The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Bayero is dead. He died at about 5 a.m. Friday, June 6 in his sleep. Thousands of sympathizers have continued to throng his Palace as at the time of filling this report. The mood in the northern Nigerian city of Kano remains melancholic as people were sighted in groups discussing the death of the foremost Kano monarch in low tones. He will be buried later in the day according to Islamic rites.
The death of Emir Ado Bayero has indeed opened the smoldering controversy which has continued to trail his successor even while he was alive. Many Chiefs within the Emirate, including his sons are indicating interest to the throne. Most desperate among the is the Majen Kano, embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who have been seen as making dangerous and desperate moves to succeed the late Emir.
Born into the family of Hajiya Hasiya and Abdullahi Bayero on 25 July, 1930, Emir Ado Bayero was from the lineage of the Fulani Sullubawa clan that has presided over the Emirate of Kano dynasty since 1819. The eleventh child of his father and the second of his mother, Ado Bayero was sent to live with Maikano Zagi at the age of 11.
He started his education in Kano where he studied the fundamentals Islam. He also attended Kano Middle School from where he graduated with a Certificate in Arabic Studies in 1947. He then worked as a Bank Clerk for the Bank of British West Africa until 1949, when he joined the Kano Native Police Authority. Ado Bayero later attended Zaria Clerical College in 1952. In 1954, he won a Seat to the Northern Regional House of Assembly. Ado Bayero became Head of the Kano Native Authority police division from 1957 to 1962. From there, he was appointed the Nigerian ambassador to Senegal, during which period he used to study the French language. It was at this point that Ado Bayero was called upon to serve as the Emir of Kano in October, 1963, after the death of Emir Muhammadu Inuwa who was on the throne just for three months.