Abubakar Rimi, former Kano governor dies

Details: Category: Politics; Published on Monday, 05 April 2010 10:02; Written by Admin; Hits: 2916

The former civilian governor of Kano State, Abubakar Rimi is dead. Transparency For Nigeria learnt the he was attacked by armed robbers on his way from Bauchi along Takai and Wudi road on Easter Sunday night.

abubakar_rimi He was said to be returning to Kano from his eldest daughter's wedding. Although unharmed, he seems to have suffered a massive stroke and died shortly after as a result.

Rimi is the 3^rd top politician to have died in 5 days after the death on Wednesday of Senator Tawa Wada and Senator Kawa Peto Dukku on Friday. Both senators were from Gombe State.

Mr. Rimi's body was taken to his house a few hours ago while his Jana'a is expected to take place at the Kano Race course at noon today, after which he would be buried.

The late Rimi was born at Rimi village, Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State, in 1940. He became the first civilian governor of Kano State in 1979 and was appointed Minister of Communication in 1983 after a term as governor. He was a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party and though he defected to the Action Congress in the build up to the 2007 general elections, he returned to the PDP in December 2008 and remained with the party until his death.

In 2006, Mr Rimi's wife Sa'adatu was found dead in their Kano home. She had been stabbed repeatedly. His son was among those charged for the murder, but was later released

In the early 1960s he attended an instructor's course at the institute of Administration, Zaria. He obtained a General Certificate of education from the University of London. In 1972, he completed a diploma in international affairs at the London institute of World Affairs, and later obtained a Masters Degree in International Relations.

Abubakar Rimi was co-founder with the late Mallam Aminu Kano and other progressives of the People's Redemption Party (PRP). In December 1978 he was elected the PRP's Deputy National secretary at the party's first national convention in Lagos. He was a PRP candidate in the 1979 General elections. Abubakar Rimi was elected to the governorship of the old Kano State as candidate for the PRP in the second republic, a post he occupied from October 1979 - May 1983. He was said to be was a liberal influence, promoting adult literacy and encouraging women to emerge from Purdah.

In 1993 Rimi was appointed minister of communications, and later was Chairman of NACB and NSPMC. He was also one of the foundation members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was the Chairman of the Finance committee of the Party at its inception and also one of its presidential candidates. He later moved to the Action Congress (AC), but in 2007 Rimi returned to the (PDP). In December 2008, he called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu, to resign from office, citing irregularities in the previous presidential election.