Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-rufai, has asserted that the appointment of Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli as the new Emir of Zazzau offers the government an opportunity to look into the 100 years of colonial injustice.
While presenting the staff of office to the 19th Emir of Zazzau on Monday in Zaria, El-rufai explained that the Emir’s grandfather, Aliyu Dan Sidi was unjustly deposed by the colonial Governor of Northern Region, Herbert Symonds Goldsmith.
According to the governor, the handing over the Staff of Office to Emir Bamalli is taking place exactly 100 years since the colonial Governor of Northern Region, Herbert Symonds Goldsmith, unjustly deposed the grandfather of the new Emir, Emir Aliyu Dan-Sidi of blessed memory.’
“The vacancy of the throne, following the death of Alhaji Shehu Idris, also gave the government the opportunity to return to the enduring principles that guided the appointment of Emirs under the Sokoto Caliphate.
‘’Shehu Usman Dan Fodio in his seminal work ‘Bayan Wujub Al-Hijra’ was crystal clear that there are nine qualities of Islamic leadership – wisdom, learning, clemency, generosity, kindness, righteousness, patience, gratitude, and leniency which entails avoidance of harshness.
“It is on the basis of due regards to these customs, rules and enabling laws that Almighty Allah chose Your Highness to be our Emir, and imposed on me the constitutional duty to appoint you. I therefore call on all those that contested the Emir-ship to accept the will of Allah and join hands with the 19th Emir of Zazzau for progress and harmony in the Emirate.
El-rufai advised the title holders, district heads, members of the Emirate Council, the good people of Zazzau Emirate, and indeed all the citizens of Kaduna State to rally around the new Emir by extending to him their full support and cooperation in the same way they extended support to his predecessors to enable speedy development of the Emirate and the State in general.
The governor explained further that: “his administration expects the loyalty of all persons to our Emirs and Chiefs and will take firm and decisive action against any person that attempts to undermine, in any shape or form, and noble status of our traditional institution, particularly Zazzau Emirate.
’’The new traditional institution’s law will also legislate clear dynastic succession order in all emirates and chiefdoms with more than one ruling house, outline guiding principles for the recommendations of district heads, traditional council members, emirs and chiefs, for appointment, consider expanding the membership of councils, and clearer roles of the kingmakers.”
