Saturday 7 June 2014

Ado Bayero, the death of a national pride - NLC

                                                                                          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