By Aminu Isa
On the 30th November, 2020 ,the death was announced of Alh. Aliyu Ahmadu Autanyaya, the Nakorji of Budon and Madaki of Lokoja.
Alh.Autanyaya is a household name among the Kakanda,Lokoja community, the Tijaniya brotherhood and Kogi state especially in the politics of third and earlier parts of the Fourth republic.
Born into the famous Sumasu Ahmadu family of Yagba in Budon,he was the last born of the larger family ( Hence,Autanyaya).
Autanyaya came into the limelight in the then Kwara Politics when he led the crusade for the election of Alh.M.M. Saba to emerged as the first ever elected Chairman of Kakanda extraction in the then Kogi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
He was to later joined the then All Peoples’ Party(APP) at the commencement of the Fourth republic where he emerged as the Kogi state party leader.Together, with Alh.Salami Abdullahi (ASTA) and Alh.Lemco Ocheje ,they played prominent role in the emergence of Prince Abubakar Audu on his second return as the Executive Governor of Kogi state.
Because of the prominent roles he played,he influences the appointment of several persons into the cabinet of Prince Abubakar Audu, including members of the party in his immediate constituency of Lokoja/Koto axis.
It is on record that Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency then produced the position of Speaker of Kogi state house of assembly, Party leader and state party chairman, commissioners, special advisers and prominent board appointments.
He played prominent role in community development as evidenced with deployment of his resources towards the rehabilitation of Budon road,Building of a modern central mosque and footing of transportation bills during period of festivities.Autanyaya was also instrumental to the appointments of Royal fathers within his domain. He was at various times,Marafa,Sakyako and Nakorji of Budon. He also held the title of Madaki of Lokoja. Nakorji is the peak of the title of the Kingmakers in Kakanda Traditional Institution in Budan. Nakorji also oversees the affairs of the village heads.As Madaki of Lokoja, he was also supportive of the Lokoja traditional institution.
The Tijaniyya Brotherhood in Nigeria and particularly Lokoja will forever remember the philanthropic gesture of Alh.Autanyaya who has been in the forefront of sponsoring Maulud,Tafsir and Hijrah celebrations in Lokoja and environs.
Alhaji Autanyaya was instrumental to the first ever visit of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi to Lokoja and indeed Budon.He was always part of every closing of Tafsir of Shehu Dahiru Bauchi in Kaduna.
Alh.Dansabe Darika ,Chairman,Federation of Kakanda Muslim attested to Alh.Autanyaya philanthrophy in his funeral oration:
” Alh. Autanyaya single handedly sponsored the airing of the maiden Tafsir of the Federation of Kakanda Muslim ( FOKAM) on NTA Lokoja. He also sponsored the Hijrah and annual maulid of FOKAM”
His residence in Kaduna and Lokoja is home to every one on transit especially those on Islamic evagelism either towards the North or southern parts of Nigeria.This much was attested by Khalifa Ibrahim Kenchi( Magajin Gari of Lokoja) and the Sarkin Ladanai of Lokoja,Alhaji Yaro Musa
He was into real estate and farming as evidenced with ownership of landed properties mostly in Kaduna and Lokoja. One could recalled his venture into rice farming in response to Federal Government call for investment in agriculture. The Auta Rice Mill then responded to the call by engaging the services of Israelites for mechanised farming, and in the process creating employment opportunities in the agricultural value chains.
It is not an understatement that Alh. Autanyaya remains one of the greatest Kakanda man that has ever lived.His death is indeed a great loss to his immediate Kakanda Community, Lokoja and the Tijaniya brotherhood.
May Allah forgive all his shortcomings and grant him Aljanat firdaus Amin.
Aminu Isah, is a Lecturer with Federal University Lokoja,he writes from Lokoja Kogi State.
