Kingmakers of the Zazzau Emirate on Friday submitted names of three princes to Kaduna State government for appointment as the new Emir of Zazzau.
The Emir of Zazzau stool became vacant on Sunday following the death of Alhaji Shehu Idris who reigned for 45 years.
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The kingmakers, according to the minutes of their meeting obtained by Daily Trust Saturday, shortlisted the three princes; Iyan Zazzau, Alhaji Bashari Aminu; Yariman Zazzau, Alhaji Mohammed Munir Ja’afaru and Turakin Zazzau, Alhaji Aminu Shehu Idris.
The meeting to select the new emir was held on Thursday in Zaria.
The five kingmakers of the Zazzau Emirate; Wazirin Zazzau (Chairman), Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad Aminu; Fagachin Zazzau, Alhaji Umaru Muhammad; Makama Karamin Zazzau, Alhaji Muhammad Abbas; Chief Imam of Zazzau, Alhaji Dalhatu Kasimu Imam and Limamin Konan Zazzau, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Aliyu attended the selection meeting.
The Magajin Garin Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamali, an ally of Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, is not among the shortlisted candidates.
The kingmakers rated the candidates based on eight parameters including qualification, experience as district head, no proven adverse report, relationship with public, national awards, ability to make peace and physical fitness.
On their score sheet, the kingmakers scored Iyan Zazzau 88, Munir Ja’afaru 87 and Aminu Shehu Idris 53.
Only the three were graded, according to the report of the selection meeting.
All the five kingmakers endorsed the recommendation to the governor.
It was also gathered last night that the five kingmakers met with government officials at the Kaduna Government House on Friday.
The report indicated that the kingmakers received applications from 11 princes from all the four ruling houses of the emirate.
There are four ruling houses in the emirate: Katsinawa, Barebari, Mallawa and Sullubawa.
Other candidates who indicated interest are; Justice Tanimu Zailani, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamali, Mu’azu Aliyu Ahmed, Alhaji Sa’idu Mailafiya, Arc Mohammad Aminu Idris, Adamu Umaru Idris, Alhaji Shitu I. Dikko, Alhaji Abdulkarim Aminu.
Iyan Zazzau
Iyan Zazzau, Alhaji Bashari Aminu is from the Katsinawa ruling house.
Rated first by the kingmakers, Aminu was born at the palace in 1951 when his late father, Muhammadu Aminu, was the Emir of Zazzau.
A trained accountant and accomplished businessman, Aminu was until the 2018 reforms the district head of Sabon Gari, a position he was first appointed to in 1979.
Yariman Zazzau
Born on March 25, 1956, Munir Ja’afaru is a lawyer with vast experience in the private and public sectors.
Ja’afaru who is from the Barebari ruling house, was rated second by the kingmakers.
Turakin Zazzau
Born on April 28, 1976, the Turakin Zazzau, Alhaji Aminu Shehu Idris, is the son of the late emir.
He is from the Katsinawa ruling house.
He came third in the grading of the kingmakers.
We’re studying recommendation – KDSG
Kaduna State government has reiterated that the selection process for the new emir is proceeding with the careful attention befitting such a momentous decision.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye Friday night, the government clarified how the selection processes is being carried out.
Quoting the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, the statement said the procedure was for the kingmakers of Zazzau Emirate to address their recommendations to the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, who will in turn process the document and forward to him.
“Upon receipt of the correspondence from the commissioner, the SSG will avail the security agencies of the names on the shortlist for the necessary checks.
“It is the duty of the SSG to forward the recommendations and the associated security report to the Governor for his consideration,’’ Adekeye said.
The statement added that the “SSG stated that he can confirm that the report of the kingmakers has now been submitted to the Commissioner for Local Government, a step that will trigger the next sequence of events in the chain of reporting and security vetting.’’
The Special Adviser said the SSG appealed for calm and understanding as the responsible institutions manage a selection process that was last used 45 years ago.
Options available to El-Rufai – Historian
Following the submission of a list of three finalists in the contest as to who becomes the 19th emir of Zazzau, Daily Trust Saturday gathered that Governor Nasir El-Rufai who has the final say has three options available to him.
A Historian and Director of Arewa House, Dr. Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu said traditionally, the governor cannot select anyone outside the list of three names sent to him by the kingmakers as traditional precedence have stated.
Dr. Aliyu however said the governor has a right to review the law to make room for certain changes since he has the prerogative of appointing who becomes the emir.
He said another option available to the governor is that he could reject the entire list altogether but that will mean starting the selection process all over again.
Gumi advises El-Rufai on selection
Islamic scholar, Dr. Ahmad Gumi, yesterday presented Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, an alternative way of selecting the next emir of Zazzau, saying it was the Islamic way.
Though his message was not specific, Gumi had posted on his verified Facebook page on Thursday that the best way to select one out of the contenders was to bring them together then ask each of them to secretly vote who he would want to take the position without voting for himself.
Titled: “The best Practical Way to Choose out of Contending Candidates,” Sheikh Gumi said it was the strategy used to select one of the Caliphas of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Meanwhile, there was increased presence of people at the GRA residence of Yariman Zazzau, Alhaji Munir Jafaru, one of the contestants.
People were seen in clusters discussing the variables that would work for their favourite candidate.
Similarly, in Sabon Gari, Zaria the official residence that Alhaji Bashar Aminu spent most of his life while serving as District Head of Sabon Gari, residents were seen frantically making calls to confirm that he was picked as one of the three candidates.
Inside the ancient walls, friends and well wishers of Alhaji Aminu Shehu Idris were seen at the precinct of the Zazzau palace congratulating one another for his emergence among the final three candidates.
However, many residents, especially those from the Mallawa dynasty, were taken aback for the “surprise disappearance” of the name of Alhaji Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, the title holder of the Magajin Garin Zazzau.
Before the three names were made public, many residents were of the view that Alhaji Bamalli would make the final list, particularly because of his reported cordial relationship with the state governor.
One of the female scions of the Mallawa dynasty, Lere Shehu Usman, told Daily Trust Saturday that members of the dynasty had firm conviction that Alhaji Bamalli would make it to the final list before Friday.
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