By Ayantunde Ayangbayi, JP
In life there is nothing permanent, in fact, philosophers, historians, teachers, Islamic clerics, Christian preachers, lecturers, academicians and alike all believed and say life is transient. So on Friday 16th December, 2021, Lafiagi the headquarters of the Nupes in Kwara State witnessed a mammoth crowd that will take many years to come to witnessed again. It was the special occasion of presentation of staff of office by Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Executive Governor of Kwara State to the 14th Emir of Lafiagi Emirate of Kwara State in Northern Nigeria.
The 13th Emir, Late Alhaji Kawu Haliru passed on recently after spending 46 years on the throne, during which the Emirate witnessed peaceful co-existence& unprecedented developments in all sectors.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in his address at the occasion thanked Almighty Allah for making the day a joyous one. “We are gathered this morning for the official presentation of staff of office to His Royal Highness the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Mohammed Kawu Kudu”. Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq congratulated the great people of Lafiagi Emirate on the peaceful transition process that led to the emergence of the new Emir. He appreciated and thanked everyone for attending the ceremony.
According to him, “Your Royal Highness, today’s event serves to honour you and especially your forebears whose memorable reigns created the fertile grounds for you to emerge. I urge you to make your reign very memorable for all your subjects, indigenes and alike, corporate or individuals. May God make it easy for you and grant you long and peaceful reign.
The Governor speaking to Royal Fathers present at the occasion, he said, “Your Royal Highnesses, we thank you for all that you do to support us to keep our country secured, peaceful and in harmony. We are in a trying moment as a country. We beseech Your Royal Highnesses to continue to support governments at all levels to maintain peace among all our people. I thank the Kwara State Traditional Council led by Maimartaba the Emir of Ilorin for the wonderful job of working with us to keep the peace and tranquility inour state.
Oga Governor stated further, “On this note, your Royal Highnesses, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honour to present the 1st Class staff of office to His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mohammed Kawu Kudu, Emir of Lafiagi. I wished him a peaceful and long life on the throne of his forebears.
In his acceptance speech, the new Emir said, “I stand here today to accept, wholeheartedly, my appointment as the 14th Emir of Lafiagi. It is indeed a very long but peaceful journey to this epoch making event. “I remain grateful and humble for the special favor of Allah has bestowed on me to be chosen among hundreds of eminently qualified Princes of Lafiagi.
“My good people of Lafiagi Emirate I stand before you today to declare to the whole world that, I shall be just and fair in handling all matters brought before me. “The welfare and wellbeing of my people shall be my vision and mission. While, progress, growth and development of the Lafiagi shall be my target. “We are largely an agrarian society however we dream and yearn of being a progressive modern community where trade, commerce, manufacturing and service industries thrive. “We are going to devote out time, efforts, resources and God given skills to redirect and promote the human capital development within the emirate squarely.
In a media chat with diverse citizens of Lafiagi Emirate at the special occasion they all seem to speak with one voice that the new monarch should continue to be respectful, magnanimous in victory by extending the hands of friendship to other contestants and operating an open door policy, which will bring many closer to him.
This journalist is highly encouraged with the epoch-making ceremony that was witnessed by thousands of people across the divide; the downtrodden registered their presence by making the day a work free day. No doubt His Royal Highness Alh. Mohammed Kudu Kawu, the 14th Emirate of Lafiagi Emirate is well acceptable, respected and loved by all and sundry.
This writer is also happy on the basis that the state traditional council under the Chairmanship of His Royal Highness Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, CFR a jurist of historic stature, learned and discipline is counter populated with professionals and technocrats, successful businessmen and amiable personalities who can advise government on its policies to achieved desired results. So the new Emir will leverage on this to add value to governance.Also, the government and his people look forward to see cordial relationship that will bring about more dividends of democracy to nook and crannies of his emirate.
As a change agent of our time the contributions of His Royal Highness, Alh. Mohammed Kudu Kawu, Emir of Lafiagi, his suggestions and innovations will go along to confirm the confidence his people and government has in him. His tenure should uphold trust, public confidence and credibility among his people, subjects, chiefs, traditional little holders, sons and daughters of Lafiagi Emirate so that everyone will be carried along in the scheme of things.
As the 14th Emir marches on… it’s our fervent prayers that Almighty Allah will guide and guard its steps aright, grant him peace of mind, good health, courage, wisdom, better understanding and all round mercies in the discharge of his duties effectively, Amiin.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State; Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi; Senator representing Kwara North Senatorial District, Senator Sadiq Umar; former Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Muhammed Shaaba Lafiagi were among the distinguished personalities at the coronation and official presentation of Staff of Office to the 14th Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Kawu recently. The special event that took place at the Lafiagi township stadium also had in attendance the Secretary to Kwara State Government, Professor Mamman Saba Jibril; Kwara State Commissioner for Education, Barr. Senior Ibrahim Sulaiman and the Group General Manager, Head Business Development, BUA Group, Mr. Tajudeen Ahmed. Etsu Eggan, Alhaji Umar Al-Hassan was also at the ceremony.
His Royal Highness, Alh Mohammed Kudu Kawu was born on 28th May 1969 to the family of late Mallam Abubakar Kawu, a Lafiagi Prince and Hajia Ramatu Mamudu, the daughter of late Alhaji Ndagi Mamudu, the Waziri of Agaie, Niger State and former Minister of Water Resources under the late President Shehu Shagari Administration.
His late father was a Deputy Registrar at A.B.U. Zaria. Therefore, the new Emir grew up within the vicinity of the University campus at Zaria where he acquired his education from Primary to the Tertiary levels. A highly experienced Business Executive, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Kawu who previously held the title of Ubandoman Lafiagi, worked for over 20 years in the Banking and Financial Services Sector, rising through various roles to Senior Leadership position. His banking career started with Chartered Bank in 1997 till 2000. He was in Ecobank, Kano branch (2000-2001), from where he moved to Prudent Bank as an Assistant Manager in 2001. He became a Manager in 2006 when the bank metamorphosed into Skye Bank. By 2017 he had risen to the position of Regional Director (North Region) at Polaris Bank PLC (former Skye Bank). He assumed the role of a Regional Executive, supervising Business development for all branches in the North and Abuja for Wema Bank.
He was a Deputy General Manager at Wema Bank until his appointment as the 14th Emir of Lafiagi. A dedicated, transformational and visionary community leader, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Kawu has, over the years, envisioned, inspired and delivered various initiatives aimed at uplifting lives and communities across Lafiagi Emirate and environs, including investing in education support for orphans and the less privileged members of the society.
His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mohammed Kudu’s track record of service to humanity has always been shaped by, and continues to be founded in his faith and commitment to promoting harmony, tolerance and peaceful co-existence within and across communities in the Emirate.
An inter-generational bridge-builder, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Kudu Kawu is a role model to the youths as well as the entire good people of Lafiagi Emirate and a strong advocate of the place of tradition and faith in modernizing and improving society for the good of all.
His Royal Highness, Alhaji Kudu Kawu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University (A.B.U), Zaria and advanced degrees in Business Administration, Islamic Banking & Finance from A.B.U. Zaria and Bayero University, Kano, respectively. He is also an Alumnus of the renowned Lagos Business School where he attended a Senior Management Program. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. The new Emir is happily married with children.
May the reign of the 14th Emir of Lafiagi Emir, His Royal Highness Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Kawu who dress well without colour riot continue to be peaceful, progressive and multi beneficial to the Nupes, mankind and the entire country, Amiin.
BAAAAAGANDOZHI !!!
Congratulations Sir!!!
Ayangbayi, JP is a Media Consultant based in Ilorin, Kwara State, NIGERIA.
