Dr Nasir AminuEvery human alive should be grateful to live in this twenty-first century'a century that has freed humans from slavery, tyranny, and all other forms of medieval imperfections. We should also be grateful to our democratic system and the existing arms of government for creating limited powers to individuals.Thesubjectiveattempt by GovernorEl-rufaito use his, final thirty months, of executive power to change the customs of the Kaduna State traditional institutions is worrying. Thus, it is imperative to seek the help of both the Judiciary and the legislative arm of government to intervene. The consequences of any change in the traditional institution will not be disclosed until after his government has departed.At the coronation ceremony of the Emir of Zazzau, the Governorreiteratedthat heisproposing a change tothelaws of the State's traditional institutions.He hadhighlightedthisearlier at the State Assembly when he presented the 2021 budget too.I have not read the proposal, but from what the Governor is saying,hehas mentioned the needrotatewithin the dynasties,and wishes to correct injustices.Dr Nasir AminuHistorically, Zazzau emirate does not follow a rotational system. The selection process has always been for all contenders from the ruling dynasties to be declared after the demise of an Emir. The kingmakers then make their selection and ask for the Sultan's blessings. When the colonial government took power, in 1897, they also sought the acceptance of the Sultan after the selection of the kingmakers whenKwasauwas removed.Like a perfect competitive market, the Zazzau emirate has always had strong competitive contenders, which makes it difficult for one dynasty to dominate. That is why Emir Aminu (1959-1975) rose and contested for the throne as the only candidate from theKatsinawadynasty, and was voted unanimously by the kingmakers.In 1846, Emir Mamman Sani was selected by the kingmakers, to succeed his brother, Emir Hamada, with the blessing of Sokoto. In 1897, EmirKwasauwas selected to succeed his father, EmirYero. The appointment ofKwasauwas against the wishes of the Sultan, but the kingmakers had stood their grounds to select the competent person for the throne. That is why theKatsinawadynasty has spent 73 years without the throne without crying for injustice.In Northern Nigeria, several emirateshavestopped rotating,and there was no proposal to change thelaws. For example,the Kano emirate has stopped rotating their dynasties,leavingthe dynasty of Abbasaloneto rule. The dynasty ofSuleimanu, the firstflagbearersofDanfodio, can only rise to the position of kingmakers. In 2014,El-rufaiproudly celebrated the installation of his friend, the debunked Emir of KanoSanusi, who is from the house of Abbas. Likewise in Katsina, the ruling dynastyleft to rule, the house ofUmmarunDallaje, was not the initialflagbearersofDanfodio.Historians will tell youflagbearersassume the scholars instead of Emirs, which is similar toDanfodiowho did not take the position of Sultan. For this, some dynasties of theflagbearerslost the stool of the Emir to other dynasties.MallamMusa of theMallawadynasty also remained a scholar until his death. However, two of his children assumed the position of Emir of Zazzau.Of course, there are emirates, like theLafiaemirate, where the customary law of rotation has been maintained. There are also emirates where the rotational custom within dynasties is recently altered, like theBidaemirate. However, there was no cry of injustice or call to correct the tradition system.In hiscoronationspeech,El-Rufaiclaimed to be Godsent tocorrect the injustice done to theMallawadynastybecausethe colonial GovernorunjustlyremovedEmir Alu Dan-Sidi.Records showhe wasdeposedforslavery and corruption(see Smith, 1950).Ethically, the practice of such injustice can be classified as corruption.Doing someans all the Emirs after 1920will be regarded asanillegitimateappointmentby the past Governors. Thus,AmbassadorBamallishould be the first legitimate Emirin 100 years.Since he is Godsent to correctinjustice,then he should considerSullubawadynasty who have spent 160 years away from it. TheBare-baridynasty has also spent 61 years without it, but they have not cried for injustice.For me, the 100 years ofMallawadynasty is the Will of God, not injustice as suggested in the Governor's speech. It is also the Will of God that late Emir Shehu (1975-2020) spent 45 years on the throne which contributed to those aggrieved 100 years. The Will of God cannot be an injustice and vice-versa.Finally, trying to correct a misunderstood injustice will only lead tocommitting further injustices. The existingcustomary practicesof Kaduna State's traditional institutionsshould not be alienated from the restoftheinstitutions inNorthern Nigeria and West Africa.Theobjectivething to do for the traditional institutions is toleave them as they are, as the colonial government and military administrators chose to do.OpinionAddThis:Original Author:Nasir Aminu Disable advertisements:
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