Emir Bamalli: When Zazzau throne should be priority

The Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, recently gave a rare and insightful interview, but the well-intentioned event was followed by comments from a few elements capable of causing disaffection among the people of Zazzau Emirate. The interview came on the eve of the 6th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of the highly educated, urbane, and well-travelled emir. Consequently, some individuals who identified themselves as Zazzau Concerned Citizens made allegations regarding the selection process that led to the emergence of Emir Bamalli in 2020.  The allegation comes at a time when all well-meaning people in the emirate should be commending the emir for the achievements recorded since he ascended the throne of his forefathers.

In their comments published in a newspaper, the said elements alleged that the former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, “destroyed” the process because of the selection of Emir Bamalli.  This can only be their own subjective interpretation of a process that the court of law has since declared to have met all legal requirements. Informed citizens know that state governors’ roles in the selection process across the North are clearly spelt out in their respective laws. State governments have powers regarding the final decision on who ascends the throne. However, it’s a common phenomenon that candidates who’re not selected complain. They find faults where there’s none. A similar situation obtains in politics. When politicians win, INEC is praised. When politicians lose in court, they accuse judges of bias. All manner of insinuations and innuendos have been made regarding the 2020 selection process for the Zazzau throne, so the latest allegation from a few elements is a familiar one.

But the facts remain inviolable, and they are as follows: Emir Bamalli, then a serving ambassador, submitted his application to the kingmakers in 2020, as every other eligible candidate did. He was the candidate of one of the four ruling houses, and as of 2020 his lineage had last been on the throne exactly 100 years ago. It’s known that every selection process is hotly contested, and some would even start controversies just to ensure the process favours them. Such controversies were raised even as the state government ensured that each of the four ruling houses had a candidate on the list in 2020. This is the kind of fairness that’s now being projected negatively by a few elements who feel it must always be their way, or no way at all. Across the north, allegations of government bias, real or unreal, were commonly made from the colonial era into the independent era. One thing is certain, governments play a role in the selection process and divergent views must follow the outcomes. For instance, in his book, “The Role of the British Administration in the Appointment of the Emirs of Northern Nigeria, 1901-1931: The Case of Sokoto Province”, T.K. Tibenderana stated thus:  “During this period the British…would not leave the important function of selecting emirs to the kingmakers. This policy was largely dictated by the Administration’s fear of Mahdism. Thus only overtly loyal princes were elevated to emirships, regardless of whether they had the kingmakers’ support or not.”

When kingmakers were involved, it was known that British colonial officials would ask for more than one name to be submitted, from which they made their choice based on their own criteria, including intelligence reports.  After independence, governments continued to be heavily involved in the selection process across the North. According to Teen Trust, a publication of Daily Trust newspaper, March 27, 2025, “The final selection of an Emir often requires the approval of the state government. This can involve interviews, presentations, and assessments of the candidate’s qualifications.”  In the case of Zazzau Emirate, the 1959 selection of Emir Muhammadu Aminu and the 1975 selection of Emir Shehu Idris were both attended by similar allegations against the government. Note that the 1959 exercise was presided over by a civilian administration led by Sardauna Ahmadu Bello as Premier, and the 1975 exercise was presided over by a military governor, Abba Kyari.

It’s worth noting that even where there’s only one ruling house, similar allegations are made in other parts of Nigeria. Where there are different ruling houses, it makes every selection process more contentious. Zazzau, for instance, has four ruling houses with different ancestors and origins. The only connection among them was that the forebears of the other three houses were with the flag bearer, leader, first Fulani emir of Zazzau, and forebear of Emir Bamalli, when the jihad happened in Zazzau in the 19th century. Now, it’s not a strange phenomenon that in any community there are people who like the throne, and those who do not. In the course of doing research for a project in the Northeast of Nigeria years ago, I was surprised at the hostility in one community among members of a ruling house.

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The side of the royal house that lost in the previous selection process never forgot it, and they openly insulted the man on the throne.  As one of their own, they should treat him with respect in the presence of an outsider. They didn’t, and right in my presence they sent rude words to their ruler. A few elements in Zazzau Emirate are exhibiting the same trait, and this should be condemned by all the good people of the emirate.  It’s known that the majority of the people are with Emir Bamalli, wishing him well, backing his developmental efforts, and generally supporting the throne. It was what the Bamalli ruling house did throughout the one hundred years that they weren’t on the throne. Emir Bamalli’s late father and former Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nuhu Bamalli, who contested in the 1975 selection process, supported Emir Shehu Idris that eventually emerged.

Also, Ambassador Bamalli, the Magajin Garin Zazzau before he ascended the throne, gave his full support and loyalty to Emir Shehu Idris. Father and son forgot the past and upheld the throne that their forebear founded following the jihad. The greatness of an emirate can be underlined by the number of highly qualified aspirants that seek to occupy its throne. But it’s not honourable that former contestants undermine the same throne. The Zazzau throne is one the entire north pays attention to in any round of the selection process because of its position. One person must be selected, and it’s in the interest of the rest that they rally round the throne. But six years after the last round, some elements are still bent on raising dust where there’s none. Such elements alleged that the government which presided over the last selection “destroyed” the process, even though 2020 wasn’t different from what northerners were used to across the states.

When kingmakers submit names of eligible candidates, governments select one from the list. If state governments have reservations about the list submitted, they call for a review. Nothing done regarding Zazzau in 2020 was different from this well-known practice, but rather than move on, some elements have embarked on a media campaign claiming a “destroyed” process. Nothing was destroyed in 2020; rather, the process ended with a law passed by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which clearly established the line of succession in Zazzau Emirate. This and other provisions are meant to ensure each ruling house has equal opportunity to ascend the throne.  This landmark move required courage and should be praised. All well-intentioned stakeholders should embrace the new vista of opportunity 2020 provided and back the throne. Any pursuit to the contrary is not in the interest of any ruling house.

The ruling houses should publicly dissociate themselves from the few elements whose current activities amount to a denigration of the throne. Having one’s preferred candidate in a selection process is one thing; causing disaffection and refusing to rally round the throne is another. It’s divisive, and it’s contrary to Africa’s cultural and religious practice that some elements remain permanently in selection process mode. In the past six years, Emir Bamalli has been the reassuring face of traditional institutions in Kaduna State. He’s been fully committed to supporting the government in promoting cohesion and peace in the state. This is acknowledged and commended by President Bola Tinubu on the occasion of Emir Bamalli’s 60th birthday anniversary. According to the president, “His Highness embodies the finest traditions of leadership and scholarship”, noting further that since “ascending the exalted throne of Zazzau…the monarch has continued to promote peace, unity, and development in his domain.”

Emir Bamalli has undertaken reforms that modernise and strengthen Zazzau Emirate. He has embarked on projects that honour every past Emir, irrespective of the ruling house. Such wisdom and broadmindedness as exhibited by His Royal Highness should be commended and supported. The time has come for everyone to rally round the throne, leave the past behind, and look forward in the common interest of the emirate. The media campaign embarked upon by a few elements is a distraction from the progress made. All well-meaning people of Zauzzau should disavow such ignoble enterprise. My royal salutations to the head that wears the crown. Allah ya ja zamanin sarki.