Atiku Abubakar, a former Nigeria Vice President, has described the death of Alhaji Ahmed Joda, former Permanent Secretary, as “fall of an iroko”.
Atiku, in a statement signed by himself on Friday in Abuja, described Joda as a great Nigerian and first generation of Adamawa indigenes who made immense contribution to the growth of the state and the country.
He said, “Today, our beautiful Adamawa State has lost a colossus. Indeed, an iroko tree has fallen in Nigeria, particularly Northern Nigeria.
“The news of the death of Joda comes with some kind of a jolt even though he lived to a prime age.
“He was a shining star in the galaxy of Nigeria’s public servants.
“Joda, with a few of his peers, wrote the rule book of Nigeria’s civil service and his footprints will remain indelible.“
Atiku prayed that the Almighty Allah accepts his soul and provides his family with fortitude to bear the loss of a forthright and iconic patriarch.