The Northern Governors’ Forum, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have mourned the death of the Emir of Gumel in Jigawa State, Alhaji Dr Ahmed Muhammad-Sani II, describing his passing as a major loss to the traditional institution, Jigawa State and the northern region.
The monarch died on Thursday afternoon in Cairo, Egypt, at the age of 85, after spending nearly 46 years on the throne. His death has triggered tributes from political leaders and prominent Nigerians who described his reign as a period marked by wisdom, peace-building, stability and commitment to the development of his people.
Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, described the death of the late emir as a profound loss to Jigawa State, Northern Nigeria and the country.
Yahaya, who conveyed the condolences of the northern governors, said the late monarch distinguished himself through wisdom, humility, peace-building and dedication to the welfare of his people.
“Throughout his years on the throne, the late royal father made significant contributions to the stability, unity and progress of the Gumel Emirate, leaving behind a legacy that would continue to inspire generations,” Yahaya said.
The Northern Governors’ Forum also extended its sympathy to the royal family, the Gumel Emirate Council, the Jigawa State Government and the people of the emirate, urging them to draw strength from the late monarch’s contributions to peace, unity and community development.
The forum’s chairman said the late emir’s long reign had made him an important figure not only within the traditional institution but also in the wider northern region.
Yahaya also prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the deceased monarch, accept his good deeds and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf also expressed grief over the monarch’s death, describing it as a great loss to Jigawa State, the traditional institution and the people of Gumel Emirate.
In a condolence statement issued by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor extended his sympathy to Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, the Gumel Emirate Council, the royal family and the people of the state.
Yusuf described the late emir as a respected traditional ruler who devoted his long reign to promoting peace, unity and development among his people.
“The death of the Emir of Gumel is a great loss to Jigawa State, the traditional institution and the people of the emirate,” the governor said.
He prayed that Allah would forgive the late monarch’s shortcomings and grant him eternal rest, while giving his family, the emirate and the people of Jigawa State the strength to bear the loss.
Former Kano State Governor and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, also condoled with the family of the late emir, describing him as a distinguished and far-sighted leader.
Kwankwaso, in a condolence message shared on his verified social media account, said the late traditional ruler provided dedicated leadership to the Gumel Emirate for more than four decades.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Emir of Gumel, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammad-Sani II, and the entire Gumel Emirate,” Kwankwaso said.
He described the late monarch as a leader whose reign contributed significantly to the progress of the emirate, adding that his departure had created a significant vacuum in the traditional institution.
Kwankwaso prayed for the repose of the emir’s soul and asked Allah to grant the royal family and the people of Gumel the fortitude to cope with the loss.
The death of the monarch came after a reign that began on December 16, 1980, when he succeeded his father as the 16th Emir of Gumel. He had formally received his staff of office in May 1981 and remained on the throne until his death on September 3, 2026.
Born on December 12, 1942, the late emir was educated at Gumel Primary School between 1948 and 1953 before proceeding to Hadejia Middle School from 1953 to 1956. He later attended Rumfa College, formerly Kano High School, where he completed his secondary education in 1961.
He obtained a Diploma in Public Administration from the Institute of Administration in Zaria in 1963 and later earned a Higher Diploma in the same field in 1970.
The late monarch subsequently travelled to the United States, where he studied Political Science and International Relations at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, between 1972 and 1978.
Before ascending the throne, Sani II had a career spanning public administration, immigration service and politics. He worked with the Gumel Native Authority between 1961 and 1963 before joining the Nigeria Immigration Service in 1964.
He was posted to Gamboru Ngala, in present-day Borno State, before later moving into public administration, where he served as a senior government official at the Kazaure Divisional Office.
His public career also took him into partisan politics. He contested for a Senate seat in 1978 under the Great Nigeria People’s Party but was unsuccessful.
Following an alliance between the GNPP and the People’s Redemption Party, he was appointed Commissioner for Information, Internal Affairs and Culture in the old Kano State Government.
During his tenure as commissioner between 1978 and 1980, he was involved in the establishment of The Triumph newspaper and CTV67 television station, now known as ARTV, while also contributing to the expansion of Radio Kano.
His political career was brought to an end by the death of his father in December 1980, after which he ascended the traditional throne of Gumel.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also mourned the late monarch, describing his death as the end of a historic era and praising his nearly 46-year reign. The President said the late emir’s contributions extended beyond the palace to public service, education, peace-building and community development.
Tinubu described the late ruler as “a father to all, a beacon of wisdom, and a custodian of culture,” noting that he devoted his long reign to promoting education, Islamic scholarship, unity and the preservation of cultural values.
“His calm, conservative and inclusive leadership provided stability through decades of political and security transitions, always placing the welfare of his people above all else,” the President said.
The emir’s death has also been viewed against the important role traditional rulers continue to play in northern Nigeria, particularly in promoting peaceful relations, resolving community disputes and maintaining links between governments and local populations.
For Gumel Emirate, the passing of Sani II marks the end of one of the longest reigns in its history and the departure of a monarch who witnessed several political, social and economic transformations in the country.
His reign spanned military and civilian administrations, the creation of Jigawa State in 1991 and decades of changes within Nigeria’s traditional and political institutions.
The late emir was therefore not only a custodian of the history and culture of Gumel but also a link between successive generations of the emirate and the wider northern traditional institution.
As condolences continue to come in, attention is expected to turn to the funeral arrangements and the eventual process for selecting his successor in accordance with the traditions and applicable laws governing the Gumel Emirate.
West Trybe reports that Alhaji Dr Ahmed Muhammad-Sani II’s death brings to a close nearly 46 years of traditional leadership, leaving behind a legacy shaped by public service, political experience, peace-building and a sustained commitment to the welfare and development of the people of Gumel and Jigawa State.This version keeps the Northern Governors Forum → Kano Governor → Kwankwaso sequence and retains the major biographical and historical details.
