The Senate has sent a delegation to condole with the Government and people of Bauchi State, as well as the family of the late Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, OFR.
This was sequel to a motion on “Demise of Late Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, OFR sponsored by Senator Umar, Shehu Buba (Bauchi South).
The delegation was led by the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin.
The Senate noted that Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi was born on 29th June 1927 (1346 AH) in Nafada-then part of the old Bauchi State and now in Gombe State began his Islamic education under his father, Mallam Usman, and remarkably memorized 85% of the Holy Qur’an by age 13, completing full memorization at age 19 while combining it with farming and cattle rearing; and due to this rare mastery, he was fondly called “Gwani” or “Gangaran,” meaning the most proficient memorizer
“Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi studied under many eminent scholars across Nigeria – among them Mallam Baba Sidi, Mallam Saleh, Mallam Hama (Bauchi); Mallam Abdulkadir (Zaria); and Shehu Mallam Mai Hula and Mallam Shehu Atiku (Kano)-and lab continued advanced scholarship abroad under several great teachers, including his revered mentor and father-in-law, Sheikh Ibrahim Niyass of Senegal.
“Observes that his profound depth of knowledge earned him global recognition equivalent to a professor of Qur’anic memorization and exegesis, and he was widely acknowledged as one of the greatest Mufassirun (Qur’anic interpreters) of the modern era, delivering Tafsir continuously from 1948 to 2023-a span of 75 years.
“Also observes that he lived a life of exceptional devotion to teaching, spiritual guidance, community service, and promoting peace and unity across Nigeria.
“Notes that Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi was blessed with 100 children (50 males and 50 females), among whom 84 fully memorized the Holy Qur’an (42 males and 42 females), and 6 hold doctorate degrees and also within his extended family of 820 persons, he produced 400 Qur’an memorizers, and is survived by 82 children.
“Through the Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi Foundation, he established over 1,000 Qur’anic memorization schools across 27 states of Nigeria, as well as others in Cameroon, Ghana, Niger, Togo, Benin Republic, and the Republic of Chad
“Recognizes that he was a pillar of peace, unity, interfaith harmony, and moral leadership in Bauchi State and across Nigeria.
In his contribution, Senator Babangira Hussaini, representing Jigawa Northwest said the late Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi was “a revered Islamic cleric, a statesman in his own right, and a fountain of knowledge, and head of the Tijaniyya movement in Nigeria.
The Senate resolved that a monument be named after Shiekh Dahiru Bauchi through an additional prayer by Senator Adams Oshimhohle (Edo North).
The Senate prayed that “Almighty Allah forgives his shortcomings and grants him Al-Jannatul Firdaus, and grants his family, the people of Bauchi State, the Tijjaniyya brotherhood, and the entire Muslim Ummah the fortitude to bear this great loss”.
Finally, the Senate observed a minute silence in honour of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, OFR.