Following weeks of anticipation and anxiety, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state on Wednesday approved the appointment of Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as the19th Emir of Zazzau.
The former Nigerian ambassador to Thailand emerged as the first emir from the Mallawa ruling house in 100 years, following the demise of his grandfather, Emir Dan Sidi, in 1920, according to a statement issued by the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Alhaji Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani.
The appointment of Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli to succeed late Alhaji (Dr.) Shehu Idris who died on Sunday, September 20, 2020, after reigning for 45 years, is expected to douse tension that had built up across Zazzau Emirate particularly in Zaria City as they waited with bated breadth and apprehension for their next leader.
Wednesday’s announcement followed a false start where Governor el-Rufai had to cancel the process that initially produced three nominations by the five kingmakers of the Zazzau Emirate, following what the governor said were irregularities, and exclusion of some qualified aspirants from the process.
The new Emir, according to Blueprint‘s findings was not among the three aspirants initially nominated in the first process.
The emergence of the new Emir may not fully douse tension, as there are still some apprehensions that the governor may split Zazzau Emirate into three domains to create new emirates in Kaduna and Kudan.
The statement further said Governor el-Rufai congratulated Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli on his appointment and wished him a successful and peaceful reign as Emir of Zazzau.
‘’Until his appointment as Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, held the title of Magajin Garin Zazzau and served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Thailand, with concurrent accreditation to Myanmar. He has been a permanent commissioner in the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission in 2015,’’ the statement added.
According to the Commissioner, the new emir has worked in banking sector and as executive director and later acting managing director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Corporation.
‘’He was a staff of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Agency before a stint as head of Human Resources at MTel, the mobile communications arm of the old Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL).
“Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli studied law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and holds a master’s degree in international relations and diplomacy and a diploma in organisational leadership from Oxford University. He is also a fellow on Conflict Resolution of the University of York, United Kingdom (UK),” the Commissioner said.
Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli is a direct descendant of Malam Musa Bamalli, the flag-bearer and first Fulani Emir of Zazzau who ruled from 1804 to 1821. His father, Nuhu Bamalli, held the position of Magajin Gari (the second most important princely title in the Zazzau Emirate) for 40 years.
Malam Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli acted in the capacity of Magajin Gari, representing his father in public functions for 20 years. He was officially appointed to the position in 2001, following his father’s passing.
From his mother’s side, he is a direct descendant of the Islamic scholar and founder of the Fulani empire, Usman Danfodio.
His mother is the daughter of Abdulrahman Dikko, and the great granddaughter of Sultan Aliyu Babba and Sultan Muhammadu Bello, as well as Shehu Usman Danfodio.
He is currently the leader of the Mallawa dynasty.
