NOW THAT DAUDA ALIU BIU, THE JAGABAN DAN BARHIM ZAZZAU (JAGABAN SABON GARI ZARIA) HAS GONE BEFORE US - WHO WILL CRY WHEN YOU'RE DEAD?

LATE DAUDA ALIU BIU

Former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps and Jagaban Dan Barhim Zazzau

We didn't just bury a rank today Monday 12th October, 2026. But we also buried a heart.

When the remains of my brother and fellow title-holder, Dauda Aliu Biu (1964-2026) - former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps and Jagaban Dan Barhim Zazzau - was laid to rest in his hometown of Chikaji, Sabon Gari, Zaria, I stood by his grave with one question burning in my chest.

It is the same question I now ask every one of us who is still alive:

Who will cry when you are dead?

Dauda and I share a bond that death cannot break. I was turbaned as Barwan Dan Barhim Zazzau (Barwan Sabon Gari). Just eight (8) days after my turbaning, he was turbaned as Jagaban Dan Barhim Zazzau (Jagaban Sabon Gari Zaria). We became palace brothers - Barwa and Jagaba (and the fact that he was the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps while I'm a Special Marshal of the Corps)  - with a common promise to use our titles for peace and unity in Sabon Gari.

Today, one of us has gone before the other. Eight days apart in honour, but now separated by death. This is the clearest reminder that life is fleeting.

WHAT PEOPLE REMEMBER AFTER DEATH

I have attended many funerals. I have seen two types of funerals.

There are funerals where people are crying because they have lost a helper, a father, a friend. And there are funerals where people are just present because protocol demands it.

Dauda's funeral was the first type. The tears were real. From Abuja to Zaria, from FRSC Headquarters to the streets of Chikaji.

THE FUNERAL PRAYER OF DAUDA  ALIU BIU

And why are people crying?

They are not crying because he was Corps Marshal from 2022 to 2024. That uniform has already been given to someone else.

They are not crying because he was Jagaban. That title will be given to another person soon.

They are crying because of his humanity.

They are crying because he was a philanthropist who helped widows and orphans in Sabon Gari without announcing it.

They are crying because he paid school fees for children who were not his own.

They are crying because as a powerful Corps Marshal, he never used his power to oppress any junior officer, but lifted many.

They are crying because whether you were Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa, Muslim or Christian, he treated you as one family in Sabon Gari.

His rank is gone. His title is gone. What remains is his humanity. That is what is making people cry.

THE QUESTION FOR THE LIVING

This is my message to all of us - especially those of us who hold titles today - Honourable, Alhaji, Chief, Barwa, Jagaba, Waziri, Dr., General, His Excellency, His Highness/His Majesty:

When your time comes, who will cry for you?

Will they cry because of your big mansions? No, another person will live in that mansion.

Will they cry because of your fleet of cars? No, another person will drive those cars.

Will they cry because of your chieftaincy cap and gown? No, that cap will be kept in a box.

They will only cry if you touched their lives when you were alive.

Dauda Aliu Biu has gone to answer to his Creator. He has finished his own assignment. We are still here, writing his tribute. But tomorrow, someone will write ours.

Let us live in such a way that on that day, the poor will say "We have lost our helper," the youth will say "We have lost our sponsor," and Sabon Gari will say "We have lost a true son."

Let us live for humanity. It is the only investment that death cannot take away.

Rest well, my palace brother.

Adieu, Jagaban Dan Barhim Zazzau!