A former President of the Newspapers Proprietors of Nigeria (NPAN), Malam Isma’ila Isa Funtua, is dead.
The close ally of President Muhammadu Buhari died on Monday night shortly after driving himself to a hospital.
Funtua, who was a former Minister in the Second Republic, reportedly felt unease at about 4 pm.
He did not take things for granted and he drove himself to a hospital where he died.
A source said: “It is difficult to confirm what really happened but he lost the battle after getting to the hospital.
“Some said it was a cardiac arrest but only his doctors can conform what went wrong. ”
An in-law to Buhari, the deceased will be buried on Tuesday.
Among early callers to his residence was a former Managing Director of the NAN, Mallam Wada Maida.
Until his death, he was one of the most influential politicians and businessmen in Nigeria.
He recently clarified he was not seeking to be Chief of Staff to Buhari or contest the Presidency in 2023.
In a tweet, Bashir Ahmad, another aide of the president, described Funtua’s death as sudden.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un! Just heard about Mallam Ismaila Isa Funtua’s sudden death. This life! May Allah accept his soul, forgive his shortcomings and grant him Jannah al-Firdaus,” he tweeted.
Senator Ben Murray Bruce, in a Twitter post, said he spoke with him three hours before his reported death adding that the deceased promised to call him tomorrow.
He tweeted: “I am saddened by the death of my brother and senior colleague, Mallam Isa Funtua. I spoke to him just three hours before his reported death, and he promised to further call me tomorrow. I pray that God comforts his family and loved ones, and may his soul rest in peace.”
