The family of late Malam Wada Maida, former Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday held the 3rd day post-funeral prayer for the repose of his soul.
The prayer was held at his residence in Maitama, Abuja.
Until his sudden demise in Abuja on Monday, Maida, 70, was Chairman of the Board of Directors of NAN.
The post-funeral prayer, known as Fidau, is normally held on the third and seventh day after the burial of the deceased.
NAN reports that the prayer was led by Sheikh Muktar Abba of the Abuja National Mosque and Prof. Shefi’u Abdullahi, Executive Secretary, National Board for Arabic and Islamic Education.
The clerics prayed to the Almighty Allah to forgive all the shortcomings of Maida and grant him entry into Paradise.
They also prayed to God to console the family of the deceased and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.
Speaking after the prayers, Alhaji Abdullahi Wada Maida, son of the deceased, described his late father as the embodiment of patience and tolerance.
“In my life, I have never seen a very patient and understanding person like my late father; he always admonished us to be patient wherever we find ourselves.
“When he was with us, he used to tell us that patience is the foundation of love and success,” he said.
He assured mourners, sympathisers, relations, friends and associates of his late father that he would build on the legacies of that cordial relationship exhibited by the deceased.
On his part, Sen. Ibrahim Ida, the Sardaunan Katsina, said that he had been a friend to late Maida for the past six decades.
Ida said that Maida would be remembered by his friends for his honestly, hard work, integrity and humility.
He implored the family of the late Maida and his friends to continue to seek Allah’s mercy on his soul.
Similarly, Prof. Kabir Mato, Commissioner of Sports Development in Kaduna State, said the greatest quality that he had seen in late Maida was his piety.
“He was a very pious person; he was very humble, decent and very accommodating to whoever comes around him.
“His demise is certainly a great loss to some of us that always went to him for direction and counseling on matters relating to politics and current affairs.
“Each time we met him, he always guided us in the right direction,” Mato said.
In attendance were the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, Acting Managing Director, NAN, Mr Dele Ojo, and the immediate past Managing Director of NAN, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
Also at the prayers were Malam Ibrahim Mammaga, former Acting Managing Director of NAN, a former Editor-in-Chief, Alhaji Lawal Ado, and many other elder statesmen from Kaduna, Kano and Katsina, Maida’s home state.
Meanwhile watch this short video and don’t forget to subscribe.
