From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
Civil rights activist Sen Shehu Sani has released funds for the renovation of the palace of the deposed late Etsu Nupe Bida, Mallam Ibrahim Abubakar, who died in 1911 in Lokoja.
Sani also promised to rehabilitate and revive the Islamiyah School, which hosts the tombs of the deposed late Emir of Kano, Mallam Aliyu Abdullahi (Maisango), 1903, and the Emir of Gwandu, Muhammadu Aliyu, 1902.
The activist, who visited the tombs of six deposed emirs by British colonialists in Lokoja on Saturday, urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of appreciating the freedom fighters who stood in defence of the country.
Sani stressed that the deposed emirs from northern Nigeria, who were exiled to Lokoja where they died, deserved proper recognition. He also emphasised that he had taken it upon himself to renovate the Lokoja palace of the deposed Etsu Nupe with the cooperation of the emirate.
“I also saw an abandoned Islamiyah School where the emirs were buried, and I have expressed interest in rehabilitating and reviving the school.
“I have also released some funds for the renovation of the palace of the deposed late Etsu Nupe, Bida, Mallam Ibrahim Abubakar, who died in 1911 in Lokoja.
“I am also going to make funds available for the renovation and revival of the Islamiyah School, and the immediate commencement of recruitment of teachers and students into the Islamiyah school.”
Sani, who was the senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District from 2015 to 2019, reaffirmed his commitment as a Pan-Africanist to continue to appreciate freedom fighters who defended the country’s territorial land.
Mr Abdullahi Ibrahim, the great-grandson of the deposed Etsu Abubakar, commended the senator for the gesture in renovating the palace of their deposed emir, who was his great-grandfather.
He said the late deposed Etsu Nupe fought gallantly for his people and refused to bow down to colonialists.
“We are happy that the senator came to visit the palace, and we are very grateful to him for the prompt release of funds for the renovation of the palace.
“Many people, including government officials, have been coming to make several promises to renovate the palace, but they never fulfilled their promises.
“The senator visited the palace on Saturday, asked us to submit the proposal for the palace renovation, and he released the funds on Sunday,” Ibrahim said.