Zamfara Govt Warns Emirs Against Award Of Traditional Titles

By Ayodele Oni

Zamfara State government has rolled out measures to checkmate the award of chieftaincy titles to underserved persons by traditional rulers in the state.

This is coming after the Emir of Birnin ‘Yandoto of Tsafe Local Government Area, Aliyu Marafa, conferred a chieftaincy title on a wanted “notorious bandit leader,” Adamu Aliero aka Aleru.

Aliero who has been declared wanted by the Nigerian Police Force, NPF and his gang of bandits have been responsible for kidnapping and robbing residents of the state.

The state government through the secretary to the State Government, SSG Kabiru Sardauna, announced the suspension of the Emir in a statement.

Aleru was turbaned as Sarkin Fulani (Chief of Fulani) of Yandoto Emirate by the Emir.

Apart from suspending the Emir, Governor Bello Matawalle approved the appointment of a committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the action of the Emir.

The Governor, who holds traditional title of Matawallen Maradun now has directed traditional Institutions in the state to seek approval from the state Government before awarding and conferring traditional titles.

A statement by special adviser on public enlightenment, Zailani Bappa explained that “All Emirs, Senior District Heads and District Heads in the state are hereby directed to officially seek permission from the State Government before conferring traditional titles to anyone.

The statement added that the directive becomes necessary in order to check indiscriminate award and possible abuse of the traditional institution.

“Henceforth, no Emir, Senior District Head or District Head must appoint anybody into any traditional office without securing official permission and clearance from the state Government.

“Compliance to this directive is now mandatory and failure will attract serious reprimand from the state Government,” the government said.