AMADU, FIVE YEARS ON THE THRONE: Between Destiny Fulfilled and Persistent Opposition in Zazzau – VI (a)

Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli

His Highness, the 19th Emir of Zazzau, Five Years On

Read Bamalli’s Fifth Year Anniversary Chronicles Here:

AMADU, FIVE YEARS ON THE THRONE – I

AMADU, FIVE YEARS ON THE THRONE – II

AMADU, FIVE YEARS ON THE THRONE – III

AMADU, FIVE YEARS ON THE THRONE – IV

AMADU, FIVE YEARS ON THE THRONE – V

AMADU, FIVE YEARS ON THE THRONE – V(b)

The Folly of Entitlement and the Futility of Opposition in Zazzau

Thus, Amadu’s five-year reign is not merely an anniversary—it is a crossroads. His leadership embodies the story of destiny fulfilled, yet legitimacy contested; a crown secured, yet still shadowed by dissent. Opposition, for him, is both peril and possibility: a challenge to authority, yet also an opportunity to transform resistance into reconciliation, division into unity, scepticism into loyalty, and turmoil into progress.

And in this delicate balance, his record of unprecedented development stands out—the nurturing of human capital through expanded educational opportunities and empowerment initiatives; the transformation of the landscape through modern infrastructure, from roads and healthcare facilities to revitalised palaces and community centres; and the strengthening of social bonds through cultural revival, conflict mediation, and inclusive festivals that bridge divides. These achievements are both his shield and his trial: proof of vision on one hand, and a test of endurance on the other.

Five years on, he remains both symbol and paradox: the emblem of destiny fulfilled, yet the reminder of legitimacy contested; legally unassailable, yet politically challenged; enthroned by right, yet shadowed by resistance.

It is upon this paradox that this segment asks not how the crown was won, but how it is worn—whether the crown, once a trophy of conflict, can be turned into a banner of unity and achievement, and whether the weight of history can be transformed into the promise of transformation.

For the chronicles of his reign have cemented his rule through vision and inclusiveness. This segment seeks to correct the erroneous assumptions of those opposing Ahmed Bamalli, especially the princes of Zazzau.

What the opposition often fails to grasp is that the milestones achieved by kings and chief executives are not measured solely by their personal actions or inactions. Their accomplishments as princes or subordinates end the very moment they ascend to leadership. From that point forward, their legacies are defined not merely by individual deeds, but by the institutions they strengthen, the visions they inspire, the people they mobilise, and the blessings their reigns or tenures attract—whether human or divine, as presidents, governors, chairmen, or heads of autonomous institutions and organisations.

This principle is not new; it finds deep roots in African traditions. The chronicles of a king’s reign are never measured solely by the deeds he performs with his own hands. They embrace both the things he could have done but chose not to, whether hindered by opposition or denied by those who refused to contribute their quota. They also include the events beyond his control—natural disasters, conflicts, or calamities that mark his era. The reign of a monarch is thus seen as a tapestry woven from blessings and misfortunes alike—glories achieved and challenges endured, victories celebrated and scars remembered.

All of these affect not only the king but also the kingdom. In their error, those who oppose Bamalli think they are undoing him; unfortunately, they have only become cogs in the wheel slowing Zazzau’s progress and development.

To understand the milestones of any reign, one must recognise the philosophy of African leadership, which teaches that a king is both an actor and a symbol. He embodies the collective destiny of his people, bearing not only their triumphs but also their trials. His legacy is inseparable from the totality of his times—whether in peace or turbulence, abundance or scarcity, calamity or prosperity.

Equally, no ruler governs in isolation. Every reign draws upon four critical pillars of human resources. First, there are the outstanding personalities whose wisdom and leadership skills enable the monarch to delegate authority with confidence. Second, the learned class—the scholars, experts, and intelligentsia, including religious leaders who guide the moral compass of society. Third, the bourgeois class—the wealthy, the merchants, and entrepreneurs whose economic strength sustains the prosperity of the realm. And fourth, the vibrant energy of the youth, whose dynamism shapes both the present and the promise of the future.

It is within this holistic frame that the true achievements of Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, the 19th Emir of Zazzau, must be captured and assessed. I will address this in the next segment of this chronicle, because his five years on the throne cannot be reduced to a list of projects or events. It must be viewed holistically—within a broader narrative of leadership tested by destiny, enriched by the contributions of many, and defined by the interplay of human effort and divine providence.

Presently, let me address the persistent dissent and opposition. Notably, the opposition to Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli by some princes and other persons in Zaria is misplaced, because the throne of Zazzau, ab initio, was never meant for one ruling house. Each ruling house has had its turn. The Bereberi, for instance, are the greatest beneficiaries—not only by producing the highest number of Emirs and spending the longest period on the throne, with nine Emirs and 94 years of reign—but also by enjoying consecutive successions: the 4th and 5th Emirs succeeded each other, as did the 11th and 12th, and the 14th, 15th, and 16th Emirs. No other dynasty in Zazzau has enjoyed this singular privilege.

Even so, each dynasty has had its fair share of the throne. The Katsinawa, though having produced only four Emirs, collectively ruled Zazzau for 73 years, with a remarkable 71-year interregnum between their reigns. They too enjoyed consecutive succession—the 17th and 18th Emirs following one another. The Mallawa, despite being the founders of Fulani rule in Zazzau, have had only five Emirs, whose combined reigns spanned a mere 33 years—less than half of the Katsinawa’s tenure and barely a third of the Bereberi’s. Dethronement, too, was no respecter of lineage: the Mallawa were dethroned twice, the Bereberi three times, and the Katsinawa once, while the sole Emir of the Sullubawa met a tragic end through assassination.

This history underscores a crucial truth: the throne of Zazzau owes allegiance to no single dynasty. It is not the inheritance of a bloodline, but the sacred trust of a people. All ruling houses are bound to the throne by shared heritage and collective responsibility to preserve its sanctity and sustain its legacy. Persistent resistance by any faction, therefore, undermines not merely the Emir but the very soul and progress of the Emirate itself. Such opposition is nothing short of self-inflicted injury—an act of self-stabbing, wounding the present and crippling the collective future. It was this very wisdom that, in times past, restrained dissent and ensured that opposition seldom lingered beyond the moment of coronation.

As we pause at the close of this first part of Segment VI in the five-year chronicles of Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, it becomes clear that understanding the throne of Zazzau requires more than counting Emirs or tallying years—it demands insight into the delicate interplay of leadership, opposition, and the shared responsibilities of all ruling houses.

The throne of Zazzau is not the prize of a single dynasty, nor the plaything of prideful ambition. It is a living symbol of collective destiny, tested by opposition, sharpened by rivalry, and sustained by those who comprehend its sacred weight.

In the next segment, we shall delve deeper into how Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli has upheld the dignity, authority, and progress of the Emirate with unwavering vision, despite persistent dissent. We shall witness how the currents of envy and entitlement clash with his steadfast leadership, and how Bamalli navigates these storms to safeguard not just a crown, but the honour, unity, and prosperity of an entire Emirate. The story continues—where strategy meets opposition, resolve confronts resistance, and the destiny of Zazzau is charted unrelentingly under the stewardship of its 19th Emir.

Prepare to witness how Bamalli turns challenge into triumph, opposition into opportunity, and a contested throne into a beacon of unity and progress for all of Zazzau.

– To be continued –