Son may succeed Idris as new Emir of Zazzau

• El-Rufai gets shortlist of possible emir

The Turaki Zazzau, Alhaji Aminu Shehu Idris, may succeed his father, the immediate past Emir of Zazzau, Shehu Idris, as his name was among the three submitted to Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State for consideration.

Zazzau Emirate kingmakers have zeroed their choices to three candidates, which they sent to the governor, who will endorse and announce the new emir.

The last emir died last Sunday at the age of 84, after 45 years on the throne.

However, sources at the Zaria palace of the emirate told some journalists at the weekend that the governor’s favoured candidate, the Magajin Garin Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, could not make the kingmakers’ shortlist.

According to tradition, the new emir is expected to emerge from Katsinawa, Bare-bari, Mallawa or Sullubawa ruling houses.

Aminu Shehu Idris, who is eldest surviving son of the deceased emir from the Katsinawa ruling house, is the youngest of the shortlisted candidates. The University of Abuja Economics graduate works as a senior staff at the Crude Oil Marketing Division of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

A statement issued by el-Rufai’s media aide, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, noted that the kingmakers had submitted their report to the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs.

Adekeye quoted the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Balarabe Abbas-Lawal, as saying: “The selection process for the new Emir of Zazzau is proceeding with the careful attention befitting such a momentous decision.”