A prominent northern leader and the Iyan Zazzau, Alhaji Bashar Aminu, is dead. Daily Trust reports that Aminu one of the top contenders for the Zazzau throne died in Lagos state.
It was gathered that Aminu, the wealthiest prince in northern Nigeria instituted a court action seeking the removal of the 19th emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli.
The Zazzau prince born in 1951 is from the Katsinawa dynasty. He was one of the most powerful traditional title holders.
Bashir Aminu, the Iyan Zazzau was one of the powerful traditional title holders in the north.
recall that the names of three candidates were submitted to Governor Nasir El-Rufai to determine who the next Zazzau emir would be.
Seven names were initially announced by the Zazzau kingmakers before the list was trimmed down to three.
In a three-page report submitted to El-Rufai, Iyan Zazzau, Bashar Aminu; the Yariman Zazzau, Munir Ja’afaru; and the Turakin Zazzau, Aminu Idris were recommended to the governor after scaling through the second selection process.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli succeeded Alhaji Shehu Idris as he was named the 19th Emir of Zazzau.
Idris who died on Sunday, September 20, was on the throne for 45 years. He died at the age of 84.
Bamalli becomes the first emir from the Mallawa ruling house 100 years after his grandfather Emir Dan Sidi died in 1920.
In a related development, the governor of Kaduna state was dragged to court by the Iyan Zazzau, for appointing Ambassador Bamalli as the new Emir of Zazzau.
Aminu in a suit filed before the Kaduna state high court on Monday, October 12, asked the court to remove Bamalli.
El-Rufai and nine others including the Attorney-General of Kaduna state and Kaduna state council of chiefs were joined as defendants in the suit seeking to quash Bamalli’s recent appointment.