The Wazirin Fika, Alhaji Adamu Fika, has passed away at the age of 90.
The elder statesman had been in the United Kingdom, where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment before he was returned to Nigeria not long ago.
The Danburan of Fika, Alhaji Idris Adamu Kukuri, who confirmed Fika’s death to journalists late Tuesday night, said the burial arrangements for the deceased would be announced after consulting with the Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammadu Abali.
Daily Trust quoted family sources and acquaintances to have also confirmed Fika’s death in a telephone call.
Hassan Gimba Ahmed, who is closely associated with the deceased’s family, expressed, “He was being brought back home from the United Kingdom on a chartered flight but unfortunately passed away mid-air. May Allah grant him Aljannatul Firdausi.”
He further mentioned that the aircraft landed in Kaduna, and a decision will be made regarding whether he will be buried there or in Fika, Yobe State.
The deceased who was born in 1933, was a respected elder statesman and skilled administrator and was the Pro chancellor, Chairman of the governing council, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the Chairman, of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).
He was said to have attended Kaduna Government College (now Barewa College) Zaria from 1948-51 as well as the Nigerian College of Arts Science and Technology, Zaria from 1952-1953 (now Ahmadu Bello University), where he was one of the pioneer students.
He was appointed Provincial Inspector of Education, Provincial Education Officer, Zaria, 1960 and later Inspector of Education, Adamawa Province, Yola, 1962.
He became the Principal, of the Federal Training Centre (FTC), Kaduna, 1962. Malam Adamu Fika was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Interim Common Services Agency, 1968 – 1970, and later appointed Secretary, of the Interim Common Services Agency, 1970.
He was appointed Commissioner of Finance, North-Eastern State in 1972.
After serving for three years as a commissioner, Malam Adamu Malam moved to the federal civil service, where he was appointed at various times Permanent Secretary in the following Ministries: Internal Affairs 1975, Commerce 1979, Public Service Department, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, 1981 – 1982; Communications 1982-1984.
He was also Permanent Secretary, of the Police Affairs Department, Executive Office of the President, and later Federal Capital Territory and Chief Executive, of Federal Capital Development Authority, Abuja, 1984.
Malam Adamu Fika was appointed Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in January 1986, where he served until he retired from the Federal Public Service in April 1988. His services continued to be sought even after retirement.
He was a deserved recipient of many honours and awards, including Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the Federal Government (1992) and LL.D Honoris Causa by Bayero University in 1992.
