SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE ARC MOHAMMED NAMADI SAMBO, fnia, ON THE OCCASION OF BURIAL OF HIS HIGHNESS THE CHEF OF KAGORO MALAM (DR) GWAMNA AWAN MBE, OON, ON SATURDAY, 11TH OCTOBER, 2008.

It is with heavy heart and total submission to the will of Almighty God that we all gathered this morning to pay our last respect to the "Legendary Monarch of Our Time", the Chief of Kagoro Malam (Dr.) Gwamna Awan, MBE, and the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) which sad even occurred on 30th September 2008.

The late Malam Gwamna Awan died at the age of 90 years and was formally installed as the 5th Chief of Kagoro by the then colonial resident of zaria province on 11th April, 1945, being 63 years on the throne, making him the longest serving traditional ruler in Northern Nigeria who had outlived Colonial Rule, three Republics, three phases of Military Rule and dozen of Presidents and State Governors.

The late Malam Gwamna Awan was not only a Traditional Ruler, but also a committed religious leader who despite the many responsibilities bestowed on him, did not in any way forget his creator the Almighty God. As a teacher, he combined his teachings with evangelism. This has in no small way helped to mould the character his generations and generation after him to which majority of us here are beneficiaries of this noble virtue

Through dint of hard work as an assistant scribe, Late Gwamna Awan improved the tax collection system in those days which led to the execution of many developmental projects in Kagoro including the building of a modern palace for the Chief of Kagoro his uncle Malam Biya Kaka in 1943.

He was a detribalized Nigerian who shunned all forms of ethnic and religious bigotry and worked very hard for the upliftment of his people, his State, his country and mankind as a whole.

The departed "Legendary Monarch" Dr Gwamna Awan was fair and just ruler, a bridge builder, a pillar of support and an icon of peace whose long reign was characterized by peace and progress. His good old friend the Sardauna of Sokoto Sir Ahmadu Bello in leadership vision and acumen once described him as just and loving ruler of his people.

The passing into eternal glory of Dr Gwamna Awan is a great loss not only to the people of Kagoro Chiefdom but to the State and nation as a whole. With the good records he left behind and the exemplary leadership qualities he exhibited during his lifetime coupled with humility in the service of his community, his state and indeed the nation as a whole has lost an illustrious son in the late Malam Gwamna Awan who had left a vacuum that will be difficult to fill.

To immortalize him is to emulate his good qualities and continue with the good legacies he left behind.

Distinguished personalities, such was the exemplary life of late Malam (Dr) Gwamna Awan, which would remain indelible for posterity. He was highly respected by all monarchs and peace loving people in the North and indeed the nation as a whole. These good attributes, I believe explain the cream of persons from different backgrounds who are gathered here today to pay their last respect to our epitome of peace and harmonious co-existence.

May the soul of the departed continue to rest in perfect peace. May the Almighty give the family, Kaduna State and the nation the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

Thank you for your attention and God bless.

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