Sarafa’u Umaru, Dikko Radda’s mother, dies at 93

Sarafa’u Umaru, mother of Dikko Radda, the governor of Katsina state, has passed on at 93. 

Ibrahim Kaula-Mohammed, the chief press secretary to the governor, announced her death in a statement issued on Sunday. 

“With profound sadness, the government of Katsina state announces the passing of Hajiya Safara’u Umaru Baribari, the beloved mother of governor Dikko Radda,” he said. 

“Hajiya Safara’u departed this world last night at the blessed age of 93. She was a woman of remarkable strength and dignity with wisdom flowing from decades of lived experience.”

Kaula-Mohammed added that Safara’u nurtured generations of leaders and community pillars.

According to him, the deceased’s children include the current village head of Radda, Kabir Umar-Radda, and Hauwa Umar-Radda, wife of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

“A true Fulani matriarch, Hajiya Safara’u leaves behind a legacy that reaches far beyond her immediate family,” he added. 

“Her values of integrity, perseverance and community service continue to inspire all who knew her.”

The press secretary announced that the late matriarch would be laid to rest by 4pm on Sunday in Radda village, Charanchi LGA of the state. 

In its condolence message, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) said it “celebrates the life of service, devotion, and dignity that Hajiya led, and commiserates with the people and government of Katsina State as well as the children and grandchildren of the nonagenarian”. 

“Our prayers and thoughts are with His Excellency, his family, and the people of the state on this sad event,” the statement signed by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara and chair of the NGF, reads.

“We also send our condolences to Her Excellency Hajiya Hauwa Radda, who was a wife of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, GCFR.

“We ask Allaah to ease the account of Hajiya Safara’u, lighten up and widen her grave, and admit her to Al-jannah Firdaus. We also pray to Allaah to uphold the family upon goodness.”