Emir of Kano buried amid tributes

Thousands of people on Friday attended the burial of the Emir of Kano,
Alhaji Ado Bayero, one of Nigeria's prominent monarchs and Muslim
leaders.

Bayero, who ascended the throne in 1963, died on Friday morning after
a long illness at the age of 83.

Open-air prayers were held at the palace before a funeral cortege made
its way to the emir's palace, where he was buried.

Emirs, dignitaries and politicians from across the country were also
in attendance.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday described the death of the emir
as shocking.

Jonathan said he received the news of the emir's death with sadness
and a feeling of great national loss.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr.
Reuben Abati, the President sympathised with the late emir's family
and the people of Kano over the incident.

He said the monarch would be remembered for his immense wisdom and
competence as a traditional ruler.

The statement read, "On behalf of himself, his family, the Federal
Government and the people of Nigeria, President Jonathan commiserates
with the emir's family and all the people of Kano over whom the
departed emir presided as traditional ruler for more than half a
century.

"The President joins them in mourning the monarch whose uncommon
leadership qualities and evident faith in the peace, unity, progress,
and prosperity of Nigeria combined to make him one of the most
respected traditional rulers in the country during his long and very
successful reign.
"President Jonathan believes that Alhaji Ado Bayero will always be
remembered and honoured by the people of Kano and all Nigerians for
his immense wisdom and competence as a traditional ruler, as well as
for using his exalted throne to build bridges of unity, friendship and
harmony across the nation.

"The President reaffirms his declaration on the occasion of the Emir's
50th anniversary celebrations last year that the late Alhaji Ado
Bayero was one of the most decent and respectable Nigerians he has had
the privilege of interacting with, and he will always treasure
pleasant memories of their last meeting earlier this year.

"He prays that the Almighty Allah will receive the late emir's great
soul and grant the good people of Kano a worthy successor who will
carry on his good works and wise rule for the well-being and benefit
of all Nigerians."

Senate President David Mark also described Bayero's death as a
monumental loss to the nation.

Mark stated this in a statement in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary,
Mr. Paul Mumeh.

He said the late monarch was a great asset who would be missed by all
in many respects.

Mark said that the monarch died at a time when his wise counsel would
have been needed to navigate through the nation's trying times.
"He was a detribalised leader who made the nation his constituency," Mark said.

The Senate President recalled that late Bayero was among the few
Nigerian leaders who worked hard for the unity and indivisibility of
the nation, especially during trying times.
"His contributions to the peace and unity of Nigeria cannot be wished
away," he added.

Mark, therefore, urged Nigerians to emulate the monarch's virtues of
patriotism, philanthropy, honesty and leadership quality.

He sympathised with government and people of Kano State, especially
the bereaved family over the demise of the monarch.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar said he had lost a father in the late emir.
Atiku said his relationship with the late monarch was of a father and
favourite son spanning over three decades.

The former vice-president said in a statement he personally signed
that he was pained that he knew that death was coming, but not in
agony and humiliation because he (Bayero) did not deserve it.

Atiku said the death of Bayero had robbed the nation a noble crusader
of unity, tolerance and peaceful co-existence.

The former vice- president recalled that promoting unity and tolerance
was one of the late monarch's legacies.