First elected Gwagwalada council chair, Zakari Kutunku, dies

The first elected chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Zakari Shemaza Kutunku, is dead. Abuja Metro learnt that he died around 5 am on Wednesday at his private residence in Kutunku. A member of his family, Shuaibu Zakari Kutunku, who confirmed the death to our reporter through telephone on […]

The first elected chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Zakari Shemaza Kutunku, is dead.

Abuja Metro learnt that he died around 5 am on Wednesday at his private residence in Kutunku.

A member of his family, Shuaibu Zakari Kutunku, who confirmed the death to our reporter through telephone on Wednesday, said the late former council chairman died at the age of 79 after a protracted illness.

He said the late Kutunku was elected chairman of the council between 1998 and 1999 under the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP).

He said, “The late former council chairman has been bedridden and on life support for over six months until around 5 am this morning, when he passed away.”

Abuja Metro reports that he has been buried at Kutunku Muslim cemetery, with the incumbent chairman of the council, Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin Giri, his counterpart from Kwali, Danladi Chiya, former House of Reps member, Zakari Angulu Dobi, and some other top party chieftains in attendance.