One of the most powerful members of the Kano emirate council, the Galadiman Kano, Tijjani Hashim, is dead. He was 79.
An emirate source confirmed that the Galadima died in the early hours of today (Monday) in Abuja. He died of an undisclosed ailment and is survived by many children, grand children.
Tijjani Hashim was the most senior prince in Kano Emirate and was by birth, like the current emir, Muhammed Sanusi II, an heir to the throne of the Emir of Kano when the late emir Ado Bayero died recently.
Although the Galadima’s father was never an emir, his grand father, Abbas, ruled Kano from 1903 to 1919.
The late Hashim was said to be a very close ally of the late Premier of the north and Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello. He served as a regional minister under the Sardauna.
Tijjani Hashim was arguably the most powerful member of the Kano emirate council and was close to virtually all presidents and head of state of northern extraction.
He is also reported to be very close to current Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that the Kano Emirate Council has lost a prized asset with the demise of the Galadiman Kano, Dr Tijjani Hasheem who passed away on Monday.
The former Vice President said in a condolence message by his media office in Abuja on Monday that Hasheem’s influence had become so profound that he had earned an oracular father figure in the emirate before his passage.
The Turaki Adamawa paid tribute to Hasheem for having lived a fulfilled life spent on community service and in peace-building in the Kano Emirate.
“The people of Kano have lost a prized asset, who spent most of his life and times pursuing peace and communal harmony among his people. As the Galadiman Kano, he was a strong confidant and adviser to the Emir of Kano and was the strong backbone of the late Emir Ado Bayero’s reign and contributed immensely to the love and respect that characterised that era,” Atiku said.
He expressed his condolences to the Kano State government, the Emir and people of Kano Emirate Council and the family of Dr. Tijjani Hasheem.
Atiku prayed God to receive the soul of Tijjani Hasheem in al-janna firdaus, fill the vacuum his death has caused in the Emirate and give the family the fortitude to bear the loss of their patriarch. [myad]
