By Atoyebi Nike
Tributes are pouring in across Nigeria after the death of renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, who passed away early Thursday at the age of 101. Leaders from across the country described his departure as a major blow to the Muslim world.
President Bola Tinubu said he received the news “with profound sadness,” calling the cleric a moral guide who devoted his life to teaching, preaching, and promoting moderation. In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu recalled the spiritual support the scholar offered him during the 2023 election period.
He urged the Sheikh’s followers to keep his legacy alive by embracing peace, deepening their faith, and showing kindness to others.
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, also mourned the scholar, describing him as a rare spiritual leader whose teachings strengthened the Tijjaniyya community and enriched Islamic scholarship nationwide. He prayed for Allah’s mercy and asked that the cleric’s family and students find comfort in his lifelong service to humanity.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki said the country had lost “a colossus of Islamic scholarship.” He noted that Sheikh Dahiru’s century-long life was spent spreading Qur’anic knowledge through his Almajiri schools and widely followed Tafsir sessions. Saraki extended condolences to the Sheikh’s family, the Sultan of Sokoto, the people of Bauchi State and the wider Muslim Ummah.
