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“Here lies the great son of Kwararafa Empire who fought her course, a man that had vision, wisdom and humility, a man who served humanity, an insatiable treasure to the community and to the Kingdom, ‘’ this were the exact words of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku during the burial of late Jibrin Abdullahi Amfani.
Governor Ishaku described late elder Jibrin Amfani as rare gift to the Kwararafa kingdom who lived a life worthy of emulation and rendered unequalled and selfless service to his people and humanity, explaining that no one has defended the Kwararafa Empire as the deceased
Continuing, the Governor said Elder Amfani has written his name in the sands of history asserting that, late Elder Amfani used his wisdom and intelligence at any given time to render services that involved mediating for the interest of his people, giving cogent advises that has contributed positively to what the present Kwararafa kingdom is today.
Governor Ishaku then used the opportunity to call on people of Kwararafa Empire to emulate the sterling legacies of late Amfani, which was built on selflessness, patriotism, and visionary, with a sincere call to work diligently to key into his vision of a greater Wukari which the Elder statesman desires, particularly making Wukari a capital of Knowledge in Taraba State and the entire Kwararafa Kingdom.
The Governor likened the death of late Jibrin Amfani as an archive totally burnt down to ashes and challenged all jukuns to work assiduously towards ensuring that someone steps into the shoes of late Jibrin Amfani in order to continue from where he stopped.
In his speech, the former Minister of Defense, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma who is the Abonta of Wukari described late Elder Jibrin Amfani as a man of peace who worked tirelessly for the unity of the entire Jukun Kingdom, particularly facilitating the peace process between the Tivs and the jukuns.
Represented by the former Minister of Water Resources, Obadiah Ando said late Jibrin Amfani was an arsenal, saying that, Taraba state has lost a reservoir of knowledge, beacon of peace and a grassroots mobilizer of unimaginable character and ability.
He maintained that time has come to look at the possibility of finding a worthy replacement, which involves critically looking at the man’s history with a view to finding a worthy successor.
“Where can we get another, we need to go through the man’s history and try to live the life that he led, because with him alive as a Kwararafa Nation we have no fear, with him death, the Library has actually burnt down, those that knows a lot like him and are keeping quiet should please come out, we have many boys in the universities let them go back to the books and recreate the history for the future,” he appealed.
Similarly, the Aku Uka of Wukari, Dr. Shekarau Angyu Masa Ibi Kuvyon II, who is the Chairman Taraba State Council of Chiefs extolled the virtues of Late Jibrin Amfani describing him as a precious gem to Wukari and indeed the whole of Kwararafa kingdom, a mentor, technocrat and a philanthropist par excellence.
The tribute of late Jibrin Amfani who worked with the Aku as Chairman Advisory committee was read by Dr. John Kaukam an alumnus of the famous Katsina Ala Old boy Association who maintained that late Elder Amfani was a wonderful mobilizer who dedicated his life for truth and for the betterment of humanity.
Dr. Kaukam lamented that Wukari local council will greatly miss his counsel and fatherly advice and direction, most especially the palace of the Aku where he contributed immensely in giving germane advises that affect the peace and progress of the entire council.
Late Jibrin Abdullahi Amfani was born on 15th January 1936 to Mallam Abdullahi Amfani and had his early education in SUM Lupwe between 1943 to 1949, between 1951 to 1952 he was admitted into the famous Benue Middle school Katsina Ala and later proceeded to prestigious Keffi Government college in the present Nasarawa State and former Benue plateau Region where he graduated in 1962 with Cambridge School Certificate.
He was a pioneer student of Ahmadu Bello University and graduated with BA Hons in Public Administration in 1965 and started his civil service career with Northern State Government on 1st July 1965 as a District Officer which was then referred to as D.O at that time and he was in charged of the present day Nguru of the then Borno province.
Late Jibrin Amfani also was seconded to the Nigerian Police and successfully retired from civil service after reaching the pinnacle of his carrier as Permanent Secretary with Gongola State Government in month of April, 1980.
Late Jibrin Abdullahi Amfani is survived by his aged wife, Mrs. Sarah Nwuda Amfani, his sister Hajiya Fulani Fika, 8 children and 19 grandchildren.
He has since been buried according to Christian rites in his compound led by the CRC-N President, Rev. Dr. Caleb Osheka Solomon Ahima
