Celebrating with His Highness Ado Bayero The Great

By the end of October , 2008 , His Highness Alhaji (Dr) Ado Bayero, The Emir of Kano, will be on throne for 45 years. The charismatic Emir is considered the greatest of traditional rulers in the whole of West Africa, and the greatest also of all Emirs that have ruled Kano from Habe Dynasty to the Fulani Dynasty as he has accomplished great works during his reign the like of which could only be accomplished during the epocs of Muhammadu Rumfa, Sarki Suleimanu and Abdullahi Bayero.

Charisma, dignity, elegance and honour had centralised the reign of Alhaji ( Dr) Ado Bayero which proved the way for him to be a colussus, added to his regalia and splendour, have won him acclaim and dignity to the language, costumes and other customs of Hausa and Fulani people of Kano.

The traditional institution has personified into Ado Bayero and made him a shining star among holders of office in the traditional institution. No royal father within Nigeria and her neighbours commands the respect that the Emir of Kano does over his subjects.His vast experience in leadership has helped Kano to be a centre of remarkable achievements in development, rising from defunct Northern Region to full -fleged state and sprouted from antique trans-sahara route to a momentous commercial, and industrial centre in Africa, and of course , all kind of international businesses.

The concern of the masses is his central view since his youthful days. He was identified as a helper, supporter and defender of the masses which issue has led the authorities of that time to brand him as " a radical " and in their opinion he was too close to the masses to serve the intrest of the establishment. He used his position as the Chief of the Northern Authority Police (Wakilin Doka) in an era when abuse of human rights was at it's peak in Nigeria to protect the poor, oppressed, suppressed and downtrodden from abuse of powers by politicians, goverment functionaries, members of the Raoal court, the alkalai and the Native Authority Constabulary.

There are so many narrations of how he saved innocent poor souls from notoriously reckless abuse of power , such as the case of a man brought from Ringim Town (now in Jigawa state) to Kano whose offence was that he pinned a NEPU badge on his chest. Ado Bayero asked the arresting officer if NEPU was not a registered political party? The officer said it was, and he ordered the officer to release the man. So also the narration of a man from Jahun (now also in Jigawa state)who was arrested and brought to Kano on the accusation of abusing the Sardauna of Sokoto. Ado Bayero asked the man who brought the arrested person if he was the Sardauna? The man said no. He then ordered the release of the detainee. Another man was said to have abused the Emir of Kano. He told the arresting officer that the Emir was his father and as the Emir's son , he had decided to forgive the man. The courageous activities of Ado Bayero to reduce the oppression against the poor led the Northern People's Congress (NPC) to accuse him of being a secret member of the Northern Element Proggressive Union (NEPU) which had been formed by the late Mallam Aminu Kano in a bold effort to mobilise the masses and check the abuses of the citizen's right. They silently removed him as Wakilin Doka and appointed him as Nigeria'a Ambassador to Senegal.

Tolerance, patience, and ability to accomodate have earned Ado Bayero a unique respect and honour from all Nigerians and citizens of neibouring countries. Regardless of the part of the country one comes from the South-West, South-South, South -East or other parts of Northern Nigeria- he will find Kano to be a second home. And no tribe or people from other parts of the country have ever accused him of partisanship in molesting or maltreating them. So also from religoius point of view , non -Muslims have never complained that the Emir has, in anyway, used his position to harass or deny them their freedom of worship. Even among the Muslims no sect or group will accuse him of having a sinister agenda to persecute their members for his, or other sect's intrest. These qualities endear him to all in love , respect , understanding and total acceptability to his royal leadership and service. Uniqueness of his leadership style has made Kano to be home to many Nigerians, Africans, Asians and Europeans as there are equal oppurtunities for all , irrespective of where you come from, your tribe, religion, social status and political affiliation. The people of Kano have learnt from him the importance of respecting and honouring guests, and this has led Kano to be Nigeria's League of Nations where there is equality and oppurtunity for all.

As a Prince Ado Bayero was an exception among their Royal Highness - Kano Princes - of those days. He was simple, humble and law abiding. When he was a student of Kano Middle School (now Rumfa College) as other Princes from Royal Families of Kano were reported to have been sent special meals from the home throughout their stay at the Middle School, but Ado Bayero shunned that luxury and stuck to the meals provided by the school. It was reported that he once said " a student was a student , prince or no prince". Some Princes were also reported to have been flouting school regulations continously, which offence led them to have brushes with the school authority. On his part, Ado Bayero obeyed school regulations, served his seniors and even washed plates used by them. He actively participated in all school works like sweeping lanes and dormitories, and other activities to maintain cleaniness in the school.

Another distinct quality of Ado Bayero is that all hius children do attend public schools right from the primary up to the secondary school and higher institutions in the country. He has refused to segragate his children from the children of the masses , which manner is the norm among other traditional rulers , politicians and elites of today. His children also mix with other children in the community, either children of the rich or poor in their day to day activities, unlike other elites who cut-off any sort of relationship between their children and childrens of the have-nots as they attend separate schools right from nursery up to secondary schools and higher institution, and presently even the type of employment they occupy.

Dr Bayero's sense of judgement with justice and equity has led so many people to go before him to solve their disputes. He listens and attends to their complaints where cases that would have spent years in courts could be solved within minutes.

Education, especially building of Islamic schools, are his major priorities and he also donates huge amounts of money to build such schools within and outside Kano. As indication of his great concern for religous knowledge, the great Emir needs no long notices to attend any occasion for an Islamiyya or Islamic secondary school. His conern and intrest for education is motivating the youths of Kano to seek for knowledge especially those in Islamic schools as they look forward to the day they will graduate and have the honour of coming face to face with His Highness to receive their certificates.

As Nigeria's Heads of State testify Ado Bayero is among a few royal and religious leaders that have never requested , asked or begged for any favour for themselves while in office. This shows that Ado Bayero is not the type that uses his office to beg , solicit or ask for personal favours.

We pray that may His Highness Alhaji(Dr) Ado Bayero have more years for Kano to continue to delevope. May Allah give him more strength in faith and health. Ran Takawa, San Kano , ya dade.

Shehu Mustapha Chaji

shehuchaji@yahoo.com

08038222575