Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed presents staff of office to the 11th Emir of Misau, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman, right
By Akanji Alowolodo, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has warned that, he will not hesitate to dethrone any traditional ruler that is found wanting especially when it has to do with the needs of our people.
The Governor was speaking in Misau on Sunday during the presentation of staff of office and coronation of the 11th Emir of Misau, Alhaji Ahmed Sulaiman stressing that, “Cases of kidnapping, banditry, insurgency and other violent crimes that are gradually spreading to the state from the neighbouring states must be checked with the cooperation of traditional rulers”.
According to him, “Government will not hesitate to sanction any traditional ruler that is found to be supporting or refusing to report criminal activities in their areas of jurisdiction.
“In fact, I will not spare any traditional ruler found to be an accomplice in the committance of such retrogressive criminal activities anywhere in the state. People must learn to protect themselves from illegal aliens in their midst”, he added.
Bala Mohammed stated that, “I understand that the last time such an event took place in Misau was about 43 years ago. Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman, ascended the throne of his forefathers after the death of the immediate past Emir of Misau, Alhaji Muhammad Manga III, in February 2015 who ruled for 36 years”.
He said that, “I’ll not only enjoin the Emir to emulate the conduct of the former Emir, but he should strive to improve upon them.
“Let me use this occasion to give the Emir some advice. Your Royal Highness should strike a balance between tradition and modernity. To this, you should be flexible and keep pace with the dynamics of the complexities of modern society while exercising your traditional authority”, the Governor said.
He stressed that, “You should bring your wealth of knowledge and experience into play in the discharge of your onerous duties to the office of the Emir. You should be on the same page with the government of the day by offering constructive and even intellectual contribution for the economic, political and social development of your people and the state in general”.
The Governor also said that, “As a member of the State Council of Chiefs, you should work harmoniously with your colleagues to strengthen the traditional institution and move the state forward” .
He further reminded the Emir that, “As the custodian of the culture and traditions of the people of Misau Emirate, you should be firm and fair and adhere strictly to the oath of office and allegiance that you have just been sworn to. I need not tell you to carry members of your Emirate Council along in the discharge of your duties as a new Emir”.
The Governor also said that, “It is my desire and hope that the reign of Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman as the 11th Emir of Misau, will witness peace and harmony, economic prosperity, and political stability.
“Let me, at this juncture, acknowledge the role of the traditional rulers in the socioeconomic development of our country. Indeed, traditional rulers deserve to be commended for bringing about peace and stability in their various domains. This is in spite of the fact that they have not been given specific roles by the Nigerian Constitution” he said.
He then said that, “I would like to appeal to our Royal Fathers to continue to work hard towards peaceful coexistence among their people and development of their various areas of jurisdiction’.
He also said that,”I wish to appeal to the National Assembly to amend the constitution with a view to assigning specific roles for our traditional rulers” .
The Governor concluded saying, ‘I want to, at this juncture, call on our traditional rulers to reactivate the practice of monitoring spurious movements and strangers in their domains. The people should be sensitized to cooperate and provide actionable intelligence to security agents and report their activities capable of disrupting the peaceful coexistence’.
In his remarks after he took oath administered by the State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, the Emir of Misau, Alh Ahmed Suleiman thanked the state government for the presentation of staff of office saying that the occasion will remain indelible in the history of Misau Emirate.
The Emir said that with the presentation of staff of office to him, he strive to serve the people of his domain and the state by extension very well, justly and fairly irrespective of religious and political differences.
He also promised to promote peace and peaceful co-existence among the people of the Emirate stressing that it is only in a peaceful atmosphere that development and progress can be made assuring to continue to support the government in its efforts to develop the state.
