The remains of a former Minister of State for Finance and Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, have been buried.

Kuye, who died on Sunday in Lagos at the age of 78, was buried in his country home in Ago Iwoye, in the Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

He was buried in line with COVID-19 protocol after a Janazah prayer was said on his remains by clerics led by the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheik  Muftau Ayanbadejo .

Dignitaries at the burial ceremony included a former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel; Senator representing Ogun East, Lekan Mustapha;  a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Sarafa Ishola; a former member of House of Representatives from Remo-North, Oladipupo  Adebutu, and a former spokesperson for ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, Doyin Okupe, among others.

Meanwhile, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Sunday mourned  Martins-Kuye.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, titled, ‘President Buhari condoles with family of former minister, Sen. Jubril Martins-Kuye,’ Buhari recognised the ex-,minister’s contributions to tailoring budgets that reflected needs of the people with his emphasis on full implementation.

The statement reads partly, “The President believes Martins-Kuye will be sorely missed for his insight on issues of development, particularly in tailoring budgets that reflect needs of the people, with his emphasis on full implementation.

“President Buhari prays that the soul of the former minister will rest in peace.”

Similarly, the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress in a condolence message by the Publicity Secretary of the state APC Caretaker Committee, Tunde Oladunjoye, described Martins-Kuye as “the passing away of one of Ogun’s finest politicians.”

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 Also, the state Peoples Democratic Party in a statement by its  acting chairman, Boladale Sanni, said, “We have lost a patriotic Nigerian who during his life time contributed immensely to the stability of our nation. This is a huge loss to Nigeria and our party (PDP).”

 Additionally, former governor Gbenga Daniel in his tribute said,  “JMK weaved an intricate web of leadership cutting across religious, politics and corporate lifestyles. He was a great leader with a clear reputation for fairness and balance.”

 Also, a former governorship candidate of the Allies People’s Movement in the state, Adekunle Akinlade, in a statement by his media aide, Azeez Adelani, said, “Chief Kuye until his death was a grass root politician, scholar and community builder. He was a leader whose immense devotion to the socio-political stability of his home town, Ago-Iwoye, and Nigeria will be forever remembered.”

Also, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Sunday commiserated with family, friends and associates of  Martins Kuye.

Abiodun said the demise of the former Minister of State for Finance marked the end of an era “and significantly underscores the depletion of the rank of elder statesmen, men of faith and progressive politicians in the country.”

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, quoted the governor as saying, “I have personally lost a great pillar of support, who offered useful advice to advance my political career.”

Describing the late former Minister of State for Finance as a consummate politician, a boardroom guru and entrepreneur, Abiodun said, the death of Martins-Kuye was a huge loss to members of his family and progressive politicians in the country.”