Bayero’s final resting place: A mausoleum for kings

It was 1.00pm, yesterday in the ancient city of Kano and the whole town was gripped with pains, sorrow and grief. Along State Road, just a walk down to the vicinity of Kano Government House, there lies a quiet, simply abode called Gidan Sarkin Nassarawa. It is a plain, simple compound, adorned with simple designs, rarely remem­bered in normal times. It feeds freely from the traffic that flows across and around it. But on this day, there was sorrow written all over its architectural design. It had an abiding grief that ran through its walls to its very foun­dations. It was shocked by the death of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero. Much of its pains can be gleaned through the human characters moving around and about its premises. They already knew what had hap­pened – that a great tragedy had befallen the land. They waddled around in emptiness and in total submission to the will of Allah. A few children were sighted walking around casually, without vigor or energy. The women stayed in-doors sorrowing, while a few elderly men sat on a couple of mats by the gates, under the shady dongoyara tree, discussing the loss of their King. On the far side, the policemen had started ar­riving in their blue and black uniforms, station­ing themselves at different points of the large compound, which is situated in an intercession of other roads. Their most senior police officer was sighted issuing instructions. Indeed, at about 4.00pm, the compound was expected again to come to terms with its enor­mous historical responsibility as the graveyard of kings. It has been a terminal point. It is here that, after an eventful life on the throne, kings of Kano are laid to rest and it is here that the 56th ruler of the king, His Royal Highness, Al­haji Ado Abdullahi Bayero would be laid rest forever. According to insights from the Emirate Council, after prayers would have been said for the deceased in his palace, his remains would be conveyed to Gidan Sarkin Nassarawa and com­mitted to mother earth. Speaking to Saturday Sun on the develop­ment, Sarkin Fada Turaki, Alhaji Gwadebe In­uwa, said the late Emir would be buried inside the compound, saying this precedent has been observed by traditional institute of Kano in the last 150 years or more. According to him, a total of four late Emirs were buried at Gidan Sarkin Nasssarawa, add­ing that the late monarch will be the fifth to be so buried. He listed the previous emirs of the Fulani dynasty, who were buried in the compound to include Sarkin Abbas, Sarkin Abdullahi Bay­ero, Sarkin Mohammadu Inuwa and Sarkin Al­haji Mohammadu Sanusi Historically, he recalled that the palace in Nassarawa was built by Sarkin Abbas about 150 years ago, adding that in his life time, he had left a wish that upon death, he should be returned to his palace inside Nassarawa to be buried. Ever since his death and burial, it has become a tradition that after the reign of the monarchs in their palace inside the city, they are returned to this peaceful abode and laid to rest alongside their forebears, he added. Speaking on the death of the late emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, he maintained that it would take a very long time for the people of Kano to be privileged to have a leader like Alhaji Ado Bayero. He said the Late Bayero was patient, god-fearing and kind to his people. He understood them and they understood him, he added. Speaking in a similarly glorious manner, an­other elder, Alhaji Dahiru Uuris, remarked that another good side of the highly respected tra­ditional ruler was his determination to promote good in all the things that he did, adding that he was hardworking and would always insist that the right things were done at all times.