Dutse Emirate explains emir’s absence during Osinbajo’s visit

The Dutse Emirate Council, Jigawa State, has said the absence of the Emir, Nuhu MuhammadSunusi, during Saturday’s visit by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was due to his prior scheduled trip out of the state.

Media reports had suggested that the state governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar; his deputy, Umar Namadi, and the emir avoided the vice president, who came to the state on a consultation meeting with delegates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the forthcoming presidential primaries of the party.

However, the secretary of the council, Wada Alhaji, told reporters on Sunday in Dutse that the monarch had notified the VP’s team about his official engagement in Abuja.

Alhaji said contrary to media reports, the emir did not leave the state because of Osinbajo’s visit.

He said the emirate had requested the vice president’s team that the Galadima of Dutse, Basiru Sanusi - a senior emirate official and kingmaker represent the emir.

He said the emirate, in the alternative, suggested the idea of rescheduling the visit to enable them to meet the emir at the palace.

“As I speak with you now, the Emir is in Abuja since last week, he is expected back home on Tuesday,” the official added.