Zainab Bayero, daughter of the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, has asked Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf for help. Nearly a decade after her father’s death, Zainab, along with her mother and brother, has been facing financial hardship. In a recent interview with Premium Times, she explained how life has become difficult for her family, and they are now in need of both a home in Lagos and financial assistance to survive.
Ado Bayero, who ruled Kano for over 50 years, was a deeply respected leader. He passed away in June 2014 at the age of 83. His leadership left a lasting impact on the region, but since his death, his family has been struggling. Despite their royal background, Zainab shared that they have been finding it challenging to make ends meet and have reached out for help in these trying times.
The late Emir’s family is hopeful that Governor Abba Yusuf and other leaders will offer support during their current difficulties. Their request highlights the reality that even those from prestigious backgrounds can experience hardship, especially after the passing of a figure as significant as Ado Bayero.
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.”
“I 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.”
