IBB BUILDS HOSPITAL FOR GRANDFATHER’S COMMUNITY IN KANO. (PHOTO).

 IBB builds hospital for grandfather’s community in Kano

…facility to be dedicated to late wife Maryam, IBB’s parents

Former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has remembered his ancestral root in Kumurya village, Bunkure local government area of Kano State, where his grandfather was born.

Babangida’s grandfather, Malam Ibrahim, was born and raised in Kumurya village under Rano emirate before he relocated to Wushishi, Niger State, as a trader.

Upon leaving office as Military Head of State in 1993, Babangida realised he did not bequeath an impressionistic tangible legacy for the Kumurya community. 

He however, vowed he must build a project for them before he departs the planet earth.

The last time the issue tugged his heart, Babangida invited Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil -the Chairman, Kano State Council of Ulama, to Minna in August, where he enquired from the Sheikh the kind of project that would serve the people of his origin.

Khalil told IBB that his grandpa’s people now have schools and mosques, so an hospital would be ideal, to stop or reduce to barest minimum maternal and child mortalities and other preventable deaths in the area. Babangida approved.

The village was agog on Sunday as the hospital foundation was laid. Gidan Jefau -the family house of IBB’s late grandfather, also came alive.

At the land where the hospital foundation was laid, General Babangida, represented by General Halliru Akilu, explained that the gesture was fulfilled after 27 years.

IBB said he was proud of his roots in Kumurya, Kano, which had been legendary even before colonialism.

Gen. Akilu said: “The former Head of State invited Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil to Minna in August this year and after a discussion, the Sheikh told him that Kumurya lacks a health facility.

“Babangida, being very generous, therefore supported the idea of building a hospital which he dedicates to his parents and his late wife, Maryam.”

Akilu said he would not give further details of why it took this long before Babangida remembered his roots, noting that the village head was aware of previous attempts to build an Islamiyya school and a mosque for the community.

Akilu further said, even as Head of State, IBB lived and worked with illustrious sons of Rano emirate who are known for their patriotism and dedication to duty.

He listed Generals Murtala Muhammed, Sani Abacha and Babangida as former Heads of State from Kano, adding that General Abdulsalami Abubakar is also traced to Kano, even though many may not know.

The Emir of Rano, Muhammad Isa Umar, said the day was special for the emirate where parents of the former head of state hailed from.

He revealed how Kumurya town is so important to the emirate, disclosing that during the war against Ningi emirate, the late emir of Rano, Alhaji Umaru, was camped there to protect the emirate against invaders.

“The former head of states (IBB) is very proud of Kumurya and when I was district head of Bunkure, I personally knew of his plans to bring development to the village. This hospital, when completed, will certainly cater for women and children and the general people of Kumurya,” the emir said.

Village head of Kumurya said, in addition to the hospital, Babangida is rebuilding the mud house known as Gidan Jefau belonging to his uncles, expressing gratitude for the gesture.

Gen. Babangida (Rtd), has revealed that “Ibrahim” in his combination of names is his grandfather’s. And that while joining the military, he was being mistaken for a Yoruba, so he added Babangida in the end to prove his northern ancestry.

He narrated that his great grandfather had migrated from Sokoto to Kumurya in Kano where he gave birth to his grandfather, Ibrahim, who moved to Kontagora before settling in Wushishi, Niger State, where his father, Badamasi, was born.

Badamasi then moved from Wushishi to Minna in 1941 where he gave birth to IBB in August that year.