At least eight prominent sons of Kano State have died in the last 53 days, comprising businessmen, community leaders, industrialists, politicians, Islamic scholars, public servants, among others.
The deaths, which occurred from November 15, 2021 to January 7, 2022, took away many illustrious sons of the state who carved niches in their various fields of endeavor while they lived.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE can confirm that about eight prominent persons have died in the last 53 days, starting with Alhaji Sani Dangote, billionaire businessman and younger brother of Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and the passing on Friday, January 7, 2022 of a prominent Islamic scholar, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Bamba.
Sani Dangote, businessman – November 15
Alhaji Sani Dangote was the Group Vice-President of Dangote Group.
He died on Sunday, November 15, 2021 after a brief illness in United States at the age of 61.
He was buried at the Alasawa Cemetery, Sarari Quarters in Kano.
The deceased was an astute businessman with interests in manufacturing, agriculture, banking, and oil services.
He also sat on the boards of Nigerian Textile Mills Plc, Nutra Sweet Limited, Gum Arabic Limited, Dangote Textile Mills Limited, Alsan Insurance Brokers, Dan-Hydro Company Limited, Dansa Food Processing Company Limited and Dangote Farms Limited, among others.
Sani was the Deputy Chairman of the African Gum Arabic Producers Association and a two-time President of Lagos Polo Club in addition to being a professional polo player.
Sani Buhari, industrialist –November 28
Alhaji Sani Daura, an industrialist, he died at the age of 90.
He died in the early hours of Sunday, November 28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The deceased was the chairman and founder of Bayajidda Nigerian Limited, Standard Construction Limited, Buhari Properties and Development Company and Katsina Oil Mill, among others.
One of his companies, the Standard Construction Limited, constructed The Ship House, headquarters of the Ministry of Defence, one of the most famous edifices in Abuja.
Apart from roads, hospitals and schools, the company also built the NEXIM Bank and Lion Bank headquarters in Abuja.
Sarkin Bai Adnan, community leader – December 3
Sarkin Bai Mukhtar Adnan was Kano Emirate’s longest-serving kingmaker.
He was a former district head of Dambatta.
Alhaji Adnan died on Friday, December 3, 2021, at the age of 95.
He was appointed as Sarkin Bai in 1954 by the then Emir Muhammadu Sanusi I. As the kingmaker, he turbaned four Kano emirs, including late Ado Bayero in 1963.
He was the first Kano State Commissioner for Education in 1968.
He attended Dambatta Elementary School from 1935 to 1939; Clerical Training School, Zaria from 1946 to 1947 and later obtained a Diploma in Parliament Procedures.
He started his working career in the Kano Native Authority, where he served in various capacities, including as a senior accountant.
Mr Adnan was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives in the First Republic and served as the Chief Whip of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC).
Inuwa Kwankwaso, civil servant– December 20
Comrade Inuwa Musa Kwankwaso was the immediate younger brother of former Governor Kwankwaso.
He died on Monday, December 20, 2021, at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano after a protracted illness.
He died at the age of 64.
The deceased was a retired civil servant and an agricultural engineer.
The late Kwankwaso was educated in Ibadan and the United States.
He worked with the Afforestation Project in Kano for many years.
Ado Gwaram, bureaucrat – December 24
Malam Ado Gwaram was a two-time Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Kano state.
He died on Friday at the age of December 3, 2021.
Gwaram served as Secretary to the military government of Kano state from 1988 to 1991.
After the return of democracy in 1999, Gwaram was again appointed as SSG by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from 1999 to 2003.
Datti Ahmad, politician – December 30
Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmad was the President-General of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN).
He died in Kano on Thursday, December 30, 2021 after a protracted illness at the age of 83.
In April 2013, the medical doctor declined to serve in the Boko Haram amnesty committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to dialogue with the insurgents over what he described as lack of sincerity on the part of government.
He was a presidential aspirant under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Bashir Tofa, elder statesman – January 3
Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa was an elder statesman and former presidential candidate.
He died Monday, January 3, 2021, at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) after a brief illness.
He was 74 years old.
Tofa was the National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate in the annulled Nigeria’s June 12, 1993 presidential elections.
He contested against the late MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The election, adjudged to be free and fair, was annuled by the President Ibrahim Babangida regime.
He began his political career in 1976 when he was elected councilor of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Council.
In 1977, he was elected a member into the Constituent Assembly.
During the Second Republic, the deceased was at various times the secretary of the Kano branch of NPN, and later became the party’s national financial secretary.
He was a national member of the Green Revolution National Committee.
Ahmad Bamba, religious leader – January 7
Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Bamba was an Islamic scholar.
He died Friday, January 7, 2022 at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) at the age of 79.
The cleric was a lecturer at the Department of Arabic Studies in Bayero University Kano.
He resigned to concentrate on his Islamic preaching, particularly, the teaching of Sahih Bukhari and Muwatta Malik.
The deceased, known for his moderate views, was famous for his long-running Islamic teaching sessions at the Bayero University, Kano Mosque (old side), which started in 1991.
