“TINUBU, TINUBU” — The Emir of Daura, and the fall of royal dignity, by Mohammed Agaie Abdulmalik
As a Nupe man, I find myself wrestling with a profound sense of pain and disillusionment following the viral video of His Royal Highness Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar, the Emir of Daura, publicly endorsing President Bola Tinubu as the Daura Emirate’s preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
This act strikes a personal chord, not only because of the shared history between us Nupe people and the people of Katsina but also because it exposes a troubling erosion of the values that traditional institutions are meant to uphold.
Our history with Katsina is deep and complex. In centuries past, the Nupe kingdom exerted significant influence over the region, with some historical accounts framing this relationship as one of dominance – a master-slave dynamic, as it were. The people of Katsina may deny or downplay this history, but it lingers as a reminder of the ties that bind us.
However inconvenient it maybe, the ruling houses of Katsina have their origins tie to Nupe heritage. The earliest founders of the Katsina throne, as even scholars like R.H. Palmer recorded, migrated from Nupe lands.
The Nupe tongue, spoken by our forebears, was once heard across the region. Today, we watch their Emir chant the name of a politician like a man possessed, while our own voices remain silent in shame.
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On a more pressing and serious note, the North – and Katsina in particular is reeling from unimaginable hardship. Banditry and insecurity have turned the region into a theater of suffering.
Families have been torn apart, villages razed, and livelihoods destroyed. Katsina, once a proud hub of culture and commerce, now bears the scars of relentless violence. Daura, the very hometown of a former president, has not been spared from these hardships, so what exactly is the Emir celebrating? The people look to their leaders – traditional and political alike—for solace, guidance, and solutions.
Yet, in the midst of this chaos, the Emir of Daura chooses to stand before his throne, not to lament the plight of his people, but to chant “Tinubu, Tinubu, Tinubu” like a campaign jingle. As if that were not enough, he rose to his feet, singing the president’s praises with an enthusiasm that left me, a proud Nupe man, utterly ashamed.
Where is the royalty in this display? Where is the steeze – the composure and gravitas that a traditional ruler of his stature should embody? I watched the video, my heart sinking with every repetition of Tinubu’s name, and I could not help but feel a deep sense of disgrace for our traditional institutions.
This was not the act of a custodian of culture or a voice for the downtrodden. It was a performance stripped of dignity, a public spectacle that diminished the emir’s throne to a mere prop in a political play.
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Emirs occupy a unique and revered position in Nigerian society. They are not politicians; they are custodians of tradition, mediators of disputes, and advisors to those in power. Their strength lies in their neutrality, the ability to rise above partisan politics and represent the interests of all their subjects, regardless of political leanings. This neutrality is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It ensures that emirs can communicate the plights of their people to the government without bias, offering counsel rooted in wisdom rather than allegiance.
The Emir of Daura’s endorsement of Tinubu shatters this sacred principle. By openly aligning himself with a specific candidate years before an election, he abandons his role as a unifying figure and steps into the muddy waters of partisan politics.
This is not a mere misstep; it is a betrayal of the trust placed in him by the people of Daura and beyond. At a time when Katsina’s residents are crying out for security and relief, the emir’s focus on singing Tinubu’s praises feels like a slap in the face to those who look to him for leadership.
This incident is symptomatic of a broader crisis in northern Nigeria: the absence of true leadership. As former Governor Nasir El-Rufai poignantly stated in the buildup to the 2023 elections, “Ba datijo a arewa”—“There are no elders in the North.” His words ring truer now than ever. The emir’s actions suggest that money and political influence have eclipsed the duty to serve the people.
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What should have been a voice of reason and resilience in the face of adversity has instead become a mouthpiece for a distant political agenda.
The suffering in Katsina demands leaders who will prioritize the welfare of their people over personal or political gain. Yet, the Emir of Daura’s endorsement of Tinubu, years before the 2027 election, raises uncomfortable questions.
Is this a calculated move driven by financial incentives? Is it a sign that traditional rulers are now pawns in the hands of politicians? Whatever the motivation, the result is clear: the institution of the emirate, once a pillar of northern society, is losing its moral authority.
This demand a conversation, a loud, urgent, and honest one, about the role of traditional institutions in modern Nigeria. The throne is not a stage for political theater; it is a seat of responsibility, a symbol of heritage, and a beacon of hope.
I call on traditional leaders across Nigeria, and the Emir of Daura in particular, to refocus on their true purpose. Advocate for your people. Hold the government accountable.
Stand as neutral pillars of strength in a fractured nation. Restore the royalty, the steeze, and the composure that your titles demand. The North is bleeding, and its people deserve elders who will rise to the occasion, not bow to the allure of money and power.
As a Nupe man, I feel this betrayal keenly not just because of our historical ties with Katsina, but because I believe in the potential of our traditional institutions to guide us through these dark times. The Emir of Daura’s endorsement of Tinubu is a reminder of how far we have strayed from that ideal.
Let it be a wake-up call, a spark for debate, and a rallying cry for those who still believe in the dignity of our heritage. We must demand better not just for Katsina, not just for the North, but for all of Nigeria.
This is maliqwrite 📝
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