Shehu Idris: Celebrating 42 years of peaceful reign as Zazzau’s emir

Daily Trust on Sunday year reign witnessed tremendous development.

He said: “Those of us that are in the royal circle always appreciate his efforts of trying to maintain heirapparent status in the royal circle. When a certain title holder passes on, he ensures that one of the family members of the deceased emerge as successor. This is a great character as far as royalty in concerned.”

The testimonies about the emir’s concern for the welfare of his wards always manifest during the Hawan Bariki, one of the traditional Sallah durbars in Zaria. This durbar gives opportunity to the emir to present the challenges of his subjects to Kaduna State Governor and even the federal government, as traditional demands that the governor receives the emir at the Government House in Zaria during such occasion.

One such much talked-about annual demand by the traditional ruler to the relevant authorities is to address the perennial water problem faced by residents. Therefore, the emir used the anniversary to thank the incumbent state government for taking genuine steps to address the water crisis.

The Kaduna State deputy governor, Yusuf Barnabas Bala Bantex, who represented the governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, urged the emir to write a memoir about his life, as there are a lot to learn.

“Less than 10 per cent of Kaduna State population were alive when you were turbaned as the Emir of Zazzau, therefore, your experience is highly needed. We are happy God has spared your life to contribute meaningfully to the development of our nation. We pray God will continue to give you long life, strength and wisdom to lead well. I would like to use this opportunity to assure that Zaria Water Project will soon be completed, being one of the major challenges of your people,” Bantex said.

The coronation of Alhaji Idris was performed on February 8, 1975. He belongs to the Katsinawa dynasty of the Zazzau emirate and was born to the family of Malam Idrisu Auta on February 20, 1936. The catchphrase of the monarch’s father was Autan Sambo and this is one of the famous songs of praises of the emir. Malam Idrisu Autan Sambo died when the emir was only 12 years old. Therefore, the emir grew up as an orphan.

Emir Idris, as the tradition demands, began his education pursuit at the local Islamic school known in Hausa as Makarantar Allo in Zaria. He later enrolled in the Zaria Elementary School and was there between 1947 and 1950. Between 1950 and 1955, the emir had his Middle School education. He then attended Katsina Training College and this qualified him to become a teacher.

The monarch started his teaching career in 1958 at Hunkuyi, now the headquarters of Kudan local government area of Kaduna State. Later in 1960, he was appointed the private secretary to the then emir, Alhaji Muhammad Aminu. After serving at different capacities in the Zazzau palace and the then Native Authority, in 1973 Alhaji Idris was turbaned as Dan Madamin Zazzau and the District head of Zaria-Kewaye before he succeeded late Muhammadu Aminu as the 18th emir of Zazzau.