Opinion
When Military Ethos Is Married Into Royalty: As Emir Muhammad Sanusi II Turbans Former Chief of Air Staff as “Sarkin Fulanin Jaidanawa”
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<p>By Alhaji Bashir Hayatu Gentile</p><div class="IURo0su6" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> 
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<p>The military is an institution all over the world that is synonymous with discipline and due process. It has made an impact in running nations and institutions throughout the world.</p>
<p>With both old and modern warfare at hand, no nation will pride itself or exist without facing existential threats if it lacks a military.</p>
<p>It is these military ethos and discipline that are passed from generation to generation for the effective running of state affairs.</p><div class="LeZDDJWJ" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> 
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<p>Without much digression from the main subject matter at hand, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, with due diligence and humility, is the most modern Emir in the history of Kano and the Dabo dynasty. He is the first Emir in Kano to combine two systems of education, both Islamic and Western. The world has testified that the Emir is making every effort to uplift the status of the Kano Emirate.</p>
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<p>It is on this note that the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, will, on Friday, 26 June 2026, turban the former Chief of Air Staff, retired Air Marshal Muhammad Dikko Umaru, as Sarkin Fulanin Jaidanawa of Kano.</p>
<p>Since his ascension to the throne of Kano and that of his forefathers on 8 June 2014, 12 years ago, the Emir has been making appreciable efforts to ensure that learned technocrats who have distinguished themselves in their careers become part and parcel of the movers and shakers of the ancient Kano Emirate.</p>
<p>Sarkin Fulanin Jaidanawa is a great traditional title, and the Emir decided to carefully analyse and select one of the most suitable heirs to the traditional title in the person of the retired Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Muhammad Dikko Umaru.</p>
<p>Without much ado, let us cruise into the profile of the newly turbanned Sarkin Fulanin Jaidanawa, Air Chief Marshal Muhammad Dikko Umaru, and see how Emir Muhammad Sanusi II separated the chaff from the grain.</p>
<p>THE PROFILE</p>
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<p>1.<br />
Air Marshal Muhammad<br />
Dikko Umar (Rtd) was born on<br />
June 20th, 1955, in Dambazau,<br />
Kano Municipal Local<br />
Government Area, Kano State into<br />
the family of Umaru Babura, the<br />
Sarkin Fulani Ja&#8217;idnawa of Kano.<br />
His parents, Umaru Abdulaziz and<br />
Salamatu Muhammad Dikko were<br />
cousins and direct descendants of<br />
Malam Inusa Dabon Dambazu the<br />
leader of Dambazawa Fulani clan.<br />
Dabo Inusa was one of the<br />
prominent leaders of Sokoto Jihad<br />
which culminated in the<br />
appointment of Suleiman as the<br />
first Emir of Kano. Malam Inusa<br />
was the only one amongst the Kano<br />
leaders that fought alongside Sheik<br />
Usman bin Fodio in the battle of<br />
Tsunsua that led to the victory of<br />
the Jihad. Dabo Inusa was the<br />
military arm of the Jihad in Kano<br />
which is one aspect of his<br />
grandfather that Air Marshall<br />
inherited. Umaru, father of Dikko<br />
was the son of Abdulaziz, son of<br />
Umaru and son of Dabo Inusa. His<br />
mother Salamatu Muhammad<br />
Dikko was the daughter of<br />
Muhammad Dikko the fifth Sarkin<br />
Bai of Kano, whose name Air<br />
Marshal inherited, was the son of<br />
Abdurrahman who was the son of<br />
Dabo Inusa. His grandmother<br />
Hauwa from the father&#8217;s side was<br />
the granddaughter of Emir<br />
Suleiman and his grandmother<br />
Asama&#8217;u from the mother&#8217;s side<br />
was the granddaughter of Sheik<br />
Usman bin Fodio. DISTINGUISHED MILITARY<br />
CAREER<br />
2. Muhammad Dikko Umar<br />
started his school at Victory<br />
College, Ma&#8217;adi, in Cairo, Egypt in<br />
1963 following the grant of<br />
scholarship slots by President<br />
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein to<br />
the Emir of Kano, Alhaji<br />
Muhammad Sanusi I, which<br />
Muhammad Dikko Umar<br />
benefited from. After completing<br />
his primary education in 1969, the<br />
young Muhammad Dikko Umar<br />
returned to Nigeria to continue his<br />
secondary school education at<br />
Sheik Sabbah College Kaduna<br />
later renamed Sardauna Memorial<br />
College. In 1976, the young<br />
Muhammad Dikko Umar enlisted<br />
into the Nigerian Air Force as a member of the Short Service<br />
Course 12 Special Pilot Enlistment<br />
Exercise to begin the process of a<br />
distinguished military career.<br />
3. On completion of his basic<br />
military and pilot training in<br />
Kaduna and the United Kingdom,<br />
he was posted Benin in 1980 to<br />
begin his flying career. He returned<br />
to Kaduna in 1982 to serve as a<br />
Flying Instructor and later rated a<br />
Qualified Flying Instructor. In<br />
December 1983, he received his<br />
posting to the Presidential Air Fleet<br />
where he not only spent 16 years<br />
out of his 23 years of flying career<br />
but unarguably where he<br />
distinguished himself as a pilot and<br />
professional of repute. From 1983<br />
to 2000, when he served at the<br />
Presidential Air Fleet, he flew all<br />
the Presidents and Heads of State<br />
including their deputies. He had<br />
the singular privilege of flying Mr<br />
Kofi Anan, the 7th Secretary<br />
General of the United Nations as<br />
well as Mr Sepp Blatter, the<br />
President of FIFA. He held many<br />
positions in the Nigerian Air Force<br />
during his distinguished career. By<br />
the special grace of the Almighty<br />
Allah, these successes were<br />
crowned with the appointment of<br />
Air Marshal Muhammad Dikko<br />
Umar (Rtd) as the 17th Chief of the<br />
Air Staff on the 8th September<br />
2010.<br />
HIS FAMILY<br />
4.<br />
Air Marshal Muhammad<br />
Dikko Umar (Rtd) is married to<br />
Hajiya Aisha Uwani Umar from<br />
the family of late Alhaji<br />
Muhammad Bello Bature<br />
(Garkuwan Wazirin Sokoto) and<br />
Hajiya Aishatu Muhammad<br />
Bature. They were married on the<br />
24th March 1989. The marriage is<br />
blessed with five lovely children:<br />
two boys, Faisal and Farouk; three<br />
girls, Salma, Aisha and Maryam.<br />
NATIONAL HONOURS<br />
5.<br />
Air Marshal Muhammad<br />
Dikko Umar (Rtd) was awarded<br />
the Distinguished Flying Star<br />
(DFS) and the National honour of<br />
Commander of the Federal<br />
Republic (CFR) by President<br />
Goodluck Jonathan GCFR for his<br />
meritorious service to the<br />
nation.<br />
FIKA EMIRATE AND<br />
SOKOTO CALIPHATE<br />
6.<br />
The Fulani and Fulani<br />
settlements have existed in the old<br />
Emirate of Fika for many<br />
centuries. This co-existence<br />
engendered inter-marriages,<br />
scholarship and monumental<br />
commerce. It is well known that<br />
the cattle market in the Emirate is<br />
by far the largest in the West<br />
African sub-region, which also<br />
attracted the hides and skin market.<br />
Most importantly, we must not<br />
forget the show of uncommon<br />
solidarity, love, faith, support and<br />
courage by Moi Suleiman of Fika<br />
to Sultan Muhammadu Attahiru I,<br />
the last independent Sultan of<br />
Sokoto Caliphate even when war<br />
with the British colonialists was<br />
imminent. Indeed, the war at<br />
Bormi, 5km east of Bajoga in<br />
present day Gombe State in 1903<br />
was the fiercest battle against the<br />
colonialists in Northern Nigeria<br />
and its impact was monumental in<br />
many respects. Sultan<br />
Muhammadu Attahiru I was<br />
martyred in the battle while Moi<br />
Suleiman of Fika had to abdicate<br />
his throne to avert the siege on Fika<br />
by the colonialists&#8217; forces. This<br />
close bond of friendship between<br />
the Bolawa and Fulani has<br />
continued to manifest in the<br />
honours and titles like Sarkin<br />
Fulani, Hardo etc the Emirate<br />
bestows on its worthy sons.<br />
JA&#8217;IDANAWAN KANO<br />
7. The title of “Sarkin Fulani<br />
Ja&#8217;idanawa” was the most<br />
prominent amongst what was<br />
known as Kano Nine. These were a<br />
group of village heads appointed<br />
by the Emir to protect the boarders<br />
of the Emirate. With the coming of<br />
the Europeans the role of Kano<br />
Nine was no longer required.<br />
(Kano Emirate then include most<br />
of present day Jigawa State).<br />
However, when Emir<br />
Muhammadu Sanusi 1 appointed<br />
Umaru Babura as the Kano<br />
Emirate Councilor of Agriculture<br />
and Natural Resources in 1955 the<br />
title of Sarkin Fulani Ja&#8217;idanawa<br />
was selected for him as most<br />
appropriate for the task at hand.<br />
Agriculture was the mainstay of Nigerian economy and Kano led<br />
the way with the production of<br />
Groundnuts that made Kano<br />
Groundnut Pyramids famous all<br />
over the world. His role in<br />
i mproving all aspects of<br />
agriculture that included<br />
conservation of forests, animal<br />
health, fisheries and converting of<br />
tsetse fly menace soon made<br />
Umaru Babura noticed by<br />
Northern Nigerian Government<br />
when they appointed him the first<br />
Minister of Establishment and<br />
Training in the North that was<br />
given the task of accelerating<br />
training of Northern Nigerians to<br />
catch up with southern part of the<br />
country. His transfer to Ministry of<br />
Social Welfare and Co-operatives<br />
in 1964 made Ja&#8217;idanawa a<br />
household name in Northern<br />
Nigeria because of the nature of his<br />
ministry that requires a lot of<br />
travelling all over the North. It<br />
was during this time that Ahmadu<br />
Bello Stadium, Kaduna was built.<br />
Dabon Dambazau was the richest<br />
among all the jihad leaders in kano<br />
and he used his resources to<br />
sponsor the jihad from its inception<br />
to its conclusion as narrated by<br />
Dr.Uba Adamu<br />
OTHER TITLES<br />
In Osun State, His Royal Highness,<br />
Oba Adeleke Agunbiade Oke,<br />
Agunbiade III, the Ajalaye of<br />
Ipetu-Ijesa, conferred upon Air<br />
Marshal Muhammad Dikko Umar<br />
(Rtd) the prestigious traditional<br />
title of Olu Omo of Ipetu-Ijesa.<br />
Further recognition came from the<br />
South-South region of Nigeria,<br />
where His Royal Majesty<br />
AVM LO Ararile (rtd), Avwaeke I,<br />
the Ovie of Umiaghwa-Abraka<br />
Kingdom honoured him with the<br />
chieftaincy title, Oyukor &#8216;Ovie in<br />
Delta State. Also, the Odezuluigbo<br />
III<br />
of Nike Kingdom, Enugu,<br />
South East Nigeria, His Royal<br />
Majesty Barr Julius Nnaji, the then<br />
King bestowed on him the<br />
chieftaincy title of &#8220;Okenwa Ana<br />
Amulu Oha&#8221; of Nike Kingdom.<br />
These numerous honours and<br />
traditional titles bestowed upon the<br />
Sarkin Fulanin Ja&#8217;idanawan Kano<br />
stand as a testament to his<br />
exemplary character, exceptional<br />
leadership, broad acceptance, and<br />
unwavering integrity. They reflect<br />
the profound respect, trust, and<br />
admiration he commands across<br />
Nigeria&#8217;s diverse communities,<br />
ethnic groups, and regions. Such<br />
recognitions underscore his<br />
enduring contributions to national<br />
development, the promotion of<br />
unity, and selfless service to<br />
humanity.<br />
JA&#8217;IDANAWAN FIKA<br />
His Royal Highness, the Emir of<br />
Fika, Alhaji Muhammadu Abali<br />
ibn Muhammadu Idrissa ibn<br />
Suleiman, in keeping with the<br />
noble tradition of his forebears,<br />
conferred upon Air Marshal<br />
Muhammad Dikko Umar ibn<br />
Umaru Babura (Rtd) the<br />
prestigious title of Ja&#8217;idanawan<br />
Fika. This honour was bestowed in<br />
recognition of a distinguished son<br />
of the Sokoto Sultanate and a<br />
steadfast friend of the Fika<br />
Emirate.<br />
Air Marshal Muhammad Dikko<br />
Umar (Rtd), the Ja&#8217;idanawan Fika,<br />
is a former Chief of the Air Staff, an<br />
accomplished administrator, and a<br />
consummate officer and<br />
gentleman whose exemplary<br />
service has earned him widespread<br />
respect and admiration. His tenure<br />
as Chief of the Air Staff was<br />
distinguished by visionary<br />
leadership, professionalism, and<br />
f ar-reaching institutional<br />
transformation.<br />
Paying tribute to his leadership, his<br />
former superior and mentor, Air<br />
Chief Marshal Paul Dike (Rtd),<br />
remarked:<br />
“Umar&#8217;s leadership style has<br />
placed the Nigerian Air Force well<br />
ahead of other agencies and has<br />
made the Service better positioned<br />
to meet the contemporary<br />
challenges confronting our<br />
nation.”<br />
This distinguished honour further<br />
reflects the high esteem in which<br />
Air Marshal Muhammad Dikko<br />
Umar is held and acknowledges his<br />
enduring contributions to national development.</p>
<p> ;</p>
<p>Air Chief Marshal Muhammad Dikko Umaru&#8217;s profile and his contribution to the development of Nigeria, as someone who worked in the Presidential Fleet and flew many Nigerian leaders, make it imperative to understand that the Kano Emirate Council, as envisaged in Emir Muhammad Sanusi&#8217;s vision, will continue to soar higher in bringing development to the Emirate and the entire Kano State.</p>
<p>With the discipline, military ethics, and political experience acquired by Air Marshal Muhammad Dikko Umaru, coupled with his esprit de corps, it is pertinent to note that Emir Muhammad Sanusi&#8217;s vision of instilling discipline in the Kano royalty will be second to none in the entire federation.</p>
<p>Alhaji Bashir Hayatu Gentile is a member of the Organising Committee for the turbaning of the new &#8220;Sarkin Fulanin Jaidanawa of Kano,&#8221; Air Marshal Muhammad Dikko Umaru.</p>
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