Peter Obi Mourns Emirs of Zurmi and Gumel, Extends Heartfelt Condolences to Families
Abuja, September 5, 2026—Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed deep condolences over the recent deaths of two prominent northern traditional rulers: His Royal Highness Alhaji Bello Sulaiman, the Sarkin Zamfara of Zurmi in Zamfara State, and His Royal Highness Emir Ahmed Sani II (also referred to as Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Sani II), the Emir of Gumel in Jigawa State.
In a statement shared on his verified X account on Saturday evening, Obi offered his “heartfelt sympathies” to the people of Zurmi Emirate and Gumel Emirate.
He noted that Emir Ahmed Sani II passed away in Egypt, while acknowledging the broader sense of loss felt across both communities and the nation.
“Their deaths mark considerable losses to their respective emirates and to Nigeria,” Obi wrote. “As custodians of our culture, history, and traditions, the Royal Fathers played vital roles in safeguarding the identity of their people and fostering peace, unity, and social harmony.”
He prayed that Almighty Allah would forgive their shortcomings, grant them Aljannatul Firdaus, and give their families and subjects the strength to endure the irreplaceable losses. The message was signed “-PO.”
The Late Monarchs and Their Legacies
Alhaji Bello Sulaiman, the Emir of Zurmi (Sarkin Zamfaran Zurmi), died on Monday, August 31, 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre in Gusau, Zamfara State.
He had reigned for about five years after succeeding his uncle, who was deposed amid security-related controversies.
His tenure was marked by efforts to provide leadership during a period of significant insecurity in the region, including a major bandit attack on the emirate palace in May 2024.
President Bola Tinubu, Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, and other leaders earlier described him as a stabilizing figure whose commitment to peace-building was invaluable to the North-West.
Emir Ahmed Sani II of Gumel, one of Nigeria’s longest-serving first-class traditional rulers, died on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in Cairo, Egypt, after a period of illness.
Born in 1942, he ascended the throne on December 16, 1980, and reigned for nearly 46 years as the 16th Emir of Gumel.
Before becoming emir, he served in public administration, including as Commissioner for Information in the old Kano State, where he contributed to the establishment of media institutions such as the Triumph newspaper and CTV 67 (now ARTV).
His funeral on Friday in Gumel drew thousands of mourners, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, who led a federal delegation, Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi, other northern governors, traditional rulers, and dignitaries. He was survived by about 33 children.
Broader National Tributes
The deaths have prompted widespread tributes from across the political and traditional spectrum. President Tinubu, the Northern Senators Forum, Northern Governors’ Forum, and other leaders have all described the monarchs as custodians of culture who promoted peace, unity, and development in their domains.
Obi’s message adds to the chorus of national mourning, underscoring the enduring role of traditional institutions in fostering social harmony in Nigeria.
As the people of Zurmi and Gumel grieve, the late royal fathers are remembered for their service as guardians of heritage and pillars of community stability.
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