The mortal remains of Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, former Northern Regional Minister under the Kufuor administration was on Monday laid to rest at the Tamale Cemetery.

The former minister described by many as a unifier and peace maker, died on Sunday June 2, at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, where he had gone for medical attention.

He was 58 years old and left behind a wife and two children. The mortal remains were flown from Accra and accompanied by sympathisers drawn from the political divide to Tamale where the family received the body after, which Islamic prayers were said for him.

He was later buried under the Islamic custom. Alhaji Abdulai Abdul Salam, Regional Chief Imam who led the prayers at the Tamale Central Mosque wished him well and asked for Allah’s blessings on his departed soul.

Dr Clifford Braimah, Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), described the death of Alhaji Idris as a big loss to the party especially happening shortly after the death of Alhaji Aliu Mahama, former Vice President, who also hailed from the region.

He said the minister had good friends both in the NPP and the National Democratic Congress, noting that his political affiliation did not affect his relationships with the people.

Dr Braimah said Alhaji Idris was a pillar in the party and was much relied upon by the youth of the NPP in the region.

He said the youth took inspiration and advice from him saying: “With his demise, it throws a big challenge on the youth.”

Madam Afa Ayi, the sister of the late minister said his brother had a very good relationship with all his siblings and described his death as a big vacuum that could not be filled.

Alhaji Idris would be remembered in the region for his instrumentality in executing Tamale water project, which had helped address the perennial water problem in the Metropolis, when he was the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing.