Emir of Zazzau: El-Rufai’s Role In My Emergence Misunderstood
Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, has said the role of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in his emergence as emir has been misunderstood. He said their relationship was primarily rooted in family ties. Bamalli, who will mark six years on the throne in October, said El-Rufai is his father’s cousin, stressing that […]
Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, the Emir of Zazzau, has clarified the misinterpretation surrounding the role of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in his emergence as the ruler. Bamalli, who will be celebrating his sixth year on the throne in October, emphasized that their relationship is primarily based on family ties. El-Rufai is his father's cousin, and Bamalli himself is one of the uncles to the governor.
Speaking in an interview with Weekend Trust ahead of his sixth anniversary on the throne, the emir dispelled the notion that El-Rufai had played a crucial role in his ascension to the throne. He clarified that their bond is familial and that the former governor's involvement should not be misconstrued as his emergence being orchestrated by him. The monarch also pointed out that he shares this familial connection with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.
Bamalli's emergence as the Emir of Zazzau was marked by a unique set of circumstances. He was outside Nigeria when his predecessor, Shehu Idris, passed away in September 2020. At the time, Bamalli was serving as Nigeria's ambassador to Thailand, with concurrent accreditation to Myanmar. He had to make arrangements to return home during the COVID-19 lockdown.
According to him, he personally paid $9,000 for the journey back to Nigeria along with his wife and two daughters, contradicting claims that El-Rufai had chartered an aircraft for his return. He provided receipts from the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok to substantiate his claim.
Bamalli also revealed that El-Rufai's involvement in his return became evident only after he arrived at Abuja airport. The governor's aide, Peter, noticed him and informed the former governor about his arrival. El-Rufai then directed that his vehicles should be used to bring him and his family to Zaria following the aide who was supposed to pick him up from the airport missing his flight. He further mentioned that he had already planned to travel to Kaduna by train before accepting El-Rufai's offer.
Additionally, the Emir disclosed that he had initially been hesitant to enter the succession race. However, he eventually succumbed to external pressure, leading to his unexpected emergence as the Emir of Zazzau.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
