| Ado
Bayero’s carbon copy
By IBRAHIM BARDE, Kano
Monday July 19, 2004
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Alhaji
Aminu Ado Bayero
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, 43 and a 1984 graduate of Mass Communication,
Bayero University and an American trained pilot is not only
one of the eldest children of the influential Emir of Kano,
Dr. Ado Bayero, he is also one of the most trusted lieutenants
of the monarch; no wonder he is entrusted with the position
and title of Sarkin Dawakin Tsakar Gida. Alhaji Aminu told
Daily Sun: “The little I know of it (Sarkin Dawankin
Tsakar Gida) is that the holder of the position is a person
very close to the emir himself; as you can see, during the
horse riding or any traditional durbar, I am the one who is
directly behind him when we are on the horses.
Aminu Ado Bayero is equally the District Head of Dala, the
heart of Kano city and his father’s carbon copy. He
spoke to Daily Sun during the bicentanary ceremony of Othman
Dan Fodio’s Jihad in Kano.
Despite the fact that you were born into it please tell us
how you came into the traditional institution as one of its
leaders in Kano
Alhamdulillah, it is indeed, quite a long time. I was turbaned
or rather initiated into the traditional institution in 1990,
so it is over a decade now but so far so good, I have learnt
a lot. You know, you can be born into a system without knowing
it; it is when you put it into practice that you know what
it is all about but the most important thing is that I thank
God, I thank His Highness, the Emir for giving me the chance
to become a District Head and all the promotions I went through
and most importantly my gain out of it is serving the people.
I find joy in dedicating my time, my period and everything
into serving the people and seeing to their welfare, that
is the most important thing to me now.
Which and which positions have you occupied during the
course of these past 12 years?
Well, I was made Danmaje of Kano in June 1990. The week I
got married was the same week I was given the title of Dan
Majen Kano, District Head of Nassarawa and from June, I was
there to October that same year, when I was promoted to become
the Dan Buran of Kano but still retained my district of Nassarawa
and I was also heading Waje District at the same time. Then,
by December 1992, I was again promoted to be the Turaki of
Kano and from December 1992 to December 2002 I was promoted
to the position of Sarkin Dawakin Tsakar Gida, so I have gone
through four promotions and as at now, I am the district head
of Dala.
What is so special about Sarkin Dawakin Tsakar Gida?
Well, Sarkin Dawakin Tsakar Gida, let me say is a title given
to only the princes in Kano and it has a lot of significance
and meaning. The little I know of it is that the holder of
the position is a person very close to the Emir himself, as
you can see, during the horse riding or any traditional durbar,
I am the one who is directly behind him when we are on the
horses. So whatever happens to him will certainly come to
me; also there are a lot of traditions to it; I am told that
during the time when we used to fight wars like the Jihad
and some stuff like that, whenever the Emir is indisposed
or he went to the war front, Sarkin Dawakin Tsakar Gida normally
went in as a sit-in for him. I think that is how it all started;
Tsakar Gida in Hausa means inside the house and beside this,
there are other traditional functions that the Sarkin Dawaki
performs, especially as it relates to the palace with the
tradition there.
Dala is the most sensitive district in Kano, not only
that, it is the heart of Kano, how do you cope with the challenges
of holding Dala as a District Head?
Certainly, there are lots of challenges and a lot of other
things but you learn from the people you are ruling. The most
important thing is that when you go closer to the people then
you will realise that to lead is to serve. If something bad
happens to them, you feel if more than them, if it is happiness
or a thing of joy that has happened, rejoice with them; I
think that is the secret of being a leader without much problem.
Be close to your people, put your ear there, anytime they
want to see you, be there, anytime they invite you, be there
and advice them and correct them where they go wrong and give
them a chance to also correct you, we are all human beings
we can make mistakes and I think it pays to do so.
You graduated with a honours degree in Mass Communication
and later went to America and trained as a pilot but to the
surprise of all, you abandoned these professions to become
a traditional fellow, why?
Well, I have seen the four walls of the university, graduating
with a degree in Mass Communication then I went to a flying
school in the U.S. came back and was busy flying with Kabo
Air and then all of a sudden the Emir felt I should come back
and assist. I still thank God because education is not only
meant for you to go and work and maybe earn a living; like
a pilot earning a lot of money and spending it the way you
want, education helps you as well, like when it comes to governing
the people. Kano emirate is so vast and big but the Emirate
needs a lot of hands, going by the level of development in
the country. In one way or the other, there are ways I can
use my education to assist the Emirate. When it comes to issues
that have to do with the press, public relation which is part
of what I read, I have always contributed in a way to help
the Emirate and the people.
People say you look like your father, have you been told
of this before?
A lot of people say so that I look very much like him. Actually
when it comes to resemblance, I never can tell but people
who see it and say it, I cannot doubt them but it is normal
for a son to look like his father. Ordinarily, the pride of
every father is to have children that resemble him and the
joy of every child is when he is told he is his father’s
carbon copy.
Constitutional role for the traditional rulers?
When it comes to constitutional role for traditional rulers,
I keep wondering what role is the constitution going to create
because as far as I am concerned, traditional rulers already
have their roles to play, whether it is in the constitution
or not. In our own case, ours is based on religion which is
all encompassing, which began with Othman Dan Fodio’s
jihad of 1804, which we are currently celebrating its bicentanary.
Be that as it may, things are changing in the country; I think
I can understand the urge to put it in the constitution but
like I stated earlier, whether it is put in the constitution
or not, we have a role to play and we have been playing it
and nobody will doubt the role being played by the traditional
institution.
The most memorable day of his life
Days come and pass and a lot of memories are buried. I cannot
specifically say this day is more important than the other
in my life, but I think I can recall a lot of memories that
are indeed important like the day I was born which I don’t
know because you have to be born to become something; and
whatever bring happiness, peace and progress to my people,
I share in it and of course, I have to confess, the 40th anniversary
of the Emir on the throne cannot go unrecalled; it counts
among the days that I always recall with satisfaction; when
I recall that my father has been an Emir in a place like Kano
for 40 years, I am always happy and it calls also for thanks
to Allah.
My typical day?
Alright, it varies, but the most common is like this; I wake
up as early as 5:30 in the morning so say my prayers. I read
some religious books to update my knowledge, then by 7:00am,
I would start sitting outside privately to receive those who
want to see me. Between 7-9, I would finish with them, take
my breakfast, then by 10:00am I go out normally to the palace
for the palace sessions where we sit down to listen to things
that are happening in the Emirate; by 12:00 noon when we finish,
I dash to my office as a District Head and will be there up
to 3:30pm then I would return home and between this time to
4:30pm is the time I relax with my family to talk, then as
from 4:30 I come out to sit again to receive visitors officially,
that is those with problems with the local govt. or the Emirate
Council has sent them to me and from then to 6:30 before Maghrib
(after sun set) prayers, I would have finished with them and
then after Isha’I prayers, I would come out again to
have private audience with people wishing to see me, closing
at 9:00pm, this is my day in a nutshell.
Which type of delicacy appeals to him most?
When it comes to food, it is very unfortunate I have to say
it, I don’t have any particular food that I can say
I like most; maybe because I have not learnt how to cook myself,
so whatever is cooked, I think I am comfortable with it (prolonged
laughter).
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