Switching from private to public life most difficult – Emir of Gaya

Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim is the 3rd First Class Emir of Gaya Emirate. In this interview, he speaks about his growing up, dreams and how the new position is an antithesis of his previous way of living. He also spoke on topical issues including the 2023 general elections, insecurity, and decadence in the society, among others.

Can you take us through your early years of growing up?

Honestly, the journey is far. As far back as 1968, I was born in this ancient city (of Kano). I did my primary education in the city at Kofar Naisa Primary School and I graduated from there in the year 1979/1980. I attended secondary school, olytechnic and Bayero University Kano from where I got my master’s degree, I think in the year 2006.

Most of these schools I mentioned, I attended them while working because I started working in 1987 as a clerical officer and rose up to the rank of Chief Accountant. Then I transferred my services to the higher education sector where I served as bursar in various tertiary institutions. Finally, I retired as a Bursar at the Audu Bako College of Agriculture in 2021, two to three months before my appointment as a first-class emir.

Has it always been a dream to follow your late father’s footsteps?

Yes, it has always been my dream because I am on the queue since I am from the royal family. Of course, there was such a dream but honestly it was not a desperate dream. I am not desperate. You know my father was a district head for more than 40 years. He was even the District Head of Gaya for about 30 years. So, definitely I had the dream of taking after him one day but like I said earlier, I was not desperate.

What were the things your father put you through as a form of training that you could say prepared you for this exalted position?

The elderly people in those days trained their wards to be respectful, humble, hardworking and to show good example. In a normal family setting, no parent wants to see his wards unsuccessful in life. So, we were always advised to respect people, to give what we have no matter how little. This is a trend and how we grew up in our own family house. That was what we saw our forefathers are doing. They always carried people along; they related with those who they were not even supposed to be with because they were simple. This is the kind of training we received from our parents.

You were the Ciroman Gaya until you were appointed the Emir of Gaya. What was the feeling like when you were given the exalted position of leading the entire emirate viz-a-viz fitting into the huge shoes your father left behind having lived till 91 before his death?

You know as a Muslim, there is what we call destiny. It is there even before we were born. If Allah says you will get so and so or this and that, then that’s destiny. So, I didn’t take it as a surprise because I know it is destiny.

How do you feel now that the coronation is taking place just few months after you were appointed unlike in other cases where it took longer?

I feel happy and that is what Allah has arranged. I am most grateful to God and to the Sultan of Sokoto, as well as the Executive Governor of Kano State because they are the two pillars who made it possible by bringing the coronation very close.

What is your relationship with the four other emirs in the state’s council of emirs: Kano, Bichi, Karaye and Rano?

The relationship is very cordial. Of these four emirs of Kano State, my father was the eldest amongst them before his demise and they respected him. I do respect them because age wise, almost all of them are older than me. The relationship is very cordial and fruitful and I hope to continue like that.

In 2019 when the new emirates were created, there were lots of arguments for and against the creation. Some title holders refused to aligned with the arrangement, today what is your relationship with some them?

You know nothing good comes easy, even those who were not in support of the development are now regretting because it has come stay. I am sure if they will find some way to come back, they will definitely come back. Let me use this opportunity to ask them to come back, we will accept them.

Since you became the Emir of Gaya, what are the roles you have been playing to ensure the peaceful coexistence of the people of the emirate despite the security challenges in neighbouring states?

You know security challenges as you have mentioned is a national issue and thank God, we (who are) in this part of the country are not experiencing such security threats. I think the reason behind our success is prayer. So, we will continue to ask for Allah’s intervention so that we can continue to stay peaceful.

Also, in this Emirate, we follow the footsteps of the government. We give directives to all our district heads to be very vigilant and report any new face to the nearest security outlet. And we tell our people to be vigilant anywhere they are going. With regards to landlords, we cautioned them not to give out apartments for rent unless they are cleared. These are some of the measures we are taking to curtail all this menace. But above all, we keep praying for Allah’s intervention.

Beyond Gaya Emirate and Kano State, what is your relationship with other traditional institutions in other states?

Let me tell you, all the traditional rulers in Nigeria are under one umbrella. Let me give you example, if anything happens to anyone of the traditional rulers in the country, whether a Muslim or Christian, you will see them gathered in one place just to commiserate with what happen. So, long before we came, the relationship between all the Emirs, all the Obas, and all the Chiefs in Nigeria is very cordial. We will try and maintain that cordial relationship amongst us.

As this coronation is coming up, we have received calls from those we were unable to send invitation cards that they will still come. They know it was an oversight because of the planning. We expect a very large number of Emirs across this country to witness this great occasion.

Your highness seems to enjoy a very quiet life before you were appointed as the emir, which now demands more visibility and actions. How do you balance your personal life and the new role?

Well, it is not easy because there is no freedom. Before, I used to go anywhere I like. I used to drive my car and go anywhere. If I wish, I can take a flight and go to any part of the country I like, alone. But now, it is different. So, it is not easy to manage such a life. But I am sure in due course things will be okay.

What are the five major things that his highness loves to do?

I like travelling a lot and I also like reading. Now, I have ample time to read but I don’t have time to travel again. These are the two things I like.

With the general insecurity in the country, what roles can traditional rulers play (or are currently playing) to ensure peace and unity is restored?

As I told you before, the success behind this peace we are enjoying (in Kano) is as a result of prayers. If you can remember some weeks back, President Muhammadu Buhari in collaboration with Kano State Government invited one Sheikh from Algeria just to come to Nigeria and seek God’s intervention. Not long ago, another Sheikh came from Senegal. Even yesterday, he was at this emirate just for the same purposes. So, I think this is the bedrock of any success.

Traditional rulers now have a great role to play. In fact, they are playing a great role because the traditional rulers do not even take sides irrespective of the party you belong to. Politicians and those that are not into politics are our people; we treat them equally, we advise them equally, we caution them whenever we realize they miss the way and bring them to where they are supposed to be.

The general elections are just barely a year away and the permutations and politicking have since started. What roles should the traditional institution play to retain their relevance while remaining apolitical?

I am not advising the traditional rulers as a whole, this is my personal opinion. As a traditional ruler, you are not supposed to take sides. We know you have your own choice in your mind but keep it to yourself.

For the politicians, they should always be fair and just in whatever they are doing. They should be sincere and fear Almighty God, and also remember that there is another world.

Injustice and lack of fair play bring crisis in politics, not only in Nigeria but the entire world. That is why whenever there’s election, you hear INEC advising free and fair conduct. We lack that free and fair disposition and that is why we are facing violence. But if there is free and fair election, I think we will not get ourselves in that mess. So, I urge politicians to be free and fair, so that peace can be maintained in the country.

What is Your Highness’ view on the call for restructuring and agitation for secession in the southern part of the country?

Let me tell you again, this is my personal view. When people are calling for restructuring, I think there is provision in the constitution. We are always guided by that constitution. So, let’s go back to that constitution and see what it said about restructuring. Whatever the constitution said, we should use it. If it says yes, then we should undergo restructuring, but if it says no, then we should drop the matter.

As a Muslim, we know and believe that whatever you see or whatever you do is a destiny. If God Almighty destined for the country to be restructured, it will be and if the Almighty said no, then it won’t be restructured. This is my belief.

What is your advice for those agitating for the disintegration of the country?

Nigeria must be united because we don’t know the reason why Almighty God brought us together. You know God cannot make a mistake. So, I am sure there is a reason behind God bringing all Nigerians together. So, I urge those people to be calm and allow us to live together, there is a reason behind it.

Nigeria as a country commands respect from the international community, but due to the activities of some citizens, the respect seems to be dwindling. What advice will His Highness offer to the authorities for the country to regain its lost glory?

Let me take you a little back. When you want to build a house, you have to lay a very good and concrete foundation to have as many storey buildings as you want. So, what is happening now in our country is that most of the people in strategic positions are not supposed to be there. They are there may be by chance, or they are there because they know somebody. They are not there because of merit or because they deserve it.

The lost glory of this country as you have said is unfortunate. My advice here is in any appointment or recruitment – police, army, and any security agency, they should always consider credible people, look at their background so that they do not recruit bad people. This is a starting point of restoring our lost glory because these people that you are recruiting will definitely represent you everywhere and even outside the country.

So, honestly, the government has to revive the way it is recruiting or employing. Even in the schools, lecturers have to be competent because if a student cheats and passes exam and eventually becomes a pilot, how do you think he will perform? A student that cheated and become a doctor, how do you think he will perform? A student that cheated and become a governor, senator or what have you, how do you think he will perform?

The lost glory can be restored by bringing ourselves back to order and by doing what we are supposed to do in the right way.

I remember there are some places called Miracle Centres where people go and pay money to bring excellent results as required for entry into the university. How do you think that student will perform? And then in Nigeria, we do not respect skills; we only respect paper qualification. If you come with a good result, no matter how bad you are, you will be considered. Honestly, we have to get things right from our schools. This is my opinion.

Among the youths, moral decadence in different forms seems to be the order of the day; from Internet fraud to drugs abuse and even prostitution. What are the advices Your Highness have for the youths?

That is what I’m telling you. Take a look at these Yahoo-Yahoo (Internet fraud) boys you are talking about, as I told you before, no parent wants to see their child unsuccessful in life, no one. These bad boys have very intelligent ones among them. Maybe some are school dropouts because of school fees. For some, it might be necessity that put them in that situation. So, I call on our leaders and government to interfere and rescue them so that they will be good citizens.

Drug abuse is an easy thing to control. Some politicians are the ones buying these drugs for these youths just to get them to do the unthinkable. It is unfortunate. So, I advise our politicians to be God fearing and remember that they too have their own children and they want them to grow and live a better life, so they should be mindful of other people’s children.

The best is to always support them in their education, support them to become self-reliant, not supporting them with what will damage their brains and lives.

In Gaya Emirate, we are fighting against drugs abuse seriously. When I came in as emir, I directed all my council members, District Heads and others that anybody we are going to appoint into any position must undergo drugs test. If we find you positive, definitely we are not going to work with you.