By MUSTAPHA YAURI

The remains of the late Emir of Zazzau, Alhaj Shehu Idris has been laid to rest at his palace in Zaria besides some past emirs of the emirate.

The funeral prayers was led by the Chief Imam of Zazzau Emirate, Alhaji Dalhatu Kasimu in the palace at about 5:35pm, attended by thousands of people.

Among those in attendance were Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufa’i, Secretary to the state government, Balarabe Lawal-Abbas, Speaker of the State Assembly, Yusuf Zailani and other top government functionaries.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Amb. Ibrahim Gambari led the federal government delegation, consisted of Aviation Minister, Sen. Hadi Sirika, Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.

Also at the palace was the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, and heads of military and paramilitary formations in Kaduna state.

News Agency of Nigeri (NAN) recalls that the Waziri of Zazzau, Malam Ibrahim Muhammad, confirmed the death of Alhaji Shehu Idris, the 18th Emir of Zazzau and the Chairman, Kaduna State Council of Chiefs to NAN in Zaria.

The Emir died at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna in the early hours of Sunday at the age of 84.

Shehu Idris was coronated the Emir of Zazzau on February 15, 1975, and has ruled Zazzau emirate for 45 years, before his death.

NAN observed that the death of emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris has thrown the entire people of the emirate into tears and mourning.

The corpse of the late Paramount ruler arrived the Palace from Kaduna at about 2.45pm.

The palace that was filled to capacity by friends, relatives and well wishers patiently waiting to pay their last respect to the late emir, bursted into tears when the corpse arrived the palace.

The 18th Fulani Emir of Zazzau, late Idris, ascended the throne on February 8, 1975 following the demise of Alhaji Muhammadu Aminu, the 17th Emir of Zazzau.

In 1958, he was a teacher at a school in Hunkuyi and then taught at a few other schools in Zaria. Thereafter, he left the teaching profession.

In the 1960s, he was a private secretary to Sarkin Zazzau, Muhammadu Aminu, and was also appointed as the Secretary to Zaria Native Authority council in 1965.

In 1973, he was bestowed the title of Dan Madamin Zaria and appointed the district head of Zaria and Kewaye.

Idris succeeded Sarki Aminu in 1975. On January 10, 2015 he celebrated his 40 years coronation anniversary, and marked his 45th anniversary on February 8, 2020. (NAN)

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