The making of Dan Masanin Bade

Senate president, David Mark, led a delegation of members of the National Assembly while Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State, led an enlarged state entourage to the occasion. The members of the federal executive council including the minister of works, Senator Sanusi Daggash were in attendance. Similarly, chieftains of many political parties including former minister of police affairs, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri were also in attendance.

The title of Dan Masani means “leader of the learnered” and when Bade emirate beamed its searchlight in quest of a deserving son to be bestowed with the revered and exalted title, it went into long and wide search to come up with a dignified personality whose choice cannot be faulted.

Sources close to the emir of Bade said the emirate’s deliberate and careful choice of “a worthy son” in the person of Senator Lawan as the pioneer ‘Dan Masanin’ was to ensure that his qualities remain a yardstick and standard practice for the appointment of subsequent holders of the title.

“Bade emirate council under the leadership of His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman, thoroughly scanned and came up with a personality who is not only a fountain of knowledge but likened to the 17th century Katsina scholar, ‘Dan Masanin’ Katsina,” Wakilin Bade, Barrister Ado Ibrahim stated this yesterday.

“He is a personality who has dedicated his vast and rich knowledge in promoting programmes that touches the lives of the people including the rich and poor, old and young and, cutting across socio-cultural differences,” he said.

“Ahmed Lawan emerged with all the qualities required by the emirate council and was eventually appointed as the ‘Dan Masanin Bade,” he added

Born in 1959, to a humble family, Sen. Ahmad Lawan grew up pursuing education with resilience, focus and respect. His quest for and the desire to impact knowledge made him a role model to many parents and students in Bade emirate, Yobe and Borno states.

“Senator Lawan is indeed a worthy son of Bade emirate and a pride every community would want to have,” Mallam Salisu Gapchiyama, an elder in Gashua, said.

His friends and associates describe his sojourn into politics as a good omen. “He has been guided by service to the people. His thirst to serve the people in his immediate environment and outside, have always remained people oriented and orchestrated with masses driven policies,” Musa Mai Sule, the General Manager of Yobe Savings and Loans Limited said.

“As a member of the House of Representatives in 1999, he was tested, trusted and vested with the responsibility of chairing the House Committee on Education and Agriculture at various times,” he said.

According to Engineer Isa Ahmed, “Senator Ahmad Lawan provided the needed leadership and direction to the committees’ oversight responsibilities which helped in re-shaping the Universal Basic Education programme while; the footprints of his committee on agriculture are still glaring especially in the promotion of irrigation.

“His vibrancy in the national assembly, his sponsorship of bills, active debates and arguments on issues that are significant to the progress of the people earned him respect from his fellow colleagues, his electorates in Yobe Zone ‘C’ and, the entire people of Yobe state,” he said.

During his turbaning at the emir’s palace Gashua, thousands of students from many tertiary institutions chanted “Sai mai ilmi’ which literally means ‘We want the Knowledgeable.”

“This is a public endorsement to the title of Dan Masani,” Isma’ila Musa, a student from Bayero University said.

“His believe in prudence, accountability and transparency earned him the confidence of his colleagues to chair the Senate committee on public accounts. This trust corroborates the popular saying that ‘Public office is a public trust’ and, thus fortified his appointment as the ‘Dan Masanin’ Bade,” he said.

Our correspondent reports that the contributions of Senator Ahmad Lawan to water and agricultural development, optimization of the Tiga and Challawa dams in Kano state, Hadejia, Jama’are and Kumadugu/Yobe rivers and, his staunch opposition to the construction of Kafin Zaki dam has unarguably, endeared him to peasant farmers, fishermen and livestock farmers.

The means of livelihood of over 10 million Nigerians in Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states were rescued by the valuable contributions of the Dan Masani who convinced his colleagues and government at various levels to take decisive decisions on such crucial matters. It was in realization of this feat that in 2009, farming communities in Yobe North honoured him with the title of ‘Garkuwan Talakawa’ (Shield of the Masses).

Similarly, a Non Governmental Organization Muryar Talakawan Nijeriya converged on Kano on 30th March, 2010 and honoured him with the title ‘Muryar Talakawa’ (Voice of the Voiceless).

It was also in appreciation of Senator Lawan’s  contributions that the Coalition for change an NGO funded by the Department For International Development (DFID), conferred on the senator an award of ‘Champion of Change’ for championing approach to water governance and achieving high policy impact.

The combined efforts of the Yobe state government and Senator Lawan to secure a federal university for the state was a clear demonstration of his commitment to education and development in general as required by the office of Dan Masani.

It is therefore evident that the title of Dan Masani will spur the distinguished Senator to render more selfless service to his people and humanity as this has been his trade mark in the past years.

As the new Dan Masani settles down to carry out the functions of his office to impact on the lives of the people, it is pertinent to note that the people have enormous responsibility of supporting him to perform his duties as legislator and Dan Masanin Bade for more democracy dividends and, advancement of Bade emirate and its people.

A colourful durbar was held in honour of the new Dan Masanin Bade who also rode on a well decorated horse and going round Gashua town amidst cheers from the people.