ALHAJI Umar Muhammadu Kabir Umar (Baba Umar), the eldest son of the late Emir Muhammadu Kabir Umar, has emerged the 12th Emir of Katagum.
The Bauchi State governor, Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar, approved the appointment of Umar, while the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Muhammad Nadada Umar, conveyed the governor’s approval to the Emir and members of the Katagum Emirate Council, on Friday.
Immediately after the governor’s approval, Alhaji Umar was turbaned as the 12th Emir of Katagum to succeed his father who died last Saturday after a prolonged illness.
A palace source from Azare told Saturday Tribune that the new Emir, popularly called Baba Umar Faruk, got four out of the five votes cast by the kingmakers of Katagum Emirate to beat two of his contenders, thereby becoming the Deputy Chairman of Bauchi State Council of Traditional Rulers.
The new Emir retired as Permanent Secretary in the federal civil service recently and was, until his ascension to the throne, the District Head of Shira (Sarkin Shira), which is reserved for the eldest son of any reigning emir, in line with the tradition of the Emirate.
The palace source told Saturday Tribune that a former Military Administrator of Sokoto State under the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Yakubu Mu’azu, got one vote while a one-time Permanent Secretary in the Sports Commission and former Managing Director of Arewa Hotels, Alhaji Lele Mukhtar, got no vote from the five kingmakers.
As soon as the news of the selection filtered out, enthusiastic people trooped to the palace in Azare to witness the turbaning, which was performed by the Chief Imam of Azare.
Katagum Emirate is next to Bauchi Emirate in terms of population and size. It is made up of six local government areas out of the 20 that make up Bauchi State.
Katagum is the headquarters of Bauchi North Senatorial District and as well as the centre of all social and political activities in the state.
Katagum is bordered by Borno State in the North East and in the West by Kano State. The hottest period in Katagum is in March and April, while August is the coldest. The people are predominantly Muslims, just as Christianity also has a strong presence there.
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