Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki: The exit of a titan

The late Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, in life evoked extreme emotions. But more loved, than hated. He was "hated" for being Ibrahim Dasuki – blunt, hardworking, questioning, independent minded, well connected and knowledgeable. The irony is that, he was loved for the same reasons that he was hated for. He radically transformed the Sultanate, by giving the institution the Dasuki treatment – learning, splendor, majesty. He turned the palace around, that it became a tourist attraction – tourists spend millions of pounds visiting the Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom – he wanted same for Sokoto. 

 

I met Baba Dasuki several times as Sultan. Baba, as he was better known in the later years of his life, was a witty man and unlike the public posture of a serious task master, he laughed and joked a lot-gifts that he  passed on to his children in quantum. He was respectful, but on first contact he would come across as "arrogant and aloof". But once a relationship was forged, once you break through that wall, you wouldn’t believe that this was the same man that was demonized by some, as devil himself. After his deposition, the relationship became that of a father and son. I had more access to him- he was freed of trouble shooting in search of peace, or about making the railways better or fashioning an effective local government system. His, was a life of service.

 

Baba Dasuki was a victim of conspiracies and circumstances. His crime was that, like most royalties, and indeed northerners, he never bothered to challenge the lies bandied about him, and for many they became the gospel truth. He had his goals, top was to become the Sultan, the first from the Buhari lineage of the four Uthman Dan Fodio Houses. He gave it his all and achieved it, through a single minded focus and determination. But it was not by any means a do or die affair.

 

As a great grandson of Uthman Dan Fodio – he knew that the propagation of Islam and living according to its tenets was the surest path to the throne. He consequently spearheaded the founding of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI and the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). He gave everything for Islam. The late Islamic scholar, Abubakar Gumi was his chief collaborator. In spite of such works, some people told me pointedly, that he didn’t know the Quran. That was the extent of the mischief against him. Thankfully they never accused him of womanizing and drinking.

 

There is a common agreement by everyone that he was disciplined and a good family man. He loved his children, his grandchildren and indeed everyone who came his way. I had the fortune of knowing him, of drinking from his deep wealth of knowledge.

 

Dasuki’s problem can be traced  to history. The race for the Sultanate throne was on, long before the death of Abubakar Siddique, the 17th Sultan of Sokoto on November 1, 1988. Even now, the race to succeed the present Sultan is on. The infamous lecture by Shehu Malami to the National Youth Service Corps members, excluding the Buhari lineage from the throne was what busted the bubble. Dasuki’s crime was his failure to see the public relations dimension. Once he got the kingmakers to state the right of the Buhari lineage to the throne, he went to sleep. It was the same attitude to some other issues. 

 

Dasuki was highly connected. You could list those he wasn’t close to, but not those he knew. His clout was a plus and a big albatross. He didn’t know General Ibrahim Babangida. Babangida was a son. General Aliyu Gusau was also a son. He later became a son -in -law. Mamman Daura, Kabir Mato, Munir Jafaru, are all sons first and foremost, before they became sons- in – law. Col. Ahmed Daku, the Sokoto State governor continues to insist that his decision to approve his appointment was not influenced by Babangida. Just as Yakubu Muazu, then Sokoto State Military Administrator himself a prince of Azare continues to stress that the decision to depose Dasuki was his and his alone.

 When he was deposed as Sultan by Col. Yakubu Muazu, who in Nigerian parlance especially during the military era could be referred to as an "Abacha boy", it was a deed whose foundation had long been prepared by the falsehood, that he was imposed.

 

The Muazu government only cashed in on this. The more outgoing Shehu Malami, though he didn’t become Sultan, was effective in creating that image problem for Dasuki. Which is why for some people, his deposition was "justice delivered". Dasuki had been effectively tagged a "usurper", that "stole" the stool from the "more" popular Muhammadu Maccido, the son of Sultan Abubakar Siddique, who reigned for more than 50 years. Though no opinion poll was ever conducted, to back up this assertion, the perception proved deadly.

 

 There is a parallel between the emergence of Dasuki and that of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as the Emir of Kano. Sanusi, like Dasuki had repeatedly made it clear, that his sole life ambition was to be the Emir of Kano. Like Dasuki, he had built up contacts. And like Dasuki he contested the throne against a son of the late Emir, that had equally reigned for more than 50 years, that everyone took it for granted that  like Maccido, Ado Bayero would be the next Emir. There will always be trouble in circumstances like this. And like the Dasuki’s case, there was sponsored trouble that was linked to the Jonathan administration, just like Shehu Malami was fingered as being behind the uprising against the choice of Dasuki. The Babangida government did in fact arrested him.

 

From Dasuki, I learnt the power of consultations. There were pressures on him to take his case to the Oputa Panel. To him, going to Oputa Panel was a precious waste of time. He was emphatic, that going to Oputa Panel would create more problems, than it would solve. He further asked, assuming he was restored, what would he be referred to – the 18th or 20th Sultan? No doubt, there were sufficient grounds for him to have legally challenged his deposition, like Mustapha Jokolo has challenged his. The Sokoto State government admitted the facts and quietly resolved the issues of his deposition. Even after the tragic death of Maccido, Baba resisted moves to drag him into the race for the stool. He threw his weight behind the present Sultan, who is his son. Sa’ad stood by the Dasuki family throughout their travails, convinced an injustice was done to Dasuki. But the media was full of stories of Dasuki contesting. Just as tale bearers tried to create a wedge between Sambo Dasuki and Sultan Sa’ad, that Jonathan was going to effect regime change and make Sambo the Sultan. 

 

As Sultan, Dasuki carried out various programmes that he deemed relevant, several among which were: building Quranic schools and introduction of adult literacy programmes. He united the Muslim Ummah. He appointed Lateef Adegbite, as Secretary General of NSCIA, as part of a process of inclusion of all Muslims in the affairs of the council. The herdsmen and farmers clashes didn’t escape his attention. The religious and communal crisis that engulfed the north,also received his attention, as he stridently made efforts to restore peace.

 

For Dasuki, his deposition was a blessing, especially as he enjoyed the best of health, while in detention. He was also glad that he came back from detention with his family intact – no death, no health challenges. Upon his release, his level of gratitude couldn’t be measured, every sentence was laced with Alhamdulillahi, meaning, am grateful to Allah. Baba drew much more closer to God. If he was a Christian, he would have been referred to as a Pentecostal.

His Miyetti Allah residence on Kabir Road, Unguwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna State continued to be a Mecca of sort. But it was his great and grandchildren that were now his focus. His children have all been a source of pride to him, as they are all doing well. Sambo was NSA. Ahmed is doing well in the private sector – a director of MTN and in so many other blue chip companies. Haruna is a serving colonel in the Nigerian army. Abdulsamad is a member of the House of Representatives, Abba is pharmacist. His daughters are also well educated, his own way of advancing girl child education. He was definitely sad about Nigeria’s lack of development. Ever blunt, he holds the younger generation responsible. Baba may Allah grant you forgiveness. May Allah grant you paradise. Amin.

 

Ado wrote this piece from Kaduna