Emir of Gumel Ahmed Muhammad-Sani dies at 85 after 46-year reign

• The Jigawa traditional ruler died in Egypt on Thursday, days after the death of the Emir of Zurmi in neighbouring Zamfara State.

The Emir of Gumel in Jigawa State, Ahmed Muhammad-Sani, has died at the age of 85 after 46 years on the throne.

According to an official statement, the traditional ruler died on Thursday afternoon at a hospital in Egypt.

His death came four days after the death of the Emir of Zurmi in Zamfara State, Bello Suleiman, who died on Monday at the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau.

Early life and education

Born into the Gumel royal family, the late emir began his formal education at Gumel Primary School, where he studied from 1948 to 1953. He subsequently attended Hadejia Middle School from 1953 to 1956 before completing his secondary education at Rumfa College, then known as Kano High School, in 1961.

He proceeded to the Institute of Administration in Zaria, now part of Ahmadu Bello University, where he obtained a Diploma in Public Administration in 1963 and a Higher Diploma in 1970.

He later travelled to the United States to study at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a postgraduate degree in International Relations between 1972 and 1978.

Public service and politics

Muhammad-Sani began his working career with the Gumel Native Authority, serving from 1961 to 1963.

In 1964, he joined the Nigeria Immigration Service and was posted to Gamboru Ngala in present-day Borno State.

He later moved into public administration in 1972, serving as a senior government official at the Kazaure Divisional Office.

In 1978, he contested a Senate seat on the platform of the Great Nigeria People’s Party (GNPP) but was unsuccessful.

Following a political alliance between the GNPP and the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), he was appointed Commissioner for Information, Internal Affairs and Culture in the old Kano State.

He served as commissioner from 1978 to 1980, during which he was involved in the development of the state’s media institutions.

His tenure included the establishment of The Triumph newspaper and CTV67, now known as ARTV, as well as the expansion of Radio Kano.

Ascension to the Gumel throne

Muhammad-Sani’s political career was cut short following the death of his father, the then Emir of Gumel, on 13 December 1980.

Three days later, on 16 December 1980, he was selected to succeed his father and formally assumed the throne of the Gumel Emirate in the then old Kano State.

He remained on the throne for 46 years until his death on Thursday.