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Because of his traditional title, Madaki incorporated all district, village and ward heads into the activities of the committee; hence, the committee became stronger and more effective in the discharge of its primary duty
One of the most effective measures of success in life is the impact it has on others and this is what made the life of Madakin Kano, Alhaji Abdullahi Sani Sarki Yola worth remembering. Until his death in the early hours of Thursday, March 13, Madaki lived a life which impacted not only on his family members but the entire people of Kano State. One of the many humanitarian services he rendered to the people of Kano during his life time was his total commitment to the effective management of Kano’s grave yards. Late Madaki who was until his death, the chairman of Kano Grave Yards Management Committee, demonstrated a high level of patriotism, commitment, determination and courage in the discharge of his duties. These qualities earned him respect, not only from the people of his domain, but in the eyes of every Muslim in the state and beyond. A humble and simple kingmaker in the Kano emirate council, late Madaki was well known for his generosity and service to humanity. Under his leadership as chairman of Kano Grave Yards Committee, many cemeteries in the state received lots of developments ranging from fencing, bush clearing, expansion, construction of drainages, provision of pots and other digging facilities such as diggers and wheel barrows among others. It was as a result of his tireless efforts to change the face of Kano’s cemeteries that motivated wealthy individuals in Kano to show interest in the affairs of grave yards through donations of money and materials to the committee for proper management of the cemeteries. Philanthropists in Kano, through Madaki’s efforts, have now dedicated themselves in the affairs of graveyards. While some preferred to provide financial assistance to the committee, others combined both financial and energetic contributions to the committee. Owing to the late Madaki’s continuous humanitarian services to Kano’s graveyards, the dilapidated conditions of cemetery has been a thing of the past. Apart from proper management of Kano graveyards, the Madakin Kano-led grave yards management committee has mapped out various strategies to address the attitude of some criminals who turned some Kano cemeteries into their hideouts. Obviously, before the advent of the late Madaki’s committee, the menace of criminal activities in Kano graveyards became worrisome, not only to the community, but also to those in power. The committee under Madaki adopted appropriate measures to tackle the menace and that resulted into bringing sanity back to the grave sites. Apart from this measure, the Madaki-led committee has also introduced the employment of security personnels who are attached to various graveyards in the metropolis to ensure adequate security. The committee also introduced a routine and effective monitoring of graveyards especially during the rainy season during which many cemeteries in the state have graveyards collapsing. Because of his traditional title, Madaki incorporated all district, village and ward heads into the activities of the committee; hence, the committee became stronger and more effective in the discharge of its primary duty. Aged 71, Madaki died after a brief illness. He was survived by three wives, 39 children and many grandchildren. Among his children are Alhaji Shehu A. Sarki Yola, a civil servant attached to Kano State Government House, Alhaji Farouq A Sarki Yola, a staff of AfriBank among others. Untill his death, he served the Kano emirate council in various capacities including district head of Dawakin Tofa, Kumbotso, Bagwai, Municipal local government and Gwaram local government areas now in Jigawa state. He held various traditional title, the last being the Madakin Kano, a position he held since 1994. He was at one point the Magajin Malam in 1964 and the Sarkin Shanu of Kano in 1987. The number of dignitaries who attended his funeral prayers are testimonies of his well spent life. He was buried in Kofar Mazugal Cemetery, one of the cemeteries he spent a substantial part of his life protecting.
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