Zazzau Emirate: Shopping for 19th emir begins as kingmakers go into seclusion

As the preparation to pick the 19th Emir of Zazzau begins following the death of late Shehu Idris on Sunday, at age 84, the kingmakers of Zazzau emirate have gone into seclusion in the search of who succeeds the late Emir.

It was gathered that the Emirate statue provides that the following kingmakers are saddled with that responsibility and they are the Wazirin Zazzau, Ibrahim Aminu, Fagacin Zazzau, Umar Mohammed, Makama Karami, Mahmoud Abbas, Chief Imam of Zazzau, Dalhat Kassim and Chief Imam of Kona, Sani Aliyu.

According to one of the lawmakers who pleaded anonymity disclosed that as the custom demands anytime the stool is vacant three councillors including two Imams have the authority to pick a new emir, while also saying that immediately after the funeral rites of a late emir, the kingmakers would all excused themselves from the people.

Information gathered also revealed that the kingmakers usually find a suitable venue in the palace except otherwise and ask the ruling houses to send their nominees.

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The source disclosed that the kingmakers have so far received several nominations and each of the nominees is qualified for the position of Emir of Zazzau. According to the source, the kingmakers look for certain qualities such as a person with western and Islam education.

He further declared that such a person must be acceptable by the people and must be very grounded in the historical tradition and custom of the Emirate. He confirmed that today (Tuesday ) they will round up by picking and sending their recommendations to the state government.

According to him, the state governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufai has the final say and will eventually announced the new emir.

The likely successors are Magajin Garin Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali from Mallawa ruling house, Yariman Zazzau, Munir Jaafar from Bare Bari ruling house, Iyan Zazzau, Muhammad Bashir Aminu from Katsina ruling house and the eldest son of the late Emir Turaki Zazazau, Alh Aminu Shehu Idris (Son of the late emir), as gathered by our reporter.