7th June 2014
Press Statement
Ado Bayero,
the death of a national pride
We are saddened by the death, even at the age of 83, of the
revered Emir of kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, son of Abdullahi Bayero dan Mohammed
and former Nigerian Ambassador to French speaking West African country of
Senegal. The late Ado Bayero was one of the very few traditional rulers in
Nigeria worthy of mention as a man of peace, intellect and focus who clearly
understood the metropolitan, multi ethnic and multinational implications of
residents of his emirate and also ensured every resident would never have any
encumbrances in their socio economic and political contributions that has
proven Kano City as one of the fastest growing cities in Nigeria.
The late Emir lived by his personal means through agriculture
and stock trading after he made strides as a bank worker with the Bank of
British West Africa and a parliamentarian of the Northern Regional Assembly in
1954. He was also in the police service between 1957 and 1962 driven by his
uncommon commitment to the struggle against injustice through illegal detentions
and acrimonious political circumscriptions.
Industries, especially textile, leather, international trade,
agriculture, the informal economy etc blossomed under his traditional
leadership and effective local and global networking since 1963 when he became the Emir of one of Nigeria’s fastest
growing communities until recent economic slump instigated by obvious lack of
national policy directions as imposed by global neo liberal interests.
Alhaji Ado Bayero was surely a man of peace. Kano has had
very fatal security challenges in the past. His Emirate almost became a
breeding abode for all sorts of extremism, but his ability to understand the
multiplicity of views, religion and nationality gave Kano a sustained peace and
serenity.
His interventions in the ongoing security challenges in
Nigeria also testify to his commitment to peace and unity as well as abhorrent
dispositions to violence and hatred.
One of the best ways to honour this icon of modern Nigeria is
for government at all levels to resuscitate the industrial legroom in Kano, a
city that once played host to very many industries that heavily impacted on our
collective national pride and economy.
We express the condolences of all Nigerian workers to his
family, the entire people and residents of Kano as we share the collective
grief of the passing of a colossus who impacted on the lives of every Nigerian
through his exemplary life of tolerance, quest for unity and peace as well as
industrial development.
Abdulwahed Omar
President
