One of Nigeria’s most prominent
Islamic leaders and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Bayero, 83, is dead.
The octogenarian died peacefully in
his palace after a long battle with cancer in the morning hours and was buried
at 4 pm, a palace spokesman, Mahe Bashir Wali announced on Radio Kano.
Palace sources said that the revered
late Emir who was the second-highest Islamic authority in the country, after
the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, died after about 50 years on
the throne.
Ado Abdullahi Bayero, with the Shehu
of Borno were among the three influential traditional rulers in the Muslim-majority
north, appointed in 1963.
The Islamic leader, a former critic
of Boko Haram insurgents, narrowly escaped being killed by the Islamic group,
in January last year in an attack that led to the death of four of his body
guards.
Although security sources said then
that Bayero was not hurt in the attack, he was later flown to London for
treatment over alleged shock he reportedly had following the ugly incident.
The Emir was a well-regarded figure
in the northern states as he was seen as a key link between tradition and
modernity, leading the region’s clerics as the custodian of Islam in the
region.
Bayero had kept a low-profile
recently because of his illness and had been receiving treatment in a London
hospital, according to palace and state government sources.
All roads leading to the emir’s
palace were blocked by police and traffic redirected, as security was tightened
in anticipation of a visit by dignitaries to pay their respects, an agency
report said.
Agency reports said that some
“kingmakers” had already met at a closed-door session to determine the three
names that would be submitted to the Kano State government for approval as
Bayero’s successor.
Those tipped to be in the running
include the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Sanusi Lamido
Sanusi, who is the grandson of the late emir’s brother.
Sanusi was suspended as CBN governor
by the government in February this year, on charges of financial recklessness
and misconduct, by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN.
His suspension came on the heels of
his accusation that $20 billion (about N149 billion), oil money was missing.
Another name in the frame is one of
Bayero’s sons, Aminu Ado Bayero, who holds a royal title and is currently a
popular district head in Kano.
Tributes flow in
Meanwhile, prominent Nigerians
yesterday paid glowing tribute to the late Bayero, saying that the country has
lost an uncommon personality, a great African and a quintessential monarch.
Among those who mourned Bayero
included President Goodluck Jonathan, the Vice President, Namadi Sambo,
governors Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Emmanuel Uduaghan, Senator Ibikunle Amosun,
(Ogun), Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, (Kaduna) as well as the Deputy Senate President,
Chief Ike Ekweremadu and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu
Tambuwal.
Deputy Senate President, Ike
Ekweremadu, also, described the death as “shocking and an irreparable loss. He
said Bayero died following what the family linked to heart failure.
Ekweremadu, reacting to the sad
event,in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, said
the late royal father was a “man of many paths who departed in a blaze of
glory,’’ adding that “This is indeed a shocking exit of a sage and end of a
glorious era. Bayero was everything a people could have wished for in a leader
and royal father in a pluralistic nation.’’
Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu
State also commiserated with the government and people of Kano State over the
death of the Emir of Kano Alhaji Bayero in a statement signed by his Chief
Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife saying ‘’the late Emir was a revered elder
statesman and well-loved and dedicated leader.
Ogun State Governor, Senator Amosun
in his reaction expressed deep regret at the death of the Emir at the age of 83.
Amosun expressed his condolences to
the government and people of Kano State, the State Emirate Council and other
Nigerians on the exit of the foremost traditional ruler.
In a statement by his Senior Special
Assistant on Media, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Wakama, the governor described Bayero as
one of the revered traditional rulers in Nigeria, who preached peace and
believed in the unity of the country.
”The death of Alhaji Ado Bayero is
regrettable because, even at his age, he was in the vanguard of efforts to curb
the activities of insurgents in the North.
Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in his tribute described the death
of Dr. Bayero, as a monumental loss to
the entire country, saying he received the news of the passage with great sense
of sadness.
A statement issued by his Special
Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, stated that Tambuwal
described the deceased as a strict disciplinarian who led an exemplary life
characterised by honesty, fairness, generosity and service to God and humanity.
Under his long and glorious reign,
Kano witnessed unprecedented boom in all spheres of human endeavour. Its
eminent status as a trading point and centre of commerce in sub Saharan Africa
was not only reaffirmed, but enhanced.
”People of Kano and indeed all
Nigerians will miss his advice and reassuring presence. It is gratifying
however that he has left behind towering legacies for posterity and this should
serve as comforting to us all,” Tambuwal added.
Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Mukhtar
Ramalan Yero on his own expressed deep sadness over the death of Bayero (July
25, 1930 – June 6, 2014)).
Yero in a Statement by his Director
General, Media and Publicity, Mallam Ahmed Maiyaki described the death as a sad
‘’end of era’’ in the history of Kano Emirate and the traditional institution
in the country.
“The late Ado Bayero will forever be
remembered as a great ruler who brought enormous charisma to bear in evolving a
peaceful and prosperous Emirate. For over half a century that he reigned in
Kano witnessed massive growth and advancement in all spheres of human
endeavours,” he added.
The NGF under the leadership of
governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State lamented Bayero’s exit describing it as
one too many.
The former governor of Anambra State,
Mr. Peter Obi called on Nigerians to give glory to Allah for the fruitful life
of the Emir, especially his ability to lead the Kano Emirate for so many years.
CAN
National President of the Christian
Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor also joined other eminent
Nigerians to commiserate with the Federal Government, Kano State Government,
the Emirate and the immediate family of Alhaji Bayero.
A statement signed by Oritsejafor
said he received the news with shock, describing the Emir as an icon of the
Kano Emirate council and an elder statesman who stood for the peace and unity
of Nigeria.
PDP
National leadership of the PDP in its
tribute said that with the death of Alhaji Bayero, Nigeria as a country has
lost an uncommon personality, a great African and a quintessential monarch.
A statement by the party’s National
Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh also described the passage of the
Monarch as a great shock and intense sadness, stressing that the monarch was a
‘’legend, a detribalized Nigerian and statesman who sacrificed the greater part
of his life for the stability, oneness and development of our dear nation
leaving for us and generations yet unborn resounding legacies and glowing
footprints to follow.
Atiku
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar
who also mourned the late Emir, said that with his death, he had lost a father,
being his favourite son spanning over three decades.
In his tribute yesterday Atiku
disclosed that he knew that death was coming (like it would for every mortal),
but not in agony and humiliation because he (Ado Bayero) did not deserve.
According to Atiku, Ado Bayero was a
pious, humble, upright and honest man whose integrity was unparalleled. He
added that the death has robbed the nation of a noble crusader for unity,
tolerance and peaceful co-existence.
He further said that when Bayero who
celebrated his 50th Anniversary on the throne in June last year, was a rare
leader of enviable and vast wisdom and recalled his significant contributions to
sustaining the unity of Nigeria during the January 15, 1966 political crisis, a
role that earned him the respect of the late Dim Chukuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu.
”The respect Ojukwu had for Ado
Bayero, a quintessential bridge-builder, was a significant message about the
role Bayero played to hold back Nigeria from the brink of disaster.
APC
Former governor of Lagos State and
National leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in his tribute said, “ The death of
Bayero saddens the mind. However, he was first among equals and his long reign
on the throne validates him as a powerful yet compassionate king who was in
tune with the needs and aspirations of his people .
The APC, in a statement signed by its
spokesman Lai Mohammed also expressed profound shock and sadness at the death
of Ado Bayero, saying his demise came at a time his great wisdom and wealth of
knowledge are much needed to help Nigeria to surmount its challenges.
