The elder statesmen died on Thursday at the age of 85 after a prolonged illness.

In a statement released on Thursday, Tinubu described Aminu as a “respected academic and political leader who brought erudition and brilliance to statecraft”.

“I extend my condolences to the family and friends of Professor Jubril Muhammad Aminu, a respected academic and political leader who passed away at the age of 85,” the statement reads.

“Professor Aminu was a professor of cardiology and one of Nigeria’s most decorated medical professionals.

“He straddled his profession and politics exceptionally, bringing erudition and brilliance to statecraft.”

He expressed his sympathies to Aminu’s family, friends, and the people of Adamawa state, acknowledging the profound loss to the nation.

Aminu was a renowned cardiologist, who earned fellowships from prestigious institutions such as the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Royal College of Physicians in London, the West African College of Physicians, and the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College.

His medical career was marked by significant roles, including consultant in medicine, senior lecturer, and sub-dean of clinical studies at the University of Ibadan medical school from 1973 to 1975.

He also served as a visiting professor of medicine at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington DC from 1979 to 1980 and as vice-chancellor of the University of Maiduguri from 1980 to 1985.

Aminu’s contributions extended beyond medicine into public service. He served as Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States from 1999 to 2003.

He was a senator who represented Adamawa central senatorial district from 2003 to 2011.

Aminu held ministerial positions, serving as minister of education and later as minister of petroleum and mineral resources from 1989 to 1992