How best to remember Danmasanin Kano

How are great leaders measured? Truly, they are measured by the lives they reached, the people they motivated during their lifetime and the legacy of their lessons that extend to generations. For Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, Danmasanin Kano, the impact of his life is incalculable. He had reached too many, taught too many and inspired […]

How are great leaders measured? Truly, they are measured by the lives they reached, the people they motivated during their lifetime and the legacy of their lessons that extend to generations.

For Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, Danmasanin Kano, the impact of his life is incalculable.

He had reached too many, taught too many and inspired too many with clear message: live together in unity and engage your differences respectfully.

The people he connected with had cut across and the lesson had extended far beyond the political circle, he was known for.

Danmasani was shrewd. He was naturally insightful. He never looked down on anyone buthad always tried to tap from their wisdom and to be the giant who walked among the everyman he had relationship with.

He’s gone for good. He died recently at a hospital in Egypt and was 85. But the bitter and sad part of his exit is the seeming absence of an immediate replacement like him, who can equally earn the respect of all, like he did.

A politician and an administrator per excellence, Danmasani always said he drew inspirations and tremendous lessons from late Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, and the first and only Premier of Northern Nigeria.

Like Sardauna, he was one of the most consistent advocates of justice and good governance. He was fearless and blunt, and some could even say to a fault. Recall his advice to President Muhammadu Buhari after his declaration as winner of the 2015 general election. “Treat everyone equally irrespective of religious or tribal differences. And lead all with justice”.

In every challenging and difficult time for the country, Danmasani was always there, with his basic message that were centered on honor, ethics, justice, fair play and avoidance of tribalism; ideals, he later used to say are gradually losing momentum in the country.

As prolific speaker, educationist and diplomat, his fascination in cultural values was legend, and if there was anything that kept agitating his mind up to his last breath was the need for Nigeria to remain united, with its people tolerating one another and understanding each other irrespective of ethnicity, geography or political differences.

Danmasani was a bridge from the early nation’s simpler time where ethnicity had played no crucial role and to the complicated time of Nigeria’s history where ethnicity seems to have beclouded the rational thinking of the citizenry. He served the country as a consistent nationalist who believed in the defense of peoples’ rights, and as a traditionalist who always defended the cultural values of his community and of others as well.

He was humble. He was approachable and provided perspective to national issues. Malam Muhammad Koki, a 65 year old politician said, “I never come across anyone accusing Danmasani of sectionalism, tribalism or religious bigotry. In fact I can’t recall growing up hearing anything negative from him about other ethnicity. That spirit of approaching the national issues, with courage and concern was what distinguished Danmasani from others”. 

Now, Danmasani is no more. And the Kano State Government has renamed the state owned North West University after him. The measure would no doubt,  go a long way at immortalizing him. But for years and seasons, for decades and generations to come, those that drew from his wisdom, hence passing the same lesson on and on will do great service to the nation. That of course will be his most lasting legacy in the country, and is hard to erase.