PDP, Atiku mourn Ado Bayero, Late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, to be buried 4:00 p.m today

ABUJA – NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP said, Friday, that with the death of Emir of Kano, His  Royal Highness, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Bayero, Nigeria as a country has lost an uncommon personality, a great African and a quintessential monarch.

In a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party described the passage of the Monarch as a  great shock and intense sadness.
“Alhaji Dr. Ado Abdullahi Bayero lived a legend, a detribalized Nigerian and statesman who sacrificed the greater part of his life for the stability, oneness and development of our dear nation leaving for us and generations yet unborn resounding legacies and glowing footprints to follow.

“The late Emir personified dignity and finesses. Till death, he was the longest serving and unarguably one of the most respected emirs in the history of Kano Emirate; a devout muslim who, despite his exceptional attainments left us great lessons as a very strong symbol of godliness, tolerance, justice, honesty and service to our dear father land.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who also mourned the late Emir of Kano, said that with his death, he has lost a father, being his favourite son spanning over three decades.

In a tribute he signed Friday, Atiku Abubakar disclosed that he knew that death was coming (like it would for every mortal), but not in agony and humiliation because he (Ado Bayero) did not deserve it, adding that Ado Bayero was not only loyal to his people in his immediate domain, but to Nigeria and humanity at large.

According to Atiku, Ado Bayero was a pious, humble, upright and honest man whose integrity was unparalleled, just as he stressed  that the death of Ado Bayero has robbed the nation of a noble crusader of unity, tolerance and peaceful co-existence.

Metuh continued, “He was an excellent administrator and entrepreneur who played key roles towards the political and economic development of our country while his contributions to national discourse remained pivotal to the sustenance of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

“We mourn with our National Chairman, Ahmadu Adamu Muazu CON, as he grieves for the loss of his adoptive father, the Emir, who nurtured him and many other prominent Nigerians to greatness.  Indeed, we are particularly pained that the Emir left us at a time like this when his wealth of experience, valuable fatherly advise and guidance are needed the most.

“Our hearts also reach out to the the Bayero family even as we condole with the Kano Emirate, the good people of Kano state and the entire nation for this very huge loss.”

Speaking further on the late traditional ruler, Atiku Abubakar who recalled that promoting unity and tolerance was one of Ado Bayero’s greatest and unforgettable legacies, said, “Nigeria had lost a crusader for peace, stability and unity at a time his services were still badly needed by the country.

According to the  former Vice President, Ado Bayero who celebrated his 50th Anniversary on the throne in June last year, was a rare leader of enviable and vast wisdom.

He recalled the significant contributions of Ado Bayero to sustaining the unity of Nigeria during the January 15, 1966 political crisis, a role that earned him the respect of the late Dim Chukuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu, adding, “the respect Ojukwu had for Ado Bayero, a quintessential bridge-builder, was a significant message about the role Bayero played to hold back Nigeria from the brink of disaster.

“Apart from Ado Bayero’s commitment to unity, Atiku Abubakar praised the late monarch’s amazing ability to rule over a vast, complex, heterogeneous, and cosmopolitan state like Kano without losing his sanity, a quality he said was rare among average leaders.”

STORY By: Henry Umoru