Umar Ibn Muhammad of Borno
| Sanda Kyarimi | |
|---|---|
.png) Shehu Umar in 1948 | |
| Shehu of Borno | |
| Reign | 1937–1967 |
| Predecessor | Sanda Kura |
| Successor | Umar ibn Abubakar Garbai |
| Shehu of Dikwa | |
| Reign | 1922–1937 |
| Predecessor | Sanda Mandarama[1] |
| Successor | Masta II Kyarimi[2] |
| Born | Umar ibn Muhammad 1872 |
| Died | 1967 (aged 94–95) Borno |
| Dynasty | Kanemi |
| Father | Abba Kyari |
| Religion | Muslim |
Sir Umar Ibn Muhammad GCON KBE CBE CMG (1872–1967), also known as Sanda Kyarimi, was Shehu of Dikwa between 1922 and 1937 and Shehu of Borno from 1937 to 1967.[3]
Reign
[edit]Umar (son of Shehu Kyari of Borno) was Shehu of Dikwa between 1922 and 1937 and Shehu of Borno from 1937 to 1967. In 1955, he attended the great durbar in Kaduna during the visit of Elizabeth II. The same year, he went on pilgrimage to Mecca.[4]
During his tenure as Shehu of Dikwa, the District Officer of Dikwa advised him that one of his armed guards was no longer fit for duty due to his age. At the time, Borno faced a significant issue with robbers, and in Dikwa, there were several posts manned by guards armed with old rifles who patrolled the area. The particular armed guard in question was ninety years old and had previously served as a soldier in Rabih az-Zubayr's army. Despite this guard having once been a part of the army that had killed the Shehu's father, the Shehu chose not to replace him as
'....he was Rabih's mightiest leader in battle; he killed a score of men with his own right arm; his name is feared throughout the land. If he is replaced by some young stripling known to none, the road will be closed by highwaymen.'[5]
Decorations
[edit]In 1943, he was appointed CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire), on the nomination of Bernard Henry Bourdillon. In 1949, he was made CMG (Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George), on the recommendation of Commissioner Patterson. Finally, in 1960, the governor of Northern Nigeria, Gawain Bell recommended him for appointment as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, so that he became Sir Umar.[6] In 1964, the Nigerian Government appointed him Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Abba Tor Shehu Masta II: The Prince who waited - Daily Trust". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "Abba Tor Shehu Masta II: The Prince who waited - Daily Trust". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ Hiribarren, Vincent (2017). A History of Borno: Trans-Saharan African Empire to Failing Nigerian State. London: Hurst & Company. p. 144. ISBN 9781849044745.
- ^ Bosoma Sheriff, Muhammad Fannami, and Abba Rufai Tijani, Functions of Shettima Kanuribe: Instances in the Shehu of Borno’s Palace (Maiduguri: Desktop Investment Ltd., 2011), pp. 66-71.
- ^ Stanhope White (1967-01-01). Dan Bana;: The memoirs of a Nigerian official. Internet Archive. J. H. Heineman. p. 28.
- ^ Bosoma Sheriff, Muhammad Fannami, and Abba Rufai Tijani, Functions of Shettima Kanuribe: Instances in the Shehu of Borno’s Palace (Maiduguri: Desktop Investment Ltd., 2011), pp. 66-71.
- ^ "Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette" (PDF). Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette. 1 October 1964.
Bibliography
[edit]Sheriff, Bosoma, Muhammad Fannami, and Abba Rufai Tijani, Functions of Shettima Kanuribe: Instances in the Shehu of Borno’s Palace (Maiduguri: Desktop Investment Ltd., 2011).