43 Persons Aspire For Emir Of Kontagora Stool

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By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna

Kingmakers in the Kontagora Emirate of Niger State have an onerous task on their hands to screen, trim and select one person from the swelling number of aspirants for the vacant traditional stool of Kontagora Emirate.
The State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello had last Sunday, enjoined the kingmakers in Kontagora Emirate to be God-fearing, just and fair in their selection process for a successor to the vacant traditional stool vacated by the demise of the Sarkin Sudan, Alhaji Sa’idu Umaru Namaska.He spoke at the third-day fida’u prayers for the repose of the soul of the late Emir. He tasked the kingmakers of the emirate to ensure a rancour-free succession to the throne by doing what is lawful and by the laid down tradition of the emirate.”You must have the fear of Allah, be fair and just in the selection process for a successor to the ancient and historic Kontagora throne” he had said emphatically.No fewer than 43 persons including five sons of the late Sa’idu Umaru Namaska, the Sarkin Sudan Kontagora are in the race to succeed their father.As at the close of work yesterday (Wednesday), the emirate’s kingmakers had extended the dateline for the submission of interest for traditional stool to this Friday as a result of pressure to allow for all inquisitive, bonafide heirs to the throne to submit their bids.Feelers close to the palace in Kontagora told our correspondent in Minna that the extension of the dateline was given to allow some of the bonafide heirs who are outside the shores of the country to have the same level field to file in their interest.The emirate kingmakers according to our source had graciously picked Alhahi Shehu Yusuf, the Galadiman Kontagora, a veteran technocrat the respected traditional title holder of the emirate to head the selection committee to screen the number of aspirants for stool.The unprecedented number of people aspiring for the vacant stool this time around may pose a challenge to the emirate’s kingmakers.The late Sarkin Sudan Kontagora who died last week’s Thursday was born in 1937 and he ascended to the throne of his father in 1974. He stayed on the throne for 47 years.Namaska was until his death, the longest-serving monarch in northern Nigeria.
He died at 84 leaving behind a large family, a hugely rich cultural heritage and long history.
According to traditional practice, the kingmakers would prune down the number of aspirants who entered for the race to the throne to three from where a successor would be picked to ascend to the vacant throne as the 7th Emir of Kontagora.                       

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