El-Rufai’s Swearing In: Emir Of Zazzau Escapes Death
El-Rufai’s Swearing In: Emir Of Zazzau
Escapes Death
By Alex Uangbaoje
The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, who
is the Chairman of Kaduna State Council of
Chiefs was almost lynched by angry youths
on allegation that he did not support Mallam Nasir El-rufai, Kaduna State Governor on Saturday.
The Murtala Square, venue of the swearing-
in of the new governor was rather peaceful
and calm until the arrival of the Emir.
Shortly after the oath taking by the new
Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and his
Deputy Bala Barnabas Bantex, the angry
youths who it was observed could no longer tolerate the Emir’s presence resorted to
throwing pebbles and whatever they could
lay their hands on and calling for his ouster.
Chanting ‘Sabon Gwamna, Sabon Sarki’,
meaning, new governor, new king, the youth were accused the Zazzau monarch of
partisanship in favour of the outgone
Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero who he
equally turbaned a title holder during his
reign as governor.
Meanwhile, several people, including a
police woman were injured following the
confusion that ensued between the Emir’s
security guards and the restive youths who
insisted the Emir must leave the venue.
The injured victims were immediately
treated in a First Aid vehicle provided by
the police, while some were taken out of
the venue for treatment.
The uncontrollable youths continued to
threw sachet water, shoes, and pebbles at
the direction of the Emir who was seated at
VIP podium.
However, human shield was quickly built
around the septuagenarian Emir by his traditional guards and other security men,
who later smuggled him out of the scene
through the back door.
The monarch was later rescued by the
combined forces of security men who later
brought in hot water tank to disperse the
angry youths who had earlier dared the
police tear gas.
It was observed that the
angry youths chanted in chorus, saying,
“why should Emir come to this occasion
when he did not support us during election,
we don’t want him anymore, we need new
Emir now”.
Efforts by the new governor to calm nerves
of the angry youths proved abortive as the
environment became very tense making
everybody including invited personality to
scamper for safety.
