Sanusi Lamido Sanusi: Long live the King!

By Mukhtar Jarmajo

The decision by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State to consider His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (HRH SLS) as the new Emir of Kano last Sunday was indeed a bold and wise one. Against all the primitive and retrogressive odds of selecting a successor only amongst the children of the deceased Emir, Governor Kwankwaso chose competence and suitability not suitability alone. The governor seems to be well aware that given the history and might of the Kano Emirate, not just Kano people but also so many others look up to it for leadership.

And that was why to become an emir of Kano, it indeed is not enough to be a biological child of the deceased emir. It takes more than that.   To become an Emir of Kano, a prince needs to be well educated and learned, well experienced and connected both locally and internationally, and most importantly, he needs to be principled and trustworthy. Kano is not a small place; it is a cosmopolitan state. Its population makes it both politically and economically strategic. The commercial capital of Nigeria, jalla Babbar Hausa, Kano remains one of the biggest and richest cities in Nigeria.

Now, apart from the qualities Kano demands from its Emir, the nation at this point in time is in dire need of true leaders generally. There is no doubt that our traditional rulers are nothing more than a failure to the people. At times of need, they failed to stand by us. They have failed to protect us from the troubles of these times. They have failed to tell power the truth simply because of greed and the desire to remain in power.

We were therefore in search of a bold kind of Emir who has the guts to tell everyone including himself the truth. And in Sanusi Lamido Sanusi lays one. It remains factual that amongst all the heirs to the Kano throne, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi the nation`s former economic czar, was the most competent. There is no need to write anything on his CV here as he needs no introduction to this world of ours.

But to those who insist, this will serve; he was at a time not far away a Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Indeed, it was for his competence that all right thinking Nigerians greeted his appointment with euphoria. As conspicuous as it is, HRH SLS has the goodwill of the people. The challenge before him therefore was to justify the confidence reposed in him.

Many a Nigerian celebrates his appointment because we expect in him a sincere and trustworthy Emir who will always tell power the bitter truth. We expect HRH SLS to use his wealth of experience and the might of his institution to rally round all Northern Emirs to stand on one stance so that at the time of need they would be there for us. The new emir it is hoped will after rallying the Northern emirs extend a hand of friendship to their Southern counterparts so as to unite this nation for peaceful existence and prosperity.

But to achieve this, HRH SLS must put in extra efforts, determination and willingness. The new Emir must stay away of politics. This is important. Given the circumstances that characterized his ascension to power, there is every tendency that in the end politicians will eventually involve him in one way or another in their activities. The PDP whose government was actually not in good terms with him, didn't support his quest for the throne.

Whilst the APC which he seem to have its sympathy appointed him an Emir though squarely on merit. HRH SLS must look beyond all this politics and move on. He should act Madiba and forgive and forget whatever happened in the past. The new Emir must carry along everyone in order to succeed. Success is what we wish the new Emir of Kano. Lafiya zaki Sanusi jikan Sanusi magajin Muhammadu Rumfa. Allah Ya ja zamanin Sarki! Long live the King!

On Twitter: @mukhtarjarmajo

Dino Melaye writes late Yaradua

Dear Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, when you were around we called you: The BAD one. The SLOW ONE. The SICK ONE. Yes, you were sick, in fact, sick all through your administration. We all cried for your resignation at the height of your sickness. Cursing you, your first lady and your supporters (The first set of Cabals). Asking you to die if you want to die and allow the man with all the Goodluck in this world to lead us. We forgot that even though you were sick, you were the first Governor to have ever declared his assets publicly and you remained the only President in the history of Nigeria to have ever declare his assets publicly. We conveniently forgot that even though you were gravely sick you were the first president to ever reduced the price of petrol in Nigeria, (From N75 to N70 and later from N70 to N65) and the economy did not collapse like the present leaders are making us believe. U even reversed d sale of our refineries. We forgot that you didn't afflict yourself with your sickness and so could do very little about it. But we still insisted that you just have to go, so that Nigeria can finally have her chance with Goodluck. We forgot that even though you were terminally ill, you still succeeded in solving the Niger Delta crisis which you didn't cause, but you found a solution. And even crushed d first Boko Haram uprising and caught its leader. You gave us rule of Law,Ameachi reclaimed his mandate as PHC governor, Andy Uba lost in court and was removed as Anambra State's Governor. Oni lost in Ekiti and was removed, Agagu lost in Ondo and was removed, Osunbor lost in Edo and was removed even though they are all members of your party (PDP).Now we have seen what a healthy president has done with the country. His Excellency President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, may your soul rest in perfect peace. We will forever remember you and your leadership. Sincerely,share Around If U sincerely Care for d New Change IN Nigeria.

HRH (Dr.) Shehu Usman Abubakar, a tribute

Only a thin line exists between life and death. And no matter the risky adventurous life one may live, such a thin line can be crossed only when it is time. But as soon as the time it is, the only act anyone so destined could catch themselves in is crossing that line. Death as it were, is an appointment not anyone misses.

It comes with time and whisks away the so destined; no matter the extent to which they are loved by their relatives, friends or people. By its very nature, death doesn’t consider gender, age or position. Much the same, it doesn’t consider the state of health; ill or hale and hearty. Whenever it is close, it gets closer to the destined than even the closest matter.

It whisks away anyone so destined before they could move even to the closest possible distance. And that was why when HRH (Dr.) Shehu Usman Abubakar got to the appointed time and place; it caught up with him thereby marking the end of a thirty-year reign.

It was Abubakar Sule Bage, Secretary to Gombe state Government who last week Tuesday in a statement officially announced the demise of Emir of Gombe and Chairman Gombe state Council of Chiefs. The news from far away Liverpool came to all as a shocker but was received with total submission to the will of God.

Gone as he is, the pages of history will continue to remember him as the eleventh Emir of Gombe and therefore one of the gallant successors of Abubakar Buba-Yero dan Usman Subande who died in 1841. Apart from the courage and ability he exhibited in administering his domain, HRH (Dr.) Shehu Usman Abubakar will also be remembered by many for his penchant love for royal architecture.

Because of the passion he had for architectural works, many a  person thought the late Emir actually studied an Environmental related course in school. But the late Emir was actually an administrative officer in the defunct Bauchi state civil service before becoming an Emir in January 1984. In 1972, he obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Local Government Administration from the Ile-Ife University.

Late Shehu Usman Abubakar was born 3 March 1938 in Gombe and attended Gombe Elementary School, Bauchi Middle School, Barewa College Zaria, Technical College Kaduna (later Kaduna Polytechnic) and ABU Zaria where he obtained a Higher Diploma in Local Government Administration in 1965. He held the National Honors of Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR.

HRH Shehu Usman Abubakar who was a delegate to the 2005 National Political Reform Conference passed on to the great beyond on the 28th of May, instant. He no doubt left a vacuum that was hard to fill. Condolences to Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo and the good people of Gombe state. Condolences to Gombe Emirate Palace and in particular Aliyu Shehu of Hassan Ibrahim Gwarzo Old Students Association (HIGOSA), Class of 2010. May the soul of the deceased rest in peace.

On Twitter: @mukhtarjarmajo