Resident of ancient town of Dukku, the headquarters of Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State recently were thrilled thrilled to a colourful durbar, pomp and grandeur when the second emir of Dukku, Alhaji Haruna Rashid II was presented with staff of office and enthroned as the 2nd Emir of Dukku.
The last time a coronation ceremony was held in the town was in 2001 when his late father, Alhaji Abdulkadir Haruna Rashid was upgraded to a first class emir by then Governor Abubakar Habu Hashidu.
Thousands of local residents, other invited guests including top government functionaries, emirs from within and outside the state, politicians as well as well-wishers of the emir and the emirate thronged to the Dukku Towship Stadium to witness the epoch-making event.
Emir Haruna Rashid II was born on November 24, 1960 as the third child into the royal family of Emir Abdulkadir Haruna Rashid, the 15th Lamido Dukku and first Emir of Dukku.
The young Haruna Rashid, named after his grandfather and the 14th Lamido Dukku, Haruna Al-Rashid, started his education early in the traditional Qur’anic school system before being enrolled into the Dukku Islamiyya School in 1965.
From 1967 to 1972 he was at the Central Primary School Dukku where he had his primary education. He proceeded to the Government Secondary School, Misau as part of the pioneer students for his secondary education in 1973.
He completed his secondary education in 1977 and gain admission into the School of Basic Studies, Zaria in 1978, after which he was admitted into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for his Bachelor of Science degree, he finished in 1981 with Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.
The emir was also at the London School of Economic and Political Science of the University of London from 1983 to 1985 where he obtained Master of Science degree in Economics.
He was posted to Ogidigben Grammar School, Escravos, in the defunct Bendel State for the mandatory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC).
He started his working career in the Bauchi State Civil Service as an Assistant Secretary, where he served for only two months, he later joined the then University of Sokoto as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Economics.
Emir Rashied II served as an academic staff for eight years between 1982 and 1990. He transferred his services to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 1990 starting from Lagos as Assistant Bank Examiner to the exalted position of Deputy Director and Branch Controller, Kano branch.
He was conferred with the prestigious title of Sardauna Dukku on July 25, 1986 by his late father, a title he held until his appointment as the 17th Lamido Dukku and 2nd Emir of Dukku emirate on January 4, 2013 after the demise of his father in December 2012.
The emir has held several responsibilities since his ascension to the throne He is currently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the Gombe State University, Gombe.
Our correspondent report that the ceremony was attended by Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, emirs of Bauchi, Fika, Ningi, Kanem, Shani, Kaltungo, Nafada, Wase and Potiskum among others.
