Emir Bamalli: Historic return of the Mallawa to Zazzau throne -By Tunji Ajibade

Someone heard of the selection of Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as the new Emir of Zazzau and said, “May God help him with the challenges of the throne.” The challenges of the throne. That got me thinking. For me, the challenges of the throne mean the challenges of leadership. There are different kinds of leaderships and they are at different levels. But one thing is common to them all. Every leader leads people.

Leading people at any level isn’t something one suddenly develops capacity for. It’s a pursuit across the years, and learning the ropes never ends. There are virtues and values a leader needs to internalize and externalize. When I see leaders at any level showing tendencies unbecoming, therefore, I rue the qualities they should have but which they don’t. So, if this piece affords me any opportunity at all, it’s to raise the issue of how we select leaders in Nigeria. If anyone says leaders are born, he means any incapable person can automatically be placed at the top simply because they’re born in the house where tradition says rulers should come from. I believe Emir Bamalli knows differently. He knows that even if ascending the throne is by the design of being born in a particular house, in Zazzau it doesn’t always mean one will automatically get it. This is more so as there are four ruling houses, not from the same ancestor, any of which could have occupied the throne in the latest contest in Zazzau. He knew from the moment he was old enough to know his ancestry that one must work for it in order to earn it. And it was what he did.

In an interview after he was announced as the new Emir of Zazzau, Bamalli acknowledged that it was a stiff contest. He said he had so much respect for his fellow contestants that as soon as his name was announced he began the process of reaching out to not less than thirteen of them. That’s the way quality leaders do things. The reader would have to forgive me if I state from observation that coming to the position of traditional leadership in the north isn’t ever as easy as it may seem to people from the south. In fact, the contest is stiffer within those palace walls and among the eligible people than what we hear in the public space. Northerners don’t always come out to say most of these things. A lot of factors are responsible.

One of them is that there are aspects of leadership training in the religious knowledge that the typical northerner who is a Muslim receives. I understand that, sometimes, those from royal houses are given some specialized and advanced training in leadership within the context of religion and culture. This is different from western education, meaning that Muslims in the north receive two kinds of education to their advantage. And they had been receiving these teachings long before western education arrived. So when one looks for leadership qualities, it would be nice if one dismisses all biases and pays attention to some of the people in north’s traditional ruling class. He will pick lessons. What I knew of this made me write some time ago that northerners are smarter than southerners.

Now, what’s the path that brings Emir Bamalli to this point? At this time in the 19^th century, his forebear in the Mallawa clan was the first Fulani emir of Zazzau. He collected the flag from Shehu Othman dan Fodioin Sokoto. In 1902, Emir Aliyu, Bamalli’s grandfather was selected for the throne following the arrival of the British forces of occupation. Concerning Emir Aliyu who, previous to his selection, had held the rank of Wambai, the British had a lot of positive things to say. Actually, he was a progressive, forward-looking ruler. As early as 1905, he put up no objections when European missioners built their hospitals and missions in Zaria. That was at a time most other Emirates wouldn’t want Europeans and their hospitals anywhere near their town walls. Around the same time Emir Aliyu recruited one of the natives trained in western education to teach him the western way of writing. The immediate effect was that the ruling class took cue from the Emir and sent their children to school.

During his reign, Aliyu reformed the Dogari system such that colonial officers often praised the Dogarai and their activities. By this time in the 20^th century, the foundation of the well-known agricultural institutes in Zaria today had been laid as research centres. There was the agricultural research plantation (where Aliyu sent his farmworkers to be trained), and which had since been incorporated into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Emir Aliyu also wrote poetry. His grandson, the new emir saw these materials, and several years ago he had them published. They were also read on radio stations for their beauty and the wonderful mind of the emir-poet which the writing gave expression to. Copies of these poems in digital formats were equally placed in major libraries for posterity.

Meanwhile, Emir Aliyu’s positive disposition was noted by British colonial administrators. They, coming from a nation led by the royalty, appreciated the leadership quality they saw in the traditional ruler. They wrote that Emir Aliyu was “probably one of the most intelligent and advance native rulers in the Northern Provinces.” They said that, where being a ruler was concerned, Aliyu “was most eminently suited.” It was also noted that all the European officers “who have been associated with this clever native ruler” really liked and respected him. I suppose this could not have been any different as Aliyu was selected for the throne in the first place from among a host of other candidates who were also qualified. So, it meant the British, going by their own comments almost two decades later, affirmed that they observed well and had made the right selection. The point is that competition for the throne in Zazzau till today remains tough. To be qualified, you must have spent your entire lifetime preparing. When one of the visitors to the palace and a friend of the new emir was interviewed recently, he said Emir Bamalli had spent all his life preparing for this historic moment. I think that tells us a few things about leadership.

Here’s a man who wanted to occupy the throne of his forefathers and he lived all his life conducting himself in proportion to his ambition. Emir Bamalli must have spent all his life watching his steps, ensuring he didn’t do anything that could stain the good reputation of his forebears. He did this as a teenager, as a youth, as an adult,  head of organizations, and as a diplomat. That’s one man less when it comes to people in positions who mess up the offices they occupy in Nigeria. Nigeria has thus benefitted from the good conduct of Ahmed Bamalli. When a man has lofty ambitions that he pursues, he’ll conduct himself well and in that sense, he’s an asset to the nation rather than a liability. The former ambassador watched his ways and he had arrived at the point where his grandfather signed off. Bamalli’s story brings me back to the issue of how we throw up leadership in Nigeria. One can’t say it’s been right or beneficial to the nation when people who have not prepared for a position are placed there. We see the consequences around us.

A close look at Emir Bamalli’s career indicates he has successfully navigated many rough waters, both in the private and public sectors. As the immediate past Magajin Garin Zazzau, he was close to the masses. He has thus cultivated those virtues that make a leader lead his people appropriately as well as ensure peace for the purpose of development. I believe those were similar virtues for which his grandfather was praised by the government of his time. As such, Emir Bamalli should strive to excel in this exalted seat even more than his grandfather and father, who was Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs minister in the First Republic, did. His ascension is historic because it’s exactly 100 years ago that the new Emir’s grandfather departed the Zazzau throne. I wish His Royal Highness a prosperous, long, and peaceful reign.