Ali was a veteran journalist and a lawmaker in the Second Republic. He was 86 years old.

A former federal lawmaker, Alhaji Sidi Ali, is dead.

Ali was a veteran journalist and a lawmaker in the Second Republic. He was 86 years old.

The elder statesman died on Thursday evening in Kano.

The death of the chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) and a member of the partys Elders Committee in Kano State was confirmed by Senator Shehu Sani, a former federal lawmaker in a post on his official Facebook page on Thursday night.

He wrote, "I received the sad news of the demise of renowned Elderstateman, Author, Journalist, Politician and Historian Alhaji SIDI ALI.

"Apart from Tafawa Balewa and Sardauna of Sokoto, no other Northerner was closely known by historic figures and World leaders in the 60s and 70s, like the Late SIDI. The late Elderstateman was personally known by President JF Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr. Malcom X, Muhammad Ali, Kwame Nkrumah and many others.

"The late Sidi Ali was a human library and a prolific writer. He was one man who can recall every event that happened in Nigerias history from independence till date. A great loss. My condolences to his family and the good people of Kano State.

"May Allah grant him Aljanna firdausi, Amin," he added.

Ali who worked at the Nigerian International Press Centre, Ministry of Information and National Broadcasting Commission, among others is the father of the recently appointed spokesperson for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Hakama Sidi Ali.

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