TheCable

President Goodluck jonathan has commiserated with former minister of the federal capital territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, whose son, Hamza el-Rufai, died on Tuesday morning.

Hamza was killed in a motor accident in Abuja; and el-Rufai, announcing the sad news on his Facebook page, wrote: “From Allah we came and to him we shall return.

“Please join our family in praying for the repose of the soul of my son Hamza El-rufai, who died in a motor accident in Abuja.”

But in a statement signed by Dr. Reuben Abati, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Jonathan prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the deceased and God’s protection on the rest of the el-Rufai’s family.

“On behalf of himself, his family and the federal government, President Jonathan extends his heartfelt commiserations to Mallam el-Rufai and all members of the el-Rufai family,” read the statement.

“The president says although no amount of words can fill the deep gap created by the loss of Hamza, he hopes that the outpouring of support at this moment by friends and associates will comfort Mallam el-Rufai.”

Earlier this year, el-Rufai lost his niece Zainab el-Rufai Mohammed, to complications from sickle cell anaemia.

In 2011, his eldest daughter, Yasmine, was found dead in her London apartment. It was said that she suffered a neurological attack.