President Muhammadu Buhari has extolled the virtues of Hajiya Fati Koko,
popularly called Maitalla Tara, who has passed away, aged 95.
Mourning Hajiya Koko, who had waited nine hours in Kebbi early last year,
to donate the sum of N1 million (One million Naira) to him as the then
presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President
Buhari described her as “a woman with a good heart, who stood by her
convictions, and gave sacrificially.”
Hajiya Koko had offered virtually her life’s savings to candidate Buhari
then, saying she admired his honesty, discipline, and stand for truth.
Receiving the news of her passage, President Buhari commended Hayiya
Koko’s conviction and sacrificial giving, urging Nigerians to learn vital
lessons from her life.
“She gave practically all she had towards our campaign. Though well
advanced in age, she still believed a new Nigeria was possible, and
followed her conviction with action. What generosity of spirit and what
tenacious faith in her motherland. Nigerians, old and young, have a lot to
learn from her,” the President said.
President Buhari condoled with the family and relations of the departed,
urging them to take solace in the fact that their matriarch lived to a
ripe old age, “and she saw the beginning of the change she had long
yearned for. The onus is now on all of us to ensure that the change gets
entrenched and solidified for even generations yet unborn to benefit
from.”
The President also sympathized with the governor and people of Kebbi
State, whom he said will all miss the sterling qualities of Hajiya Koko,
but added that the life of the departed will serve as a standard to
emulate “in the service of God, humanity and country.”
“May Allah grant her soul repose in Al-jannah,” the President prayed.