Zainab Ado Bayero, daughter of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, has issued a heartfelt appeal for financial assistance from President Bola Tinubu, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other well-meaning Nigerians to support her family amid ongoing financial difficulties.
This appeal comes two months after Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, intervened to prevent Zainab, her brother, and their mother from being evicted from their Lagos apartment.
In a statement issued in June by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, it was revealed that the governor personally visited Lagos to negotiate with the management of the apartment and prevent the eviction.
The family, who have faced difficult times since the demise of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, expressed their gratitude to the governor, acknowledging that his timely intervention saved them from being evicted just 15 minutes before the deadline.
However, in a recent interview with Premium Times, Zainab disclosed that her family’s financial challenges have persisted, despite the assistance from Governor Yusuf.
She explained that the financial support provided by the governor, while appreciated, was insufficient to cover their ongoing expenses.
The family is now at risk of being forced out of their current accommodation once again, with their hotel booking set to expire on Saturday, August 23.
Zainab, her mother, and brother have struggled to make ends meet since the passing of the late Emir, and she is appealing to both the government and the public for additional assistance to alleviate their financial burdens.
Zainab Ado Bayero 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 ₦150 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.”
