NNPC official, ex-commissioner, accountant… the three individuals eyeing Zazzau throne

There is growing anxiety in Kaduna state, particularly in Zaria, as residents await the announcement of the new Emir of Zazzau.

The selection process commenced on Thursday with the five kingmakers submitting names of three princes from the ruling houses to Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna.

The three princes shortlisted for consideration for the throne are Bashir Aminu, Iyan Zazzau; Muhammed Munnir Jafaru, Yariman Zazzau, and Aminu Shehu Idris, son of the late emir and the Turakin Karamin.

AMINU: AN ACCOUNTANT

Bashir Aminu, who holds the traditional title of Iyan Zazzau, was born in 1951 into the Katsinawa ruling house. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1975. He is a fellow of the Institute of Financial Accountants (UK) and a fellow of the Certified National Accountants of Nigeria (CNA).

A very successful businessman, Aminu was district head of Sabon Gari, Zaria, from 1979 to 2018. However, he lost his position following the reforms in the traditional institutions in the state by el-Rufai, which led to the scrapping of his district two years ago. He serves as chairman/director of the boards of many companies.

JAFARU: A LAWYER WITH RICH EXPEREINCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE

Muhammed Munnir Jafaru was born in 1956 into the ruling house of Barebari. He graduated with a degree in Law from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 1979 and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1980. Upon graduation, he was retained as a lecturer at ABU (1981 to 1983) and later obtained a master’s degree in law from the same university in 1983.

He has vast experience in the private and public sector. He was secretary/legal adviser of the Kaduna Cooperative Bank Limited between 1983 and 1987. He was appointed secretary of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (1990 to 1992). He also served as the director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Authority (NMA), now Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) from 1992 to 1996.

He was appointed at various times in Kaduna state, as commissioner for local government and community development; commissioner for information, home affairs and culture; commissioner for agriculture and natural resources, among others. He was also appointed the district head of Basawa in 2018, a position he currently holds.

IDRIS: ELDEST SON OF THE LATE MONARCH

Aminu Shehu Idris, the Turakin Karamin, was born in 1976 into the ruling house of Katsinawa. He is the eldest surviving son of Shehu Idris, the late emir, and the youngest among contenders for the throne.

He attended Federal Government College, Kaduna, and obtained a degree in economics from the University of Abuja. He also has a master’s degree in International Economics from Westminster University, London, which he obtained in 2003.

He currently works with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as a senior staff at the crude oil marketing division.