ZAINAB Bayero, daughter of the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, has reached out to Governor Abba Yusuf for assistance, seeking both housing and financial support for her family.
Her request comes nearly a decade after the death of her father, who was the longest-serving emir in Kano’s history.
Ado Bayero, who passed away at the age of 83 on 6 June 2014, was a revered leader, having ruled from 1963 until his death.
In an interview with Premium Time on Friday, 23 August, Zainab Bayero opened up about the difficulties her family has been enduring since her father’s passing. She explained that she, along with her mother and brother, have been struggling to make ends meet and are in need of support.
She said;
“I know a lot of people will be very surprised that the daughter of an emir is in this kind of situation. 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 (my father’s) estate, so we were left in a terrible situation, which has been going on for ten years.
“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.”
The filmmaker also acknowledged that Kano State Governor Abba Yussuf had previously helped them, but the money was insufficient. She said, “l 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.
“He (the governor through his representative) gave us some money, but we didn’t meet the governor in person; it was all through an intermediary. We don’t know the
governor’s plans, but he mentioned wanting to buy us a house in Kano.
“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.
The late Emir’s daughter also requested the governor’s support for her filmmaking career and a biopic documentary, “My Father, the Emir: A
Portrait of Ado Bayero,” which chronicles her journey to retrace her father’s legacy, achievements, and experiences in Nigeria.
Eighteen-Eleven Media