Farewell revered Takawa

Governors came and went and heads of state ruled and left but Alhaji Ado Bayero, fondly called Takawa by his children, nephews and nieces was always there for us. Ramadan in and Ramadan out, he was there to announce the sighting of the moon, join the faithful in devotions and then lead the Eid celebrations, […]

Governors came and went and heads of state ruled and left but Alhaji Ado Bayero, fondly called Takawa by his children, nephews and nieces was always there for us. Ramadan in and Ramadan out, he was there to announce the sighting of the moon, join the faithful in devotions and then lead the Eid celebrations, a month later.
Like other human beings, the late Emir meant different things to different people. This is only natural, especially with someone who had been a leader because leadership is all about evoking love and hatred; sometimes in equal measure. But having been around for 51 years, means that he was there when we came into the world and right through our lives till the present; which made him more like a real royal father to us than a figurative one. No wonder it was my friend, Dr Hadiza Nuhu, who called early yesterday and in a grief-stricken voice to told me of Emir Bayero’s death. And when I called my family home in Kano to confirm whether the story was in the news, my younger sister Fati was actually sobbing when she answered me. Such was the effect the Emir’s death had on us.
Even the younger generation didn’t seem immune to this loss, as my teenage son Abdallah came and showed me his many BlackBerry contacts who had Late Ado Bayero as their Display Picture, with varying messages of condolences accompanying. To those of us whose parents came to Kano from elsewhere, we never found ourselves craving for another home because we were never made to feel inferior or unwelcome. My siblings and I attended schools in Kano, enjoyed state government scholarships and worked in various sectors of the state as if we were in our native Borno state. This is not to say that there are no Kano indigenes who enjoyed the same benefits in Borno, after being born there, no it is just to say that we are living proof that such hospitality and brotherliness does exist amongst our various peoples.
In his fifty years of reign, Emir Ado Bayero had witnessed monumental changes in his domain. Some were positive, which translated into economic, educational and infrastructure growth in the state. While others were negative as they led to the erosion of their authority and their being forced to become ceremonial heads answerable to governors and heads of state. But through this all Alhaji Ado Bayero remained stoic and true to his calling, by weathering the storm with dignity and self-respect. He was once asked by radio journalist to assess the changing role of traditional institutions from his point of view and he answered: ‘Before we were the actors, (Da mu muke yi) after that others will act in consultation with us (aka zo ana yi damu) now they will act and then inform us (yanzu sai an yi sannan a gaya mana). In making this assessment there was no bitterness in the Emir’s voice, just a dignified acceptance of inevitable change.
He was on record as having outlived 15 governors and 13 heads of state in the last five decades, yet he was never seen on the corridors of power in state or government houses seeking favours. He held aloof and remained on his turf such that it was these political office holders that ended up coming to him in search of endorsement for their various policies. In his book, ‘Prince of the Times’ a biography of the late Emir, Dr Omar Farouk Ibrahim quoted General Ibrahim Babangida, the former military president, as saying that ‘Emir Ado Bayero is unique among Nigeria’s traditional rulers. He never asked for favours from anyone.’
A truly detribalized Nigerian, Late Ado Bayero was known to have many close friends from other tribes and regions of Nigeria. It was no wonder that he even learnt the good news that he had been named emir from his friend Chief Michael Agbamuche. According to Dr Farouk Ibrahim, in the book quoted above, when Ado Bayero arrived at the airport in Kano from Senegal, where he was Nigeria’s ambassador at the time, he ran into Michaeal Agbamuche, who was there to receive some overseas passengers. This was how it happened. ‘He picked up his hand luggage, which was all he had and proceeded through the arrival hall. Just then, somebody in the crowds rushed out and immediately prostrated before Ado Bayero, saying “Ranka ya dade” “May you live long.” Ado Bayero was baffled, “What are you doing Mike” He asked his friend Michael Agbamuche. “Have you not heard it?” The latter replied. “You are the new emir of Kano. It was announced on the radio.”
Apparently the Northern Nigerian government headed by Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunana Sakkwato had delayed telling him of the appointment while abroad because they didn’t want to give him a chance to turn it down. They feared this might happen out of solidarity with his deposed elder brother Sir Muhammadu Sanusi, whose successor Emir Muhammad Inuwa, their cousin, had died a few days earlier. The Sardauna had expected Ado Bayero to need some ‘cajoling’ before he will accept the post so he directed him to come to Nigeria and proceed to Kaduna for a meeting with him. When Bayero inadvertently found out the news through Mike Agbamuche, he had no choice but to follow his friend to his home at No 11A New Road, Sabongari in order to borrow and wear his traditional ‘babbar riga, wando and jamfa’ to dress with and enter the city since he had arrived in a three-piece in which he felt it wasn’t proper to arrive home. This was October 1963.
Other notable non-Hausa friends of the late Emir include late Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who confessed that he once owed his life to the Emir. According to Ojukwu, he was billed to die along with the Premier of the Northern region, Northern military officers and others deemed to be too close to them in that Nzeogwu-led coup of 1966 but a fault in his house made him to vacate it that night and accept the offer of Ado Bayero’s GRA house in Kano. This temporary change of address saved him from an early death in the hands of his kinsmen. Commenting on Ado Bayero’s character and grace Ojukwu had this to say: ‘I was particularly impressed with the way he handled the crisis with (former governor) Rimi. His reaction was simple-a dignified silence-throughout the period. That was where he demonstrated his nobility.’
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade was a friend who had been with Emir Bayero through good times and bad. In the Emir’s biography, he paid this special tribute to his comrade and fellow traditional ruler: ‘It may interest all Nigerians to know that but for this God-fearing paramount ruler, along with very few others, Nigeria as a country would have gone to pieces between 1966 and 1970 and also between 1993 and 1998, he is God-fearing forgiving, patient, benevolent, contented and peace-loving.’
No doubt, in the death of His Royal Highness Alhaji Ado Bayero, CFR, we have lost a great and exemplary ruler and witnessed the end of a glorious era.  We can only pray to Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him a place in Aljannat Firdaus, amin.