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HRH, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Kabir Usman, Emir of Katsina

This Day
Danjuma Michael
14th Mar. '08

Last year as the late emir battled with his health condition, his personal physician advised him not to go for the traditional durbar horse riding during the Muslim festivity celebrations. His condition did not improve and had to be flown to Egypt for medical treatment. It was after another attempt to fly him to Abuja for treatment that the 48th Emir of Katsina lost the battle.

Before his death, he had spent 27 years on the throne having become an emir in 1981. He is survived by three wives, and 57 (though some sources say they are 36) children among them the Magajin Garin Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, and Hon. Badamasi Kabir, a member of the House of Representatives.

Katsinaemirate.com said the late Emir, was born in January 1928. He was named "Muhammadu Kabir" by a learned Arab cleric called Sherif Gudid who was a close associate of his father, the late Emir of Katsina Alhaji Sir Usman Nagogo. The late traditional ruler succeeded his father in 1981.

He was enrolled into a Qur'anic school situated within the palace, which was then headed by an Arab scholar, Mohammed Abdullahi, believed to have been hired purposely for that by his grand-father, Emir Muhammadu Dikko. In 1942, at the age of 14, Alhaji Muhammadu was admitted into the Katsina Middle School, with 52 others, from across Katsina Province. On completion in 1947, he joined the Katsina Native Authority Police and was sent to the Nigeria Police College, Kaduna for one-year training.

He was promoted Lance Corporal in 1951 and appointed the Katsina Native Authority Police Chief "Wakilin Doka." In 1953, the late emir went for a Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D) course in Lagos, before proceeding to the Police College, London for a similar course. Four years later, he was appointed Native Authority councilor in charge of police, prison and the department of urban water supply. Same year, he was also appointed acting Magajin Gari. He was appointed a member of the board of Gaskiya Corporation, Zaria, Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, Katsina Teachers College and Arabic Teachers College in 1961.

Two years later, Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir was turbaned Magajin Gari, Katsina and in the same year he was elected a member, House of Assembly, Kaduna. He was appointed member, Katsina Local Education Authority in 1964 and a parliamentary secretary in the Premier's Office, Kaduna in 1965. Upon the death of Alhaji Usman Nagogo on March 18, 1981, Alhaji Muhammadu was selected by the Katsina kingmakers as the successor.

Before then, he had enjoyed the confidence and goodwill of his father, whom he had accompanied to national conferences of chiefs, meetings on topical issues and international visits. Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir was installed as the emir of Katsina at Kangiwa Square, Katsina by the then civilian governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Abba Musa Rimi as the third emir in the Muhammadu Dikko dynasty, the 11th from the Fulani race.

During his youth days, he was an avid lover of sports particularly polo. He was reported to have been a polo player, as early as 15 years of age. He was said to have played the game even into his 60s. He also contributed immensely to the development of sports in general and polo in particular in the state and country at large. The Emir of Katsina Charity Shield used to be held in his honour as the emir and was life president of The Nigeria Polo Association.

One emphasis the late emir always made when he was alive was the call on people to go back to God, and consistent prayers. He used to say that going back to God enables one to bear the burdens of life, and that prayers should be part of ones life and not just an occasional thing or just on Fridays.

In his speech during the 100th year celebration of the emirate, the late emir as usual called on people to put the fear of Allah in the discharge of their duty. He said that there was the need for Muslims to abide by the five pillars of Islam for the development of the religion in the state and the nation at large. The late emir was an advocate for peaceful coexistence among Muslims and Nigerians alike. In an interview aired on the Katsina State-owned television, KTTV, he said what was important was for people to live in peace, no matter their religious or cultural differences.

His peace advocacy also helped in cooling the minds of irate youths early last year who wanted the then new government of Governor Ibrahim Shema to indulge them with financial rewards for their alleged contributions to the political equation. The governor had denied them and instead voted for youth empowerment schemes like youth craft village and other related ventures. It was the late emir that ensured the youths' pacification when he assured of better opportunities when the empowerment schemes were fully put in place.

Former inspector general of police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, also a traditional title holder in the state, said the state had lost a caring father. Several sympathisers on the day he was buried said the late emir would fondly be remembered as a leader who had the interest of his people at heart in whatever he did.

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm