Premium News reports that 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 to PREMIUM TIMES that the Galadima died in the early hours of today (Monday) in Abuja. The source, who declined to be named because the emirate council is yet to make an official pronouncement on the development, said arrangements were already in progress to fly Mr. Hashim’s remains from Abuja for burial at about 2 p.m. in Kano.
He also said the emirate council is yet to get the official cause of the death of the deceased because according to him ” we are aware he traveled to Abuja and only heard he died this morning,” he said. When contacted, the Dan Maje Kano, Munir Sanusi, confirmed Mr. Hashim’s passing.
“Yes, it is true,” he said. “I’m at the Kano airport expecting his remains because his burial has been scheduled for 2. p.m.”
As the Galadima, Mr. Hashim was the most senior prince in Kano Emirate and was by birth, like the current emir, 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 a 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. Mr. 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, Namadi Sambo.