The Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has called on emerging leaders to rid the nation of divisiveness and unite the people.
President Buhari made the call in Bichi, Kano State on Saturday.
In an address to the Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Ado Bayero and his people at his inaugural ceremony, read on his behalf by Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff, the President said ”the prevailing circumstances of the nation impose a demand on leaders to “display their qualities and work earnestly for continued peace and unity.”
The President said: “Your turbanning at a providential time like this in the history of our country when the prevailing social and socioeconomic conditions have created an opportunity for emerging leaders to display their qualities and work earnestly for continued peace and unity.
“Your father, my friend the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, was a symbol of unity, not only within his Kingdom but also within Northern Nigeria and the whole country.”
Going down the memory lane, President Buhari said; ”when we remember Ado Bayero, we remember unity, we remember simplicity and good leadership, a leader who devoted his life to unify the nation.
“I remember with nostalgia, the passion and commitment he always exhibited in the pursuit of anything he believed in, a distinctive character that almost cost him his life prematurely on 19th January, 2013 because of his vociferous stand against the Boko Haram terrorists.”
President Buhari expressed optimism that the new Emir would exhibit similar qualities and “even much more, as he has begun to exhibit” within the few months of his reign.
Extending his ”deep and wholehearted congratulations”, the President said ”he would continue to pray for the success of the Emir and looks forward to his contributions ‘‘to uplifting the people of his emirate and Nigerians in general.”
The leader of the Presidential delegation, Professor Gambari, who is Emir, Nasiru Ado Bayero’s uncle from his mother’s side, reaffirmed his loyalty and affinity to the Emir.
Professor Gambari described the recreation of Kano’s additional four emirates by the State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje as ‘‘wonderful, historic and innovative.”
Other members of the Presidential delegation are; the Ministers of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu as well as the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu.
VON