name and the late Monguno achieved that desire,’’ he added.

Buhari, who said that it would take volumes to narrate Monguno’s sterling virtues, extended his condolences to the family, government and the people of Borno over the loss.

He prayed Almighty God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest.

The government delegation included the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.