The eldest surviving member of the Kano Fulani dynasty, His Highness Alhaji (DR.) Sayyadi Abubakar Mahmud is today, celebrating twenty-five years on the throne as the first, 1st class emir of Ringim, Jigawa State.
To the entire people of the Emirate, this calls for a triumphant celebration in honour of the man in whose hands the almighty God has entrusted the wheel of steering the establishment of a formidable and successful Emirate. Against all odds comprising of salient traumatic challenges, domestic and external aggressive intimidations, our Emir stood. He remained resilient, resolute and sensitively focused with zeal and enthusiasm to establish an Emirate which today, stands tall to the admiration of all.
The life and times of His Highness, is a documentation of purified loyalty to his parents, elders and the constituted authorities. His rise from being a prince to a parliamentarian, District Head representative, the President of the World Cooperative Society, to a full pledge District Head under Kano jurisdiction and now a First class Emir, echoed his level of commitment, sacrifice and contributions to the overall development of humanity which, was never in doubt.
His father, late Wamban Kano Mahmud the son of the 9th Fulani Emir of Kano Usman Abdullahi Maje Karofi, was one of the loving, adored and admired prince in the history of Kano royal dynasty. He was appointed the District Head of Dabi with the title of Tafidan Kano at the tender age of nine years, thus, making him the youngest prince ever to be appointed into such an exalted position in the history of Kano. Due to his modesty, religious knowledge, humility and pragmatic approach to leadership and administrative procedures, his name featured prominently in each set of list presented by Kano King Makers for nomination as an Emir of Kano from 1926 to 1963. He held the title of Tafida for more than five decades before his elevation to the title of Wambai, which he was holding when he answered the call of the almighty on the last Friday in the month of Ramadan of 1989.
His mother, Hajiya Hauwa’u Yakubu (Uwar Soro) was an epitome of discipline, entrepreneurship and a strong believer of faith and a practicing Muslimah. She is the daughter of the second Shattima of Kano Yakubu and a niece to the first Shattima Zakari. Hajia Babba as she was referred, instill in her children the irrevocable believe in the powers of God and faith.
For me, I always remember with nostalgic feeling of gladness, the deep sense of love showered on me by my maternal uncle, His Highness. Apart from his gifted qualities for apt and vivid recollection of names, places and events, his love for children knows no bound. He accorded to each of his nephew and nieces a particular pet name with which he addresses and referred us with. We also have a pet name for him out of respect and traditional demand. Out of sincere affection, he transferred his own pet name to me “Baba mai tea” which literally means; lover of tea. As a result of my unwavering attachment to him, I was not only able to understand the powers which lies beneath him, but, also became an addicted consumer of tea (Lipton and coffee) till date. Baba mai tea is the name I’m called by His Highness till today.
One day, His Highness sent for me to be picked up while attending classes at an Islamiyya school manned by my paternal uncle late Mallam Muhammadu Dandullu (Chief Imam of Ringim Central Mosque) only for me to be circumcised alongside his children, brother, nephews and other inner family members. This kind of gesture, was not only appreciated, but, equally regarded as an extension of affection between the extender and the beneficiary. My clothes were returned to my family house with the information of my new status, which indicates that, I will not return to the hold of my family until after healing.
At the early stage of my secondary school days, I also recall vividly how His Highness despite his tight schedule dropped me at a motor park where I joined any available luxurious bus heading to Onitsha or Aba before proceeding to Federal Government College, Warri in then Bendel and now Delta State. While in school, it became a norm to always write a letter to His Highness and to receive an immediate reply from him, which as usual, comes with warm words of advice for me to concentrate on my studies and to hold on to the families virtues and religious teachings.
One of the highest honours in life which developed from emotionally attached instincts is to name one of your own after someone you love and cherish. I was meant to believe that, His Highness, named one of his sons “Mustapha” after me. This young chap is now a fully grown adult, a successful police officer, a husband and a father.
Looking back, I must bow with all sense of humility, respect, and admiration to the bravest personality in human form I have ever come across in recent times; His Highness Alhaji (DR.) Mahmud, the Emir of Ringim. Acknowledgment must also be made of my maternal family for their unflinching love, kindness and solidarity. Though, not a royal by birth, I’m undoubtedly, a royal by blood, being created in the womb of a Kano Fulani Princess Mother. I survived from what she ate and drank, nurtured from the water and the blood which ran through her veins, lived by her instinct and trained by her intellect and virtues.
This is not only a celebration for a merited silver jubilee on the throne, but, also a shared memories of a life with a dear uncle, a man with a humble beginning whose majestic elegance started from his birth almost nine decades ago. It also covers the simple understanding of his modest survival within the context of family life, power and authority which today, demonstrate a significant milestone with historic accomplishments, earning laurels and trophies designed for a deserving dignified soul. This is an x-ray of personal engagements between an obedient nephew and a clinically admirable and loving uncle. It is a gauge for a clearer understanding and subjective interpretation of social dynamics, modernism and traditional components brewing in the field of contemporary multi-faceted society, which splendid result, stems from patience, endurance, sincerity of purpose, strength of character and determination.
Happy anniversary to a dear maternal uncle, a seasoned technocrat, politician, prudent manager, exceptional erudite man of letters and a first class emir.
Born in 1928 into the Kano royal families, His Highness was honoured with a Honourary Doctorate Degree (Honorus-Causa) by the Delta State University, Abraka and a Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by the Federal Government. He was appointed a first class emir in 1991.
Rabo writes from Abuja
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