Emir of Gusau dies at 91, Jonathan mourns
The Emir of Gusau in Zamfara State, Alhaji Dr Muhammad Kabir Danbaba, died yesterday at the age of 91.
Announcing the death, the state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad Birnin Magaji, said he died at the Turkish Hospital, Abuja after a protracted illness.
Born in Gusau in 1924, the late Alhaji Kabir Danbaba was the 14th emir of Gusau and he was among the five district heads elevated to first class status by former governor of the state, Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura in 2000. He was appointed District Head of Gusau in 1984 before being upgraded to second class emir in 1997 and first class emir three years later. He is survived by three wives, 22 children and many grandchildren. In August last year, he celebrated his 90th birthday and 30th anniversary on the throne.
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday mourned the death of the emir, describing him as a just, fair-minded, pious, courageous and benevolent man.
The president in a statement through his spokesman, Reuben Abati, commiserated with the government and people of Zamfara State on the death.
He said he joined them in mourning the emir who was one of the longest serving traditional rulers in Nigeria.
Jonathan expressed belief that the late emir who honoured him with the traditional title of Garkuwan Manoman Zamfara during his visit to Gusau on January 19 this year, would be greatly missed by the people of Gusau that he ruled “with great wisdom and understanding for more than thirty years”.
He said as the emir was laid to rest, members of his family and the people of Gusau should give thanks to Almighty Allah for his long and very fulfilled life of exemplary service to his people and country.
Jonathan prayed that Almighty Allah would grant the late emir eternal rest and bless the people of Gusau with a worthy successor to him “who will build on the commendable legacies of progress and development”.