President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, and General Muhammadu Buhari were among those that paid tribute to the Emir of Kano Ado Bayero, who died Friday. A statement signed by Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, said: “On behalf of himself, his family, the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria, President Jonathan commiserates with the Emir’s family and all the people of Kano over whom the departed Emir presided illustriously as traditional ruler for more than half a century.

“The President joins them in mourning the monarch whose uncommon leadership qualities and evident faith in the peace, unity, progress, and prosperity of Nigeria combined to make him one of the most respected traditional rulers in the country during his long and very successful reign.

“President Jonathan believes that Alhaji Ado Bayero will always be remembered and honoured by the people of Kano and all Nigerians for his immense wisdom and competence as a traditional ruler, as well as for using his exalted throne to build bridges of unity, friendship and harmony across the nation.

“The President reaffirms his declaration on the occasion of the Emir’s 50th anniversary celebrations last year that the late Alhaji Ado Bayero was one of the most decent and respectable Nigerians he has had the privilege of interacting with, and he will always treasure pleasant memories of their last meeting earlier this year.

“He prays that the Almighty Allah will receive the late Emir’s great soul and grant the good people of Kano a worthy successor who will carry on his good works and wise rule for the well-being and benefit of all Nigerians”, the statement said.

Bayero, who became Emir in 1963, died Friday morning in Kano, after a protracted illness

Confirming his demise, spokesperson to the Kano State governor, Baba Dantiye, said “he is expected to be buried same day according to the islamic tradition.”

Emir Bayero, who was thought to be the second most senior Muslim in Nigeria after the Sultan of Sokoto, was born July 25, 1930. He became Emir at the age of 33 after working as an ambassador to Senegal. He was the 13th Fulani Emir since the Fulani War of Usman dan Fodio, when the Fulani took over the Hausa city-states.

He was one of the strongest and powerful emirs in the history of the Hausa land, and renowned for his abundant wealth, maintained by means of stock market investments and large-scale agricultural entrepreneurship both at home and abroad.

The late Ado Bayero was the son of Abdullahi Bayero, the former Emir, who reigned for 27 years. Muhammadu Sanusi who was Ado Bayero’s half-brother ruled after their father from 1953-1963.

Following his dethronement in 1963, Muhammadu Inuwa ruled only for three months. After his death, Ado Bayero ascended the throne in October 1963.

During his tenure, the emirate has been transformed from a powerful native authority into a custodian of Hausa language and Islamic traditions. His palace plays host to official visits by many government personnel and foreigners, but in 1981 Governor Abubakar Rimi restricted traditional homage paid by village heads to Ado Bayero and excised some domains from his emirate. And in 1984, a travel ban was placed on the emir and his friend Okunade Sijuwade.

He was a chancellor of the University of Nigeria and currently the chancellor of the University of Ibadan.

On 19 January 2013, a failed assassination attempt left two of his sons injured and his driver and bodyguard dead, among others. He returned from overseas months after he was flown abroad for treatment after the incident