By Musa Tanimu Nasidi
With news that Alhaji ( Dr) Muhammadu Kabir Maikarfi 111,OON, the Maigari of Lokoja, passed away in the early hours of Wednesday the 28th of September 2022, the historic town of Lokoja, Kogi state and the country lost a great leader and an even greater man. As we mourn his passing at the ripe old age of 80, we also reflect on the impact he made in his position as the Maigarin Lakwaja. He was, without doubt, one of the most successful and respected figures in the country. Indeed,Lokoja emirate Council, Lokoja Local Government traditional council lost a great leader,whose passion for peaceful co-existence amongst amongst all manners of people is unparalleled.
As a leader and a monarch, he was very much respected and the human qualities and unassuming way in which he conducted himself throughout his life set him apart as a leadership role model for the entire state and the nation at large.
Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir Maikarfi was a point of pride and distinction for his subjects and many Nigerians who appreciated his intelligence, humility and the wisdom which he imparted throughout his reign. He was a person who believed strongly in freedom and fairness and he stood for those values with tenacity and fortitude his whole life. He always rose above the struggles that so often drag us into the doldrums of loathing, hostility and gloom. He stood above all that.
It is fitting that just May 1st 2022 the late Maigari of Lokoja celebrated his 30th anniversary on the thrown. Though, it was celebrated low-key that milestone gave many of his subjects and well- meaning Nigerians the opportunity to show him appreciation and it provided an avenue for his memory to be etched and carried into the future. That milestone gave many younger generation amongst his subjects who were not present during his ascension to the throne an opportunity to learn more about the man behind the Maigari Dynasty.
He was an Royal father who was widely recognized as a true patriot and a man of great humility and justice. In reflection of those qualities he had, Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir Maikarfi, had often been called to play numerous mediating roles all over the state. His 30th anniversary on the throne was not only a celebration of his throne, but it was an affirmation of his place as a detribalised leader. People of different tribes all over show their admiration for him and their respect for the job that he had done.
That he ruled over the exceptional and complex people of Lokoja for 30 years, given the cocktail of challenges and turbulence this country is going through, while maintaining the respect and love of his subjects, was a testimony to the great Royal father that he was. The people of Lokoja emirate council have, from time, proven themselves to be a resilient, independent, creative, hardworking and ingenious people. They have never opted for second best and have never been ones to suffer fools gladly. I know this because I see it in me and others who are all proudly from Lokoja.
Maigar of Lokoja, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Kabir Maikarfi 111,OON,was born in 1943 in Lokoja,11years before his revered father ,late Alhaji Yahaya Muhammadu Maikarfi 11, ascended the throne. He was among the royal family that received formal western education. Kabir started his education according to the old tradition of Lokoja, with Quranic/ Arabic studies at a very early age. On completion of this compulsory vocation,he attended Native Authority (N.A.) Elementary Primary School Kabawa and later proceeded to the famous Holy trinity School, Lokoja, where acquired a thirst of knowledge which propelled him to want to read hard and go for various courses that were to prepare him for a life service to the community and Allah.
From Holy trinity school Lokoja, young Alhaji Kabir proceeded to Clerical Training centre Sokoto. However,as if destined to administer people all his life, Alhaji Kabir was appointed District Secretary,Lokoja Subordinate Native Authority in 1960, and was in that capacity for Ten Years . Indeed ,by 1961 he was selected to attend the District Scribe course at the institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria. He was among the first set of of students from the six Northern Region who attended the Extended Stage 2 Local Government Course in Financial Management and Local Government Administration. Subsequently,he was again selected to National Certificate Course in Local Government Administration and Accounting at College of Administration and Business Studies, Kaduna Polytechnic.
Having completed this course , Alhaji Kabir went further for his National Diploma in financial Management/Local Government Administration at CABS ( KAD POLY).
His working experience begins with stint as Primary School teacher in 1959 After which he was appointed District Scribe Lokoja Subordinate, N. A as earlier mentioned. In 1963, he head the officers that conducted census in kakanda district m
Due to his hard work and meticulous approach to duty ,in 1970,he became the council Secretary to the then Lokoja Local Government until 1975 when he was moved to Social Services Depertment as Secretary later Department of Finance and Agriculture from 1977-83.
With the setting up of Political Bureau by the then Federal military Government,Alhaji Kabir,who by then had risen from Higher Executive Officer to Principal Executive officer, was appointed Assistant Monitoring officer, political Bureau Kogi Local Government 1984- 85 this appointment afforded Prince Kabir the opportunity to transversed all the towns and villages of Kogi Local Government organising public forum for discussions and submission of memorandum and mobilising the people for political awareness. Because of his transparent honestly,he was appointed chairman to various investigation panels of Kogi Local Government.
It was not therefore not surprising that Alhaji Kabir was appointed the electrical officer for Kogi Local Government in 1986, because of his unblemished track records in conducting free and fair elections,he was appointed to re-conduct the 1989 cancelled Ilorin Local Government election.
Kabir held the position of electoral officer in the then Kwara state,with Ifelodun Local Government being his last electoral assignment.
Due to.the failing I’ll of his father, HRH, Late Alhaji Yahaya Muhammadu Maikarfi 11,he has to come back home as the of the family to take care of him. In 1989 he was appointed to head the department of Medical and Health/ Administration,Kogi local government. According to royal source, Alhaji Kabir took great care of his late father and received royal blessings from his revered father who passed away on the 31st of March 1991.
On the 1st of May 1992, Alhaji Kabir was appointed to succeed his late father by the then civilian Governor of the newly created Kogi state, Late Prince Abubakar Audu.
Late Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Kabir Maikarfi 111 celebrated 30th anniversary about four months ago.
The Royal father whose tenured witnessed tremendous peaceful co-existence amongst religions ,politics and physical development to mentioned few was described as a detribalised leader.
Dr Muhammadu Kabir Maikarfi 111 died in Abuja on Wednesday,28th of September 2021,which is equivalent to 2rd Ribiul Awwal 1444 A. H.
The Royal father left behind two wives,14 children and many grandchildren,among who is Alhaji Gambo Kabir, Senior Manager with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Headquarters,Abuja.q
As we head into an uncertain future as a people, one hopes that the qualities and legaciesqq of leaders such as the Maigari of Lokoja should be imbibed by all. May we, as citizens, learn from people like the His Royal Highest, behave in the manner the Maikarfi 111 did and lead in the way the Maigari showed us. His leadership and the leadership of others like him revive hope.
As the good people of Lokoja celebrate and salute the life of their leader and father and mourn for the loss of a man who has truly proven himself, many of us will join them in prayers and sorrow.
As the people of Lokoja Emirate council close the chapter of a man and Maikarfi 111, that was truly great, “I PRAY THAT GOD FORGIVE AND HAVE MERCY ON THE SOUL OF ALHAJI (DR) MUHAMMADU KABIR MAIKARFI 111,OON AND MAKE HONORABLE HIS RECEPTION. MAY ALLAH KEEP HIM SAFE AND SOUND, PROTECT THE PLACE WHERE HE HAS RESTED AND MAKE HIS ENTRANCE WIDE; BLESS HIM FOR HIS GOOD DEEDS AND SURROUND HIM WITH A GARDEN FILLED WITH BEAUTY. MAY HE RECEIVE THE GENTLE BLOW OF A COOL BREEZE, BE WASHED WITH SNOWFLAKES, ICE, SLEET, WATER AND EVERYTHING PURE AND CLEANSED OF SIN AS A WHITE CLOTH IS PURIFIED PERFECTLY. I PRAY ALLAH ADMITS HIM TO PARADISE AND MAY HIS GRAVE BE SPACIOUS AND FILLED WITH LIGH…; AMIN.”
It is with pride that I as a Lokojan and one of the Subject of the deceased thank, salute and mourn the exit of the Maigari of Lokoja, Mai Martaban , Alhaji (DR), Muhammadu Kabir Maikarfi 111, whose life and legacy will be remembered in time to come…
Musa Tanimu Nasidi is a journalist,Publisher of THEANALYSTNG, he writes from Lokoja
