The Nasiru Ado Bayero I know – Aminu Dantata

My relationship with the late emir of Kano, may Allah have mercy on him, was from our childhood. And even before both of us were born, there had always been that cordial relationship between our families.

Alhaji Aminu Dantata, the Chairman of Dantata Group of Companies was one of the closest friends to the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero. In this interview, the business tycoon shares his memories of the growing up phase of the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero, one of the sons of his late friend.

 

The strong bond between you and the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, is well known to the people of Kano. Kindly share with us what that relationship was like?

My relationship with the late emir of Kano, may Allah have mercy on him, was from our childhood. And even before both of us were born, there had always been that cordial relationship between our families. So, we grew up observing the relationship between our parents. So it was a cordial relationship between us from childhood.

The Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, is the first son of the late emir. As one of the closest friends of his father, what do you remember about his birth?

There is always a lot of excitement, celebration and jubilation with regards to every son that is born. I remember that the late emir was really excited; likewise his relatives and well-wishers. The happiness then was second to none. Imagine having the firstborn of a newly crowned king being a boy. It was indeed a moment of happiness for everyone and people really jubilated.

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You are one of the few people that the Emir of Bichi regards as his   fathers. So, it would be very important to hear something from you about him.  How would you describe his personality since childhood?

Yes, he was really obedient and loyal to his father as a child. Also, traditionally, in royal families, every child while growing up has his own style endowed him by Almighty Allah. That is how he would grow to become what he is destined to be. It will also determine those who would be his close associates right from the family and even beyond. I know him, he has a lot of friends.

Similarly, he is very creative and he can persevere. When he was young, I used to see him always with his father. His father used to send him to me whenever there was an issue on the ground, even though he was very young at that time. As a result of this, I got to know that he is very good and creative.

He likes people and people like him. This is a character or feature he is divinely blessed with.

It is really a blessing from Allah and I can still see this blessing in him very well. Now, with Allah’s grace, he has become elevated further in life; he has family and is now marrying out his own children. We even have marital relationship with them. Our families have inter-married.

The late emir Bayero had crowned Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero as Tafidan Kano, later as District Head of Nassarawa, outside the metropolis, Tarauni and Nassarawa for a second time. As a father, what would you say are Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero’s outstanding contributions to societal peace and development during those moments?

Well, in providing good leadership, he did a lot. That is even why his late father kept moving him from one emirate to another.  Had it been he was not satisfied with his leadership style that would not have happened. He did well in discharging the responsibilities given to him. His father was very happy with what he did. That was why he kept taking him to different emirates in order to promote and preserve the emirates.

Today, with Allah’s grace, he is now the emir of Bichi. People are happy and we are also happy to see him as the emir. For this reason, we are praying for Allah to help him.

Sir, as a father, what do you expect of him as the Emir of Bichi?

We are expecting the same good qualities he has always exhibited to ensure prosperity in the emirate. That is what we are praying for because as a father and a very close friend to his late father, the best thing to do is to pray for him and his siblings and wish them well. So we are always praying that Allah keeps protecting and promoting them. May Allah bless and promote them not only in Nigeria or Africa but globally the way he did to their father.

Their father did many things for society’s peace and progress. So, his children will preserve his dignity as they also maintain and preserve their own dignity insha Allah.  May Allah see them through and may Allah see us through too. I also pray to Allah to give Jannah Firdausi to our departed ones.