At least six princes have expressed interest to replace the late emir of Dutse in Jigawa State, Nuhu Muhammadu Sanusi.
The first class monarch, who died at Cedercrest Hospital in Abuja on January 31 after a brief illness, ruled the emirate for 28 years.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the kingmakers had received expression of interest letters from six princes, comprising the elder brother to the late emir, Galadiman Dutse Basiru Sanusi; the son of the late emir, Dan Iyan Dutse Hameem Sanusi and Wamban Dutse, Mustapha Aminu-Dutse.
Other contestants include Chiroman Dutse, Shehu Sanusi; Danburam Dutse, Sarki Abdullahi and; Yariman Dutse, Bashir Aminu-Dutse.
The kingmakers had reportedly begun sitting to shortlist three suitable candidates for conveyance to the governor of the state, Badaru Abubakar.
The kingmakers are Wazirin Dutse Bashir Dalhatu (chairman), Madakin Dutse Tijjani Inuwa-Dutse; Makaman Dutse, Ibrahim Yaya; Dankwanon Dutse, Shuaibu Dankwano; Sarkin Ban Dutse, Bello Haruna; Sarkin Gabas, Bashari Abubakar and; Chief Imam of Dutse, Abubakar Birninkudu.
Sources familiar with the emirship tussle told this newspaper that the seven kingmakers sat on Saturday in Dutse and selected three names out of six for onward transmission to the governor.
While the kingmakers sat in Dutse, the emir of Hadejia Adamu Abubakar-Maje, emir of Kazaure Najib Hussani-Adamu, emir of Gumel Ahmed Sani; emir of Ringim Sayyadi Mahmud and; the secretary to the state government, Abdulkadir Fanini-Adamu, met in Hadejia to deliberate on the succession issue.
According to sources, the emirs had lobbied the governor to appoint the 43-year-old first son of the late emir, Hameem Nuhu, in view of the contributions his father gave to the development and modernisation of the emirate.
“Northern emirs now have an unwritten convention to support the eldest son of any long-reigning emir. Another reason is the unprecedented developments recorded under His Highness the late Emir Nuhu Sanusi,” said a source who preferred anonymity.
But other sources said some of the title holders and some influential politicians are rooting for the 84-year-old Galadiman Dutse, being the brain behind the shaping of the traditional aspect of the emirate and selection of many of the district heads and title holders.
“Galadiman Dutse Alhaji Basiru Sanusi is the most experienced prince, that is if we look at it from the traditional viewpoint,” said the source.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that some notable personalities are also lobbying for Wamban Dutse to ascend the throne. Sources said some influential persons have called the governor to make case for the retired technocrat.
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