Occasion of The 40th Year Anniversary of the Installation of His Highness Alhaji Ado Bayero as The Emir of Kano

Monday, October 13, 2003

It is indeed with a great sense of gratitude to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala that I stand before you here on this unique day in the contemporary history of Kano State and Nigeria. I am particularly pleased that barely five months after we had taken the mantle of leadership in Kano, we are yet again witnessing another spectacular day in which a crop of outstanding and highly esteemed Nigerians gather to celebrate selfless national service; to recognize personal sacrifice; to honour total devotion to national cause; to pay tribute to an icon of peace and tranquility; to commemorate the 40th year anniversary of the installation of His Highness, Alhaji Ado Bayero CFR, LLD, JP as the Emir of Kano.

There is no dint of doubt that although these years were a blend of order and turbulence, they were also completely eventful and colourful, as they made a tremendous impact on the overall development of the people of Kano and its environs.

As a custodian and enforcer of law, a diplomat and a pioneer modern aristocrat, Alhaji Ado Bayero has not only brought distinction to the Kano emiral authority, he has also constructively transformed the lives and thoughts of the citizens of Kano. His shining qualities of honesty, patience and dedication for the welfare of his people will remain unmatched for a long time to come. These sterling characteristics have earned him an enduring legacy of being the most admired ruler in the history of Kano.

As people come together to celebrate this anniversary, the Government and people of Kano State are proud of the honour accorded to our acclaimed ruler by the personal presence of His Excellency, The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo. We also acknowledge the presence of their Excellencies, former Heads of States, Members of National and States’ Assemblies, Executive Governors, Members of Federal Executive Council, as well as members of National and States’ Judiciary.

In a way, this great assemblage represents the Nation’s cherished admiration of the good deeds and astounding accomplishments of the Emir of Kano. It is indeed in recognition of his life-long commitments that Kano State Government considered it quite deserving to make elaborate arrangements to mark this historic day.

It is the wish of the Emir and his Council that the occasion should be marked by seriously reflecting on some of the problems confronting the people of Kano in particular and the Nation in general. The Emir and the Council therefore decided to sponsor a National Conference on Chieftaincy and Security in Nigeria: Past Present and Future where highly respected scholars from across the Country and even beyond have been invited to deliver papers. They will consider the correlation between chieftaincy and security, and reflect on how modern Nigeria can best utilize her people and traditions on the road to attain peace, unity and progress. Discussants of these papers would include prominent members of the traditional institutions in the Country and experienced practitioners from various security outfits in the Country. The proceedings of this Conference shall be printed in book forms to establish a permanent contribution to the reflections of the Nation on some of these crucial questions.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I must, at this point, mention that His Highness the Emir has consistently played a leading role in ensuring peace in Kano and in Nigeria. He has, times without number, offered useful pieces of advice on issues of National and International importance. His leadership has also tremendously promoted religious progress, as Kano has recorded an incredible rise in the number of mosques, religious institutions and schools.

But beyond the political and religious spheres, the Emir’s leadership has helped in the projection of the cultural heritage of the people of Kano to other parts of Nigeria and the world.

We must therefore commend the Emir on this. We must commend him for devoting his time and wealth to Islam, and for his moral uprightness and exemplary leadership. We must also thank him for his untiring efforts to exhort his people to live in accordance with the tenets of Islam. The people of Kano have always known him as a man peace, a man of honour, a man of principles, a man of patience and a self-contented and non-coveted leader.

Finally, I wish to conclude by reminding us all that the virtues and legacies of His Highness are lessons every Nigerian must urge himself to learn and adopt. This would certainly contribute in forging Nigeria ahead on the road to peace, unity and progress.

I pray to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to guarantee all our guests safe journey back to their destinations.

Thank you all, and God bless.