By Abbas Bamalli
Katsina, Dec. 16, 2025 (NAN)
In a significant move to formalize and strengthen traditional governance structures, Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has officially inaugurated the state’s Council of Emirs. This body, which consolidates the influence and administrative roles of the state’s foremost traditional rulers, is designed to serve as a critical bridge between the government, the people, and centuries-old cultural institutions.
Governor Radda announced the council’s leadership during the inauguration ceremony in Katsina on Tuesday. Alhaji Abdulmuminu Kabir-Usman, the Emir of Katsina, was appointed as Chairman, a position that underscores the historic primacy of the Katsina Emirate. Alhaji Faruk Umar-Faruk, the Emir of Daura, was named Co-Chairman, reflecting the importance of the Daura Emirate, famously known as the ancestral home of the Hausa people. The administrative core was completed with the appointment of Sen. Ibrahim Idah, the Wazirin Katsina, as Secretary and Alhaji Sada Salisu-Ruma, the Danwairen Katsina, as Assistant Secretary.
The council’s composition is notably comprehensive, aiming for broad representation. Its membership extends beyond the royal fathers to include:
- All King-makers from across the state’s emirates, ensuring the voices that shape traditional succession are heard.
- Various traditional title holders and respected non-title holders, incorporating community elders and influencers.
- Key state officials, including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abdullahi Faskari, ensuring direct alignment with the government’s executive arm.
- Prominent individuals such as Alhaji Dahiru Barau-Mangal, Baba Buhari Walin Daura, Sheikh Yakubu Musa, Sheikh Naziru Kofar-Waru, and Abdul’aziz Abdul’aziz, representing a blend of commercial, religious, and civic leadership.
Governor Radda outlined a robust and multifaceted mandate for the council, transforming it from a ceremonial body into an active partner in governance. Its core functions are:
- Advisory Role on Governance: To counsel the governor on matters pertaining to Islamic and customary laws, cultural affairs, and inter-communal relationships. This formalizes a traditional conduit for applying indigenous knowledge to modern statecraft.
- Security and Public Order: The council is empowered to assist in maintaining peace and security “upon request.” This is particularly crucial for Katsina, a state grappling with security challenges, where the moral authority and local intelligence networks of traditional rulers can be pivotal.
- Community and Economic Development: The council is tasked with assisting traditional institutions in community development and supporting tax authorities. This leverages the trust in emirate systems to enhance civic participation and revenue generation.
- Environmental Stewardship: A forward-looking mandate includes assisting in forest conservation, environmental protection, and supervising community sanitation. This aligns traditional community mobilization methods with contemporary environmental concerns.
In his remarks, the newly appointed Secretary, Sen. Ibrahim Idah, who spoke on behalf of the council, commended Governor Radda for the trust reposed in them. He pledged the council’s full support and commitment to protecting the interests of the emirate councils, the state government, and the citizens at large.
Analysis: The inauguration of this council represents more than a procedural event; it is a strategic integration of traditional authority into the state’s administrative framework. By granting it responsibilities in security, taxation, and environmental management, Governor Radda is arguably seeking to enhance governance reach and legitimacy at the grassroots level. The success of this model will depend on the clarity of the operational relationship between the council and the state’s modern bureaucracy, and its ability to deliver tangible improvements in security and community welfare. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
AABS/HA
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
