Bagudu shuns Lai Mohammed’s turbaning as Ganduje announces new Emir of Gaya

Sanusi’s emergence as KASU chancellor Kano’s loss, says El-Rufai
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has been turbaned by the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Mera, as the Kakaki Kabi, a ceremony the Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu, shunned.

Prominent Nigerians witnessed the ceremony, which had yesterday at the palace of the Argungu monarch in Kebbi State.

Explaining the ‘Kakaki Kabi’ title as the spokesperson of the Kabi people, Mera said the decision to honour the minister was due to his commitment in promoting unity in the country, as well as his support to the last Argungu International Fishing Festival, which was successful.

“He merits the title and I consulted my subjects before I took the final decision,” he said.

Responding, the minister thanked the people of Kabi for honouring him with the title, adding that his tenure will continue to strengthen culture to bring unity and peace in the country.

ALSO, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu has emerged the new Emir of Gaya Emirate in Kano State.

Kano government announced the former Ciroma Gaya and eldest son of the immediate past emir as the new monarch.

Announcing the new appointment about 03.00a.m., yesterday, at the Government House, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Usman Alhaji, disclosed that government found Aliyu worthy to succeed his father among the five candidates earlier recommended by the kingmakers.

Gaya Emirate is one of the four created by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in 2020, and the power to appoint new emirs is vested in the governor under the Kano Emirates Council Laws 2020 as amended.

The SSG, who announced the new emir, is one of the kingmakers in the new emirate.

The appointment was reportedly after hot disagreement, tussles and near physical combat among the influential citizens of Gaya and the kingmakers.

Journalists waited for about eight hours in the Government House, Kano, before the dust settled and a new monarch announced.

GOVERNOR Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has described the emergence of dethroned Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, as the new Chancellor of Kaduna State University (KASU), at the weekend, as a gain to his state.

Speaking at the 4th Combined Convocation of KASU, the governor insisted that the appointment and installation of the 14th Emir of Kano as KASU Chancellor should be seen by all and sundry as loss for Kano.

Besides, El-Rufai defended the state government’s decision to increase tuition fees of the state-owned university and other tertiary institutions as a matter of necessity, pointing out that it is no longer feasible to offer free tertiary education.

He said: “As the visitor of this university, I have the immeasurable honour today to be part of its fourth combined convocation as well as the installation of my brother and friend, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 14th Emir of Kano, as the Chancellor of this university

“Your Highness, as I said when we appointed you, Kano’s loss is our gain, and you have already started showing the difference.”