Tribute to Galadiman Kano

“Every living creature shall taste death.” [3:185]. Man may deny everything, even his Creator, but he cannot deny death.

Death, in Islam and in all divine religion, is nothing more than a transition. It is like a passage through which you enter another world higher and more advanced than the present one. It is therefore, a birth to an eternal life.
From the Islamic point of view, there are at least three different inter connected stages of life. Each one comes after the other. Also, each one is more perfect than the one before. The first is the world of matter in which we are living with both our body and soul.

The second is named the world of Barzakh (intermediate) which is the world of souls with a certain type of body similar to our physical body. The third and the final world is the Hereafter in which every soul will unite with its original worldly body.
The people of Kano will not forget this year in a hurry because it is a year when two powerful leaders died. the first being the Late HRH Alhaji Ado Bayero then a prominent Kano royal blood, Alhaji Tijjani Hashim, Galadiman Kano. He was the grandson of late Emir of Kano.
The death of powerful, influential and well-connected Galadiman Kano on Monday shocked the people of Kano, creating a vacuum in the traditional institution.
Galadima noted for influence within and outside the shores of Nigeria, has robbed the ancient kingdom of yet another high profile statesman.

Galadima’s humanitarian gestures and championing of the causes of the masses, earned him the appellation, the ‘Grandfather of the Masses, he made assistance, counseling and guidance, reconciliation, employment  and all forms of philanthropic activities like his daily food and hobbies.
And that is why days after his death, sympathizers from across the country are thronging his residence in Jarkasa area of the city, opposite the Emir’s palace.
Galadiman Kano was very close to the high and low in the country. From 10.am to 1.pm daily, he receives his subjects and attends to them.

As a District Head of Kano Municipal and the chairman of the finance committee of the Kano Emirate Council, the late Galadima played key roles in the development of the state.
Late Galadima over the years exerted power not only in the Kano Emirate Council, or the north but across the country.
He was made the Galadiman Kano by the late Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero in 1992.
It was through late General Hassan that I got to know Galadima of Kano and since then my relationship with him remained as if General Hassan was alive! He was the only person that I knew his palace worked more than a court because he treated cases day and night and even used his own personal money to reconcile cases. His house was always open for everyone! He doesn’t like insincerity, cheating or lies as well as gossip.

The deceased lived for the people and that he spent a larger part of his time seeing to the needs of the masses.
It would be difficult for the vacuum created by his death to be filled because he was an excellent philanthropist who showered goodwill on all, irrespective of differences.
He loved helping people and that endeared him to many in the society. During his lifetime, whenever you see him travelling to Abuja or anywhere, he was not going there for himself but for the people who had come to seek for his intervention on issues.
The late Galadiman Kano was a role model, an icon of peace and bridge-builder between the old and new generations of Nigerians. He died at a time his fatherly role and doggedness on peace was most needed
Allah ya gafarta masa, Ya saka masa da aljanar firdausi!
He has gone and left the common man in Kano with nowhere to go and seek assistance, favors or their right.