– Emirate dismisses COVID-19 claims
Not more than few hours after Rano Emirate Council confirmed that the Emir of Rano, Alhaji Tafida Abubakar Ila II, was hospitalized and responding to treatment, that the monarch passed on.
He died on Saturday at a hospital in Kano at the age of 74.
House of Representatives member and Turakin Rano, Alhaji Kabir Alhassan Rururm, confirmed the death.
The late emir has been buried at the emirate, according to Islamic rites.
He is survived by two wives and 17 children.
The deceased was earlier rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, AKTH, last Friday.
He was said to have been referred to Nassarawa Specialist Hospital owing to absence of oxygen at the hospital.
The late monarch was said to have been critically ill as of the time he was brought to the hospital.
Given the spate of deaths in the state, there were speculations that the monarch may have contracted COVID-19.
But the Emirate Council, on its official twitter handle, dismissed the claim, saying the illness was not related to COVID-19.
The tweet reads: “We are informing the public that there is a report going round on social media on the sickness of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Rano.
“No doubt that His Royal Highness is sick but glory be to Allah. At the moment he is recuperating and the sickness is not related to COVID-19 as reported in some quarters.
“Some months ago, he visited his medical doctor for a medical checkup and became sick with the commencement of Ramadan fasting as someone who loves his religion.
Another traditional leader, Jarman Kano dies at 86
“By the grace of God in a short while, we would release his audio voice.
“We urge people to remain calm and continue to pray for his quick recovery.’’
Rano Emirate council is one of the four newly created emirates in Kano State.
UNICEF official
In a related development, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Kano Field Office, lost its Head of Communications, Malam Rabiu Musa, yesterday.
A son of the deceased, Musa Rabiu, who confirmed the death, said his father died at the age of 60.
Rabiu said: “He died at about 3 am on Saturday, after battling with sickness for a few days.
“Although, we noticed symptoms of Coronavirus the test conducted is not yet out.
“A week ago, he had complained of sore throat and malaria but after a few days, he became normal.
“A few days later he complained that he was finding it difficult to breathe.
“He also complained that no matter how short he walked, he loses breath. He was taken to the National Orthopedic Hospital in Dala, on Friday where he gave up.’’
