A new Emir has been appointed for Kagara, the town in Niger State that made the headlines on February 17, 2021, when gunmen invaded a school, killed one student, and abducted 27.
Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, approved the appointment of Alhaji Ahmed Garba Guna as the new Emir.
Alhaji Guna’s appointment followed last week’s recommendation by 14 kingmakers in the Kagara Emirate who met to elect a successor to the late Emir, Malam Salihu Tanko, who passed on March 1, 2021.
The appointment of the new Emir, according to Governor Sani Bello, is in cync with Section 3 sub section (1) of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, Cap 19 of Niger State.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe, who broke the good news on Wednesday said Governor Bello gave the approval based on the advice of members of the Niger State Council of Chiefs as required under section 7, Cap 19 of the law.
Alhaji Gunna was, before his appointment, was the Acting Chairman of the state’s Board of Internal Revenue, as well as village head of Yakila in Gunna District. He also held the traditional title of Dan Majen Kagara.
The new Emir, according to sources, polled five votes, the highest of all the five that contested for the first class traditional stool.
Others who contestants are: Alhaji Muhammad Salihu Tanko, (Bunun Kagara) the son of the late Emir; Alhaji Garba Bako (Dan Galadiman Kagara), Alhaji Aliyu Muhammad Kusherki (Katukan Kagara) and Alhaji Idris Aliyu Jibrin (Barajen Kagara).
The State Government is yet to fix a date for the installation of the new Emir.