Former Governor of Kwara State, Sha’aba Lafiagi, his sons and children and siblings of the late Emir of Lafiagi, Saadu Kawu Haliru, are in the race for the vacant stool, Daily Trust reliably gathered.
Haliru who died on Thursday in Abuja after age-related illness has since been buried in Lafiagi on Friday with Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in attendance and other prominent sons and daughters of the state.
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His Fidau has been scheduled for Thursday, according to a statement by the family.
Also in the race, a very reliable source told Daily Trust, are two children of the former governor, including Mohammed Kawu, and four children of the deceased monarch, Lukman, Danjuma, Salam and Muhammad.
Other princes from the royal family in the race to succeed late Haliru are a staff of the National Institute for Legislative Studies, Abuja, Mohammed Manzuma, a former Director of Skye Bank, one Kudu, younger brother to the late emir, Sambo and son of the late monarch predecessor, Umoru.
Daily Trust exclusively obtained other names so far compiled by kingmakers.
They include politicians, federal and state civil servants and businessmen among others, including Ndagi Otago, Aliyu Manzuma Yebosoko, Dan Rani, Abubakar Bello, Ishiaku Abubakar and Abdullahi Abdullahi.
The list also contains the names of Yahaya Umaru, Mohammed Ndalade shaaba, Musa Abubakar Bello, Mohammed Ndanusa Tsaduya, Manzuma Aliyu Kpotun, Lukman Sambo, Bello Alhassan (Banana) and Aliyu Kawunda.
A source who confided in our reporter because he was not granted official permission to speak with the press said “More eligible princes have indicated interest for the race and the list is expected to swell in the next few days. For now, we have about 30 names so far,” he added.
He further said, “I am not aware whether people have indicated interest on the vacant stool. By tradition, it is after the burial of the late Emir has been completed that we will now commence the process of who succeeds him.”
But in a telephone chat on Monday, former Governor Sha’aba who initially responded to the condolences of our reporter suddenly cut the phone when confronted about his interest for the top seat. He subsequently busied several other calls across to him.
Sha’aba has long nursed interest for the seat and contested with the late Emir who was installed in 1975 but lost.
