Etsu Nupe, Niger Officials Absent at Bello Masaba’s Burial

By Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar; the Chief Imam of Bida, Alhaji Adamu Yskatun, and officials of the Niger State Government were absent at the burial yesterday of Alhaji Mohammad Bello Masaba, the ‘super polygamist’ who died last Saturday morning.

The remains of the deceased were interred in his compound in Kutaworo area of Bida town of the state.

Though the Kpotun Bida and the Shaba Nupe were present at the burial, unconfirmed source said their presence was in their personal capacities.

No reason was given for the absence of the state government officials at the burial but it was said it was not unconnected with the disagreement of the government with  the late cleric when he was alive.

The state government, some traditional rulers and Islamic clerics in and outside the state took exception to the decision of the deceased to marry more than four wives as provided by the tenets of Islam and all efforts to make him conform with the doctrine, including legal options, did not yield the desired result.

However, the burial prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Kutaworo area of Bida, Alhaji Mohammed Baba Kutigi, in the absence of the Chief Imam of Bida, Yskatun.

Numerous people from all parts of the country attended the burial.

THISDAY learnt from close relations that the deceased is survived by 203 children and 170 wives contrary to the claim that the cleric had 97 wives.

Masaba died at 93.

He was said to belong to the Masaba ruling house, one of the three ruling houses in Bida emirate.

After the burial, hundreds of people still remained in the compound to condole with his family.