Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulkadir, the Emir of Gaya, passed away recently, and Kano state Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has expressed his immense sadness and a deep sense of grief at the news, which he described as “a great national loss.”

As stated in a statement signed by the commissioner for information, Malam Muhammad Garba, the governor noted that despite his deteriorating health, the monarch’s exceptional leadership qualities have earned him respect as a traditional ruler since his times as Sarkin Gaya and up until his death as first-class Emir in Kano.

He stated that the death of the Emir of one of the oldest emirates in northern Nigeria has created a void that will be difficult to fill given his contributions to peace, stability, and progress in his domain and throughout the country during his lifetime.

In addition to being the ruler of Sarkin Gaya since 1990, Alhaji Abdulkadir has held a number of traditional positions, including district heads of Kunchi and Minjibir, among others. He was one of four Emirs who were elevated to the status of first-class Emirs by the Ganduje administration following the establishment of the Rano, Gaya, Bichi, and Karaye Emirate territories in 2019.

Governor Ganduje, who was away in Abuja at the time of the Emir’s death announcement, stated that the monarch’s passing away is a great loss to his immediate family, the Gaya Emirate, the government, and the entire people of Kano state.

He prayed to Allah in His great mercy to grant his soul Aljannah Firdausi and appealed to the entire population of the Emirate to endure the loss in the spirit of acceptance to God’s will.

The governor also encouraged them to take comfort in the fact that endurance was not the true test of a good life, but rather a sense of fulfillment.