By Hon. Kenneth Gbandi
Nigeria is a nation in search of unifying stories, stories that remind us of our shared humanity beyond tribe, religion, or politics. Omar Farouk Ibrahim’s Prince of the Times: Ado Bayero and the Transformation of Emiral Authority in Kano is one such work. It is more than a biography of one of Northern Nigeria’s most revered leaders; it is a narrative that redefines traditional authority, cross-cultural friendship, and the meaning of leadership in a turbulent nation.
A Life Before the Throne
What sets Emir Ado Bayero apart from many traditional rulers was his extensive public service career before ascending the throne in 1963. The book traces his early political role as a legislator in the Northern Regional House of Assembly in the 1950s, his administrative leadership as Chief of the Native Authority Police, and his diplomatic service as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Senegal. These experiences grounded him in the workings of modern governance, preparing him to rule with rare perspective.
When the Emirate of Kano needed new leadership after the death of the previous emir, Bayero emerged not as a mere custodian of tradition but as a man who understood both the palace and the politics of a young, independent Nigeria.
Crowning in a Time of Transition
The early 1960s were not ordinary times. Nigeria was barely three years into independence and already facing crises of unity, identity, and governance. Ado Bayero became Emir of Kano just as the country began sliding into turbulence that would later include military coups, civil war, and economic volatility. Farouk paints the picture of a ruler who adapted emiral authority to modern realities. Bayero transformed the traditional emirship into a stabilizing institution, one that was rooted in heritage but responsive to change. His reign became symbolic of continuity in the midst of national storms.
Friendship Beyond Boundaries
One of the most striking aspects of the book is the story of Bayero’s friendship with Chief Michael Agbamuche from Akwukwu-Igbo in Delta State. In an era when tribe and religion were already sowing division, the friendship between a Northern Muslim prince and a Southern Christian lawyer is both remarkable and instructive.
Agbamuche, who three decades later would become Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice believed to have the emirate’s connection, stood by Bayero and vice versa during pivotal moments, including the dramatic period of his emergence as Emir and the bloody coup d’état and counter coup. Their bond, nurtured in mutual respect, is a living example of what Nigeria could be if personal relationships triumphed over prejudice. This theme makes Prince of the Times more than a biography, it is a story of friendship that transcended ethnicity and faith, and a lesson for our fractured polity today.
The Symbol of Ado Bayero
Throughout his decades-long reign, Ado Bayero symbolized:
• Tradition: Custodian of Hausa-Fulani heritage and Islamic learning.
• Modernization: A ruler comfortable with diplomacy, statecraft, and new ideas.
• Reconciliation: A figure who navigated tensions, often mediating across divides within Northern Nigeria and beyond.
His leadership shows that traditional rulers can play active roles in modern governance, not as relics of the past but as living institutions able to adapt and guide.
Style and Storytelling
Omar Farouk Ibrahim tells this story with vivid detail. He recounts how Ado Bayero first learned of his selection as Emir not in a palace meeting but at Kano Airport, as a crowd greeted him with the title before he himself had been officially informed. The mix of history and anecdote gives the book a lively, almost cinematic quality.
Readers, whether historians or casual enthusiasts of Nigerian politics, will find the book both educational and engaging.
Why Nigeria Needs This Story
At a time when national unity often feels elusive, Prince of the Times reminds us that Nigeria has always had leaders capable of transcending division. Bayero’s life and his friendship with Agbamuche are proof that our nation’s future need not be imprisoned by its differences.
This is a story that heals, one that reminds us of the possibility of coexistence and the power of personal character in shaping national destiny.
Verdict
Prince of the Times is essential reading for anyone interested in Nigeria’s history, politics, and future. It is not just the biography of an emir; it is the story of a man who personified unity, service, and transformation. For policymakers, it offers lessons on leadership grounded in humility and adaptability. For citizens, it provides inspiration that our shared story is stronger than our divisions.
As Nigeria struggles with questions of identity and cohesion, this book could not have come at a better time. It is a reminder that in the end, what matters most is not where we come from, but what we build together.
By Hon. (Dr.) Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi – Diaspora leader, ADC chieftain, former Deputy National Chairman (Diaspora Engagement), and former Senatorial Candidate for Delta North from Akwukwu Igbo
