By ‘Dayo Showemimo
According to a statement on Saudi Arabia’s state television, Saudi monarch and paramount ruler, King Abdullah, has died at the age of 90. The Royal Court said in a statement broadcast across the kingdom that the king had died early Friday January 23, 2015 but the exact cause of death was not disclosed.
However, an announcement quoted by the official Saudi Press Agency said the king had a lung infection when he was admitted on December 31, 2014 to a Riyadh hospital.
Arabnews.com however reported that ‘King Abdullah was hospitalised in December suffering from pneumonia. He died on Friday ‘at 1:00 am (2200 GMT)’ and will be buried later in the day following afternoon prayers.’
King Abdullah ascended the throne on August 1, 2005, following the death of King Fahd. During his reign, King Abdullah has been responsible for significant social, economic, cultural and political reforms. This includes empowering women politically, granting foreign scholarships to thousands of students, building economic cities and constructing specialised hospitals.
