The Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, Thursday, said his grandfather was dethroned 100 years ago because he refused to abide by the colonial masters.
Speaking during the celebration of his first year on the throne, the emir said his family spent 100 years waiting for the throne since his grandfather, Sarkin Zazzau, Aliyu Dan Sidi, was removed.
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He said, “He was removed because he refused to abide by the colonial masters, alongside another grandfather of mine.
“Those that visited Lokoja and saw the condition they were kept in shed tears due to the injustice meted on them. Sarkin Gwandu, Muhammadu Aliyu; Sarkin Kano, Aliyu Na Sambo; Sarkin Zazzau, Kwasau, Sarkin Zazzau; Aliyu Dan Sidi; and Sarkin Katsina, Abubakar, were all there in Lokoja. We hope to have their kind of doggedness, and we pray Allah rewards them with paradise.”
The emir appealed to the people to join hands in moving the emirate forward.
A former Emir of Kano and Khalifa of the Tijjaniya Movement of Nigeria, Muhammad Sanusi II, in his remarks, urged the emir to continue to be patient and unite the houses and other family members in order to have a successful reign.
He said, “All of us that God gives leadership should know that just like the prophet said on leadership, that leadership is a trust and on the Day of Judgment, we shall all account for how we used that trust.”
Delivering his keynote address on the: “Role of the Traditional Institutions in the Management of Insecurity”, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Permanent Mission in the United States, Ambassador Usman Sarki, said enthroning leadership that held itself accountable for its deeds and actions to the people was the most important in restoring peace in the country.