It is with profound sadness and deep sense of loss that the Arewa Consultative Fo-rum (ACF) received news of the death of Professor Jibril Aminu, a proud son of Arewa, fine and trailblazing academic and professor of medicine, consultant car-diologist, dedicated public servant, diplomat, nationalist, humanist, distinguished politician, philanthropist, benefactor, mentor and, in all these outings, an exem-plar of Arewa’s best. Late Professor Aminu died today, leaving behind a hugely admirable records of excellence in personal and public service. Words will not be very adequate to do justice to Professor Amin’s prowess and excellent records of prodigious service to the nation and the world at large. It is no exaggeration to say that in anywhere he had served Professor Aminu’s name was one to behold in awe, and sometimes, majesty. From a humble but intellectual background Professor Amin had sailed through the various rungs of educational institutions and earned a record in medical stud-ies as the best graduating student, garnering all available prizes at the University of Ibadan (UI), at a time when stereotypes, borne of crass ignorance, prejudice and hubris pervaded thinking about northerners in Southern Nigeria. Always ris-ing to defeat envy and stereotypes throughout his academic career, Prof. Jibril once had reason to remind a critic that even Jibril Song’s (as he was formerly known) student number at UI, 2222, was itself providentially unique and distin-guished. After further studies in the UK, Professor Jubril qualified as a consultant cardiolo-gist and later observed teaching stints at UI, University of Maiduguri and Howard University, Washington, DC, among others as professor of medicine.Professor Aminu had gone on to serve as Executive Secretary of the National Uni-versities Commission (NUC), Vice Chancellor, University of Maiduguri, Minis-ter of Education and, later of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Nigeria’s Am-bassador to the United States of America and distinguished Senator, representing Adamawa Central in Nigeria’s Senate, all these aside of numerous statutory and ad hoc assignments and outings by this unique and distinguished personality, truly per excellence.There is therefore no doubt that Professor Aminu has left behind a record of service very hard to beat, with immense contributions to education, political economy, public service, political development and good governance, in which outings he will be best remembered for giving nothing but his very best, yet with admirable characteristic humility, as opposed to the reconditeness and shenanigans that usually accompany these attributes. ACF extends condolences to Professor Jibril Aminu’s family and friends, to Nigeria, Government and people of Adamawa State Government, political associates, the National Assembly, UI and academia in general, his numerous mentees and beneficiaries over the sad demise of this truly distinguished citizen. ACF joins all in praying that Almighty Allah will grant Professor Jibril Aminu eternal peace in Al-Jannah Firdaus and may Almighty Allah provide for all those he has left behind
Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba
National Publicity Secretary