Daughter of Late Emir Ado Bayero Seeks Public Support, Says Help from Governor Insufficient

Zainab Ado Bayero, daughter of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, has made a public appeal for financial support from prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Nearly a decade after her father’s death, Zainab revealed that her family has been struggling financially and is in urgent need of assistance.

Ado Bayero, who passed away at the age of 83 on June 6, 2014, was the longest-serving emir in Kano’s history, reigning from 1963 until his death. Despite his revered status, Zainab disclosed that her family has faced severe hardships since his passing, particularly she, her mother, and her younger brother.

“I know a lot of people will be very surprised that the daughter of an Emir is in this kind of situation,” Zainab said during an interview with Premium Times on Friday.

She said, “Being born into a polygamous home, there are a lot of intrigues and divisions. The whole thing started when my daddy died; his death left a void within the family. Everyone was alone, especially me, my mother, and my younger brother. We were not given a part of his estate, so we were left in a terrible situation, which has been going on for ten years.”

Zainab described the difficulties her family has faced, including the challenge of finding stable housing. “We’ve been trying to survive and find ways to get back on our feet and return to a proper environment—to have a home, not renting or moving from hotel to hotel. We would love the governor to help us buy or give us money to get a house here in Lagos. Since our father’s death, we believe it would be better to relocate to Lagos and start a new life for safety and freedom and to live our lives the way we want. However, with the current skyrocketing prices, we’re looking at around N150 million for a house in Lagos.”

Although Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has provided some assistance, Zainab stated that the support was not enough to address their needs. “I reached out to the governor in a publication on 23 June when my mother, brother, and I were staying at a hotel in VI. We haven’t had an apartment since last year and were behind on hotel bills. The next day, he sent someone to settle the bills and asked, ‘What do we need?’ We told him we wanted a home, for my brother to return to school, and something to do,” she explained.

According to Zainab, the governor responded through an intermediary, offering some financial help and suggesting that he might purchase a house for them in Kano. However, Zainab expressed her preference for a home in Lagos. “I told him, no, we want a house in Lagos. What he gave us wasn’t enough to rent a house for a year. So, we’ve been trying to find a place, but the funds aren’t sufficient. We’re in the same situation again.”

In addition to her plea for housing, Zainab also sought support for her filmmaking career. She is working on a biopic documentary titled “My Father, the Emir: A Portrait of Ado Bayero”, which chronicles her journey to retrace her father’s legacy, achievements, and experiences in Nigeria. Zainab hopes that with the right backing, she can continue to honor her father’s memory through her work.

The daughter of the late Emir concluded her appeal by asking concerned Nigerians to come to her family’s aid, emphasizing the ongoing challenges they face and their need for substantial support to rebuild their lives.