The Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ado Bayero had escaped assassination on Friday, 9th July 2010 at the central mosque, located behind his grand palace, where he had gone to pray. According to media reports, the flamboyant Emir could have been killed by a young man, Usman Musa, 19, who, acting on a script by a 70-years-old Abubakar Hamidu, had concealed what looked like a short gun with some bullets with which he wanted to commit the dastardly and heinous act.
The young man had told the police after his arrest that, the seventy year old “malam” had given him an amulet to put in his mouth with the aim of “vanishing after the murderous act, and, also was given instructions to recite “Ya Qahharu” 12, 000 times before carrying out the evil operation, for which he arrived as early as 9am to the Friday mosque to accomplish, before the commencement of the noon prayer, and thereafter, to execute the horrendous operation. It however, turned out a fiasco.
The local guards (Dogarai) acted swiftly when they suspected an unusual movement by young Usman and arrested him promptly. The rest is now history. Both the old “planner” and “young assassin” are now cooling their heads in police custody where they were said to be co-operating to unravel the mystery behind the mission.
It was reported that the Usman Musa saga was the second in as many years the charismatic Emir had narrowly missed being assassinated. On several occasions, he had been stoned by irate citizens in apparent disparaging smearing campaign to ridicule and disgrace him. A lot of observers had asked on many occasions, who wanted the king dead and for what reason or reasons? These answers are yet to be determined. The people are yet to come to terms with the answers to the seemingly notorious puzzles which had put them at their wits ends in their bids to unmask the many mysteries. Some analysts have opined that the Emir has forayed into politics for which he has invoked and incurred the err of many and, now have adversaries and antagonistic rivals and opponents. Their observations were predicated on the fact that Emirs and Chiefs need to be apolitical and neutral. Many of them are not. They have taken side with some political leaders and the murky nature and political mudslinging have taken their tolls on them in the forms of open disrespect, disdain, contempt, malicious slander and even outright condemnation, denigration and open assaults. Many traditional rulers have involved themselves in partisan politics with negative consequences. Such consequences have boomeranging and unpredictable consequences. Such can be fatal and mortal. The attempt on Emir Ado could have been politically-motivated. Who knows? Nigerian political class is known for their ruthlessness, vindictiveness, vendetta, envy, wickedness and desperation to deal with perceived enemies or antagonists no matter who they are in society. Some of them can go the extra mile to outrightly sponsor, orchestrate and mastermind their assassination or elimination, in order not to serve as cogs in their wheels of political and pecuniary interests.
With 2011 lurking around, perhaps, some political demagogues may have been offended, double-crossed or threatened by some of our traditional leaders and the corresponding effects could be devastating. We are not unmindful of the antics and stockintrade of such political godfathers who could be dangerous, in so far as they feel that their interests politically or otherwise is threatened by anybody.
It may have been possible that Emir Ado, had trampled on some powerful political toes somewhere and their unforgiving reactions could lead to what nearly cost him his life. This school of thought holds plausibility and probability. During the second republic when late Abubakar Rimi was governor of Kano, the Emir was not in the good books of the governor. Altercations between their supporters were heard and noticed. In the mid of these, the governor's special adviser on political affairs, the late Dr Bala Mohammad, was killed when his house was set ablaze by some unknown arsonists.
Emir Ado's progenitor and predecessor, the late Alhaji (Sheik) Sanusi Bayero was dethroned by the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the then premier of northern Nigeria in the late fifties due to irreconcilable political differences. Even during the late General Sani Abacha's regime we were told that the Emir's removal was imminent but, the then Head of State suddenly died in June 1998 and that saved Ado Bayero, his royal regency and stool. The influential and enigmatic Ado Bayero, the Emir of Kano has always been in some controversies since ascending the throne at very young age when he was Ambassador at Senegal.
The scandal of the 53 briefcases easily comes to our minds, when the Emir and his friend, the Oni of Ife, Oba Sijuade Okunade returned from Israel through London where they went shopping and the government in place then, led by Gen Buhari suspended the duo in 1985 for going to Israel which has no diplomatic ties at that time with Nigeria.
Many Nigerians have concluded that the Emir of Kano has been delving into unfamiliar, tendentious and contentious matters which do not have direct bearing or relevance whatsoever with traditional matters. His involvement into matters considered highly political or controversial could have been responsible for adversaries to target him for annihilation and damnation. Perhaps. In a society such as ours where envy, jealousy, contempt, malice are brought to bear to settle old scores, certainly some powerful persons can become victims and targets of attacks, ridicule, molestation and opprobrium to bring them to disrepute in the eyes of the public. His Royal Highness has certainly paid his dues in these regards. However, it is honourable, wise and dignifying for one to always mind one's business in order not to tread on toes and incur wrath. Sometimes the intervention and interferences in public affairs by Emirs, Chiefs can be due to innocuous and genuine concerns to positively defend or influence actions of followers, but can be misconstrued by some selfish political leaders who could misinterpret them.
Rightly or wrongly, overtly or covertly by ways of acts of omission or commission our traditional rulers have at one time or the other involved in partisanship and authority. Many governors have had running battles with their traditional institutions who have taken sides with the opposition. Although it is a gamble, it can be suicidal. Power is unpredictable; politics is intrinsically tied to unpredictability. The candidate one supports may be the looser, and the acts of vendetta, grudges and backlashes can be visited on losers because “he who laughs last, laughs best.” Politicians believe strongly in carrot and stick”, law of karma and ruthlessness to opponents. They believe in Machiavellian principles of annihilating the enemy completely in order to maintain, obtain, sustain and manipulate power for long. Traditional rulers should know better as leaders in their own rights with similar vindictiveness and vendetta on other Princes who want to take over from them in their palaces. They believe erroneously in vengeance and unforgiving attitude. To them, the enemy should not be spared. Such is the nature of Nigerian politics brutish, nasty, ruthless, malicious, contemptuous and sacrilegious.
If the attempted killers of the Emir had been some religious fanatics, the story would have been different. The religious fanatics are known for their audacity, forthrightness, sincere commitment and unrepentant owing up to acts of “Jihad”. If young Usman and his master, Abubakar Hamidu were such, they could have owned up just as the “Boko Haram” and other “Taliban” adherents would do. However, the old man has denied being accessory to the crime by denying Usman.
The nagging question remains who could have wanted Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Ado Bayero, CFR, dead? For what purpose? Could it be politicallymotivated? Or out of hatred, contempt, ideological differences, envy, jealousy, or power tussle with other members of the royal family who want to take over after waiting for that long for the king to die and has not, for which they conspired to kill him to change the status quo? Questions and questions indeed but the answers are as illusive and evasive as the actual motives.
The Emir is also said to be very rich. Some even in the family can be envious. They might want to also become kings themselves and could take to some mischievous and clandestine conspiracy to eliminate the Emir to take over.
Meanwhile, the police is still investigating the whole matter with a view to determine the conspiracy theory and the motivation behind the assassination of the Emir. Luckily the Emir is in good terms with his Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau who to underscore this assertion was coronated as the Sardaunan Kano. The conspiracy theory will then go elsewhere within the opposition may be. But as the saying goes, there is no smoke without fire. No one would have dared attempt to kill such an icon and royal guru, like Ado Beyero right there at the Mosque without some strong factors of motivation. What could that be? This poser should be addressed by the crack detectives in the police force. We are waiting for their report to serve as future deterrence and foreclose any such similar attempt on any important personality or even masses, because life is sacred. No one has the right to take another's life without following through the due process of law Islamically or constitutionally. We abhor jungle justice anywhere. Peoples' right to life and dignity of human person is guaranteed in section 33 of the constitution. Right to life is sacrosanct and non-negotiable.
The incidence of Friday, 9th July has once again brought the imperatives for concerted efforts to fight crime in society. Nigeria has lately been taken over by bands of criminals and criminality ranging from kidnappings in the Southeast to youth banditry, restiveness and clashes due to differences in cultist memberships.
The political class has made things rather precarious and uncertain because of their propensity to arm some unscrupulous youths to cause different insurrection in society.
A teenager such as Usman Musa could not have become vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation by an old man old enough to be his grandfather, if the system has empowered him through the instrumentality of education and awareness.
There are millions of his ilk all over the north, waiting for ill-minded to pay them to cause commotion, wreak havoc and terrorize innocent people. Drug addiction and use are common features in our society which also aggravate crime. Nigeria is unfortunately sliding down to the abyss of perdition, inertia and failure, even though we do not hope or pray so. Our leaders whose responsibilities were to provide us with welfare, security and good governance have shirked their constitutional and moral duties and obligations. There is too much illegal accumulation of wealth to even care to pay attention to safety, welfare, peace, order and good governance based on responsible and purposeful leadership at all levels. Not until that is done, we shall continue to face threats to our democracy and nationhood.
