Niger halts appointment of new Emir of Kontagora

By LALEYE DIPO

The Niger State Government might have quietly annulled the appointment of a new Emir of Kontagora, which was chosen by the kingmakers last Sunday.

Five of the six kingmakers elected one of the 47 princes that showed interest in the Emirship and forwarded the outcome of the election to the state government for announcement on Sunday.

The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr. Shehu Yusuf Galadima, told newsmen after the completion of their assignment that only the government has the mandate to announce the winner.

Galadima said: “The kingmakers did their best but only the Executive Governor of Niger State, Mr. Abubakar Sani Bello, has the mandate to declare the winner who will be the substantive new emir.

“They are 47 in number and it is only one that is going to emerge. So, whoever that emerges is among them; they are all families.”

However, no announcement has been made since Sunday mainly because the state governor, who should give directive to the Commissioner for Local Government to so do, has been outside the state.

However, an indication that the report of the kingmakers has been quietly annulled emerged through a statement that was issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed Matane, which was made available to newsmen late on Tuesday night.

The government action may also be consequent upon a petition written by 46 of the 47 princes that applied for the top traditional position in the Kontagora Emirate, which described last Sunday’s selection of a new Emir by the kingmakers as “a sham, illegal null and void.”

The princes asked for a new selection process that had to be carried out along set out guidelines known to all the contenders in their petition to the state governor who is also from the emirate.

They also asked for the removal of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Abdulmalik Sakin- Daji, for presiding over what they described as a failed selection process.

The petition, which was sent through the legal chambers of one of the aspirants, threatened to take the government to court if their demands were not met.

But the state government in a statement which appeared to have annulled the selection captioned: “Niger Commissioners for Local Government and Youth Development Temporarily Swap Portfolios.”

The statement reads: “With the demise of the sixth Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, late Alhaji Saidu Namaska on Thursday, 9th September, 2021, the Executive Governor of Niger State, Mr. Abubakar Sani Bello, directed the Ministry for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs to conduct transparent and accountable election of the new Sarkin Sudan, which took place on Sunday, 19th September, 2021.

However, the aftermath of the election was followed by petition and misgivings.

It continued: “Therefore, to reinforce the state government’s neutrality in the election process, a review of the process has been directed by Mr. Governor.

“In this regard, the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji, has been temporarily moved to Ministry of Youth Development” adding that Mr. Emmanuel Umar, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth Development has been temporarily redeployed to the Ministry for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs. The redeployment takes immediate effect.”

It is not known if the kingmakers will agree to vote a second time and when the voting will take place. (THISDAY)