Mallam Ismaila Isa Funtua who passed away on Monday after suffering from a cardiac arrest was laid to rest on Tuesday, following some glowing tributes.
He was buried at the Gudu Cemetry, Abuja after funeral prayers was offered to him at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque Area 1, Garki Abuja.
His funeral rites at either mosque or cemetery were graced by prominent people. Some of there were former FCT Minister, Aliyu Modibbo Umar; former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; former Minister of State (Health), Aliyu Idi Hong; an elder statesman, Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim; chairman Media Trust Limited, Publisher of Daily Trust, Malam Kabiru Yusuf; and the Publisher Blueprint Newspapers, Malam Mohammed Idris.
Former Chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, some federal and former state and serving lawmakers and members of the diplomatic corp visited the event.
Kabiru Yusuf in his tribute noted that late Funtua was very successful man and those who didn’t even know him would see the impact of his loss.
He said, “My association with him was mostly in media, journalism but I am aware of the roles he played in business, in which he was very successful; in politics as we all know he was a Minister nearly 40 years ago.
“And in community relations because one area that a lot of common people would miss is how he has intervened in countless activities and stories and situation of people who needed it in order to bring succour into their lives.
“So, this is very huge. I think that Nigerians who know him and even those who don’t know him would see the impact of his loss.”
Idris said,
“Mallam Funtua was a big player especially in the media industry in this country. He has contributed a lot in the area of press freedom and generally in the development of the media in Nigeria. We will miss him a lot”.
