Breaking: Ismaila Isa Funtua Passes On! |The Source

By Gideon Njoku

Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua Is dead.

Reports say he died in Abuja, Monday, of cardiac arrest.

Funtua’s death comes as a shock, as he was not known to be ill. He was, also, health conscious.

With his passing, President Muhammadu Buhari has lost another great ally and confidante, just months after the death of his former Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.

When his name was touted as a possible replacement for Kyari, he had quipped that he felt insulted by such a suggestion, and that Buhari would not dare. They were great friends.

A life Patron of the Newspapers’ Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, NPAN, Funtua was the Publisher of the defunct Democrat Newspaper.

He was also the founder of BULET, which. among other things engage in high profile constructions and even more high profile businesses

Funtua was also the Minister for Water Resources during the President Shehu Shagari Administration. He held the National Honour of the Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR, and attended the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS.

A native of Funtua, Katsina State, he was aged 78 years.

His son is married to one of Buhari’s daughters, Sefinat.

His remains will be laid to rest on Tuesday, July 21, according to Islamic rites.