Ado Abdullai Bayero
The Emir of Kano - Alhaji Dr. Ado Abdullahi Bayero has passed away - a few weeks away from his 84th birthday. A source close to the palace confirmed this to Trumpet.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) - Dr Reuben Abati, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan described the late Emir as "one of the most decent and respectable Nigerians he has had the privilege of interacting with."
The statement added that the President "commiserates with the Emir's family and all the people of Kano over whom the departed Emir presided illustriously as traditional ruler for more than half a century.
"The President joins them in mourning the monarch whose uncommon leadership qualities and evident faith in the peace, unity, progress, and prosperity of Nigeria combined to make him one of the most respected traditional rulers in the country during his long and very successful reign.
"President Jonathan believes that Alhaji Ado Bayero will always be remembered and honoured by the people of Kano and all Nigerians for his immense wisdom and competence as a traditional ruler, as well as for using his exalted throne to build bridges of unity, friendship and harmony across the nation.
"He prays that the Almighty Allah will receive the late Emir's great soul and grant the good people of Kano a worthy successor who will carry on his good works and wise rule for the well-being and benefit of all Nigerians."
The Emir who was born in July 25 1930 ascended the throne on October 22 1963 making him one of the longest-serving Emirs in the emirate's history. He was the 13th Fulani Emir of Kano since the Fulani War of Usman dan Fodio, when the Fulani took over the Hausa city-states. He was also the 56th ruler of the Kano Kingdom.
His death comes on the heels of a failed assassination attempt on 19 January 2013 which left two of his sons injured and his driver and bodyguard dead, among others. He was hospitalised in the United Kingdom for months following his shock from the event.
Bayero was born to the family of Hajiya Hasiya and Abdullahi Bayero and into the Fulani Sullubawa clan that has presided over the emirate of Kano since 1819. He was the eleventh child of his father and the second of his mother. At the age of seven, he was sent to live with Maikano Zagi.
He started his education in Kano studying Islam, after which he attended Kano Middle School. He graduated from the School of Arabic Studies in 1947. He then worked as a bank clerk for the Bank of British West Africa until 1949, when he joined the Kano Native Authority. He attended Zaria Clerical College in 1952. In 1954, he won a seat to the Northern regional House of Assembly.
He was head of the Kano Native Authority police division from 1957 until 1962, during which he tried to minimise the practice of briefly detaining individuals and political opponents on the orders of powerful individuals in Kano. He then became the Nigerian Ambassador to Senegal.
He was a former Chancellor of the University of Nigeria and the Chancellor of the University of Ibadan till his death.