The Emir of Kano, Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Bayero, CFR, LLD, JP, who died at about 4.00 am on Friday may have suffered a heart attack in the wake of recent political developments that had reportedly greatly agitated his mind.
Speculations were rife in Kano town shortly after the announcement of his death yesterday that his health might have fatally deteriorated after his choice of new Waziri of Kano, Sheikh Nasir Muhammad Nasir, the Imam of Fagge Jumu’at Mosgue, was vehemently rejected by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Many people believed that he could have died of a heart attack as he was said to be relatively stable during the day on Thursday. In fact, it was said that he gave a new house to Sheikh Nasir because his own was affected by the demolition of residences being undertaken by the state government in some parts of Kano town.
Sheikh Muhammad Nasir was turbaned penultimate Friday by the emir despite the rejection to his nomination which was first announced in August last year after the death of the former occupant of the post, Sheikh Isa Waziri.
The emir might have decided to wait no longer and resolved to turban the Sheikh after his return from London recently where he had gone for medical checkup and convalesced there for about four months. However, after the turbaning ceremony Governor Kwankwaso was said to have insisted that the appointment had to be reversed.
This reportedly greatly disturbed the emir and when two senior titleholders, Wamban Kano Alhaji Abbas Sanusi and Galadiman Kano Alhaji Tijjani Hashim, conveyed the message of the rejection to him he was said to have been so incensed that he ordered them out of his sight.
Our correspondent gathered that the emir complained in anger that he had just returned from a prolonged treatment of his ailment abroad and some people seemed to be bent on worsening his health condition.
As the emir refused to budge the governor was said to have ordered the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, to write a letter to the Emirate Council in which he threatened to either dethrone the emir or balkanize his emirate into three by creating two additional emirates for Gaya and Karaye.
Our source said the content of the letter worsened the emir’s condition and even after the impasse was broken at a meeting with the representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Hassan Ahmed Danbaba, his mood did not appear to have changed for the better.
247ureports.com learnt that it was resolved at the meeting that the appointment of Sheikh Muhammad Nasir had to be reversed and this was announced to the public by Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, on Tuesday.
By tradition it is the prerogative of the emir to confer a traditional title on anyone he deems fit to hold it, but since traditional rulers are now subjected to constituted authority they suffer all forms of political interference by some governors in many parts of the country.
Alhaji Ado Bayero, who celebrated his 50th anniversary on the throne last year, would have marked his 84th birthday next week on June 15, 2014. He was appointed as the 13th Fulani emir in 1963, at a time he was Nigeria’s ambassador to Senegal. He is survived by 60 children and over 300 grandchildren.
