Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa
Encyclopedia
Alhaji Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa (born 14 August 1956) was appointed 13th Emir, or traditional ruler
, of the Fika Emirate
on 16 March 2009. The emir's palace is in Potiskum
, Yobe State
, Nigeria
.
The Emir (or Moi in the local language) is head of the Bole people.
He attended Kaduna Capital School (1963–1969), Barewa College
, Zaria
(1970–1974) and Land Dowel Tutors College in the United Kingdom
(1975–1977).
He went on to North Staffordshire Polytechnic (1977–1980) earning a Bachelor's degree in Modern Studies.
He then attended the City University London, gaining a Masters degree from the Department of Sociology in 1983.
Returning to Nigeria, Idrissa worked for a short period at the Owena Bank, Kano
as a graduate trainee.
He then joined the Nigerian Security Organization, serving in various departments including the Operations and Counter Espionage Units, and rising to the position of Senior Security/Intelligence Officer at the National Headquarters in Lagos
.
Resigning from the State Security Service in June 1991, he founded a firm that supplies security-related equipment and services.
He was Chief Security Officer of the Nigerian Railway Corporation from December 1998 to June 2007, and then Security Coordinator for Total/Elf
at the Abuja
Office.
Idrissa became emir in succession to his father in March 2009 after the Governor of Yobe State, Ibrahim Geidam
, selected his name from a list of three candidates presented by the Fika Emirate kingmakers.
Although the 13th Emir since the current Emirate was founded in 1805 during the upheavals of the Fulani jihad, the Emir counts as 43rd Emir according to the traditions of his people, who trace the emirate back to the 15th century.
In April 2010 Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam presented a first class Staff of Office to Idrissa, who was also Chairman of the Yobe State Council of Chiefs. The ceremony was presided over by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III. Notable attendees included governors Ali Modu Sheriff
of Borno
, Danjuma Goje of Gombe
, Danbaba Suntai
of Taraba
and Murtala Nyako
of Adamawa
.
In July 2009 about 50 fanatics of the fundamentalist Boko Haram
sect attacked police in Potiskum. Many women and children sought refuge in the Emir's palace. The Emir said the police were not in any way to blame for the violence.
In November 2009, in his Sallah message to the people of Yobe State the Emir called on the heterogeneous community to live with one another peacefully and harmoniously.
In May 2010, while turbanning three district heads at his palace, he again called on his subjects to live in harmony and support the government regardless of their religious, tribal or political affiliation.
Talking to journalists in August 2010, the Emir called on religious leaders to prevent the spread of violence and to report groups that were likely to cause trouble to the authorities.
After a major fire in Potiskum market destroyed about 210 shops and all their goods in March 2010, the Emir placed the blame on the Potiskum Local Council for failing to spend revenue from the market on improvements that would reduce the risk of fire.
In December 2009, and again in June 2010 he said that traditional rulers should have a constitutional role, acting as advisors to the government over day to day issues.
In an August 2010 interview he noted that the government often called on traditional rulers to resolve emergency issues such as the Boko Haram violence, and the constitution should therefore give them a more formal advisory position.
in Akwa Ibom State.
He succeeded his father, Alhaji Abali Muhammadu Idrissa, who was the 2nd Chancellor of the University.
Speaking at his installation, during which he received an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters, the Emir responded to a statement by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan
calling for efforts to improve university results. He said "the university must adopt a global perception if we must catch up with the Millennium Development Goals
".
He called on the Federal government to make education a national priority and to help the university achieve these ends.
Nigerian traditional rulers
Nigerian traditional rulers often derive their titles from the rulers of independent states or communities that existed before the formation of modern Nigeria...
, of the Fika Emirate
Fika Emirate
The Fika Emirate is a traditional state with headquarters in Potiskum, Yobe State, Nigeria.Dr. Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa received his staff of office as 43rd Emir of Fika from Yobe governor Ibrahim Gaidam on 12 May 2010....
on 16 March 2009. The emir's palace is in Potiskum
Potiskum
Potiskum is a Local Government Area in Yobe State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Potiskum on the A3 highway at.It has an area of 559 km² and a population of 205,876 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 631....
, Yobe State
Yobe State
Yobe State is a state located in Northern Nigeria. A mainly agricultural state, it was created on August 27, 1991. Yobe state was carved out of present-day Borno State. The capital of Yobe state is Damaturu.-Geography:...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
The Emir (or Moi in the local language) is head of the Bole people.
Early years
Idrissa was born in Potiskum on 14 August 1956, eldest son of Alhaji Abali Ibn Muhammadu, the 12th Emir.He attended Kaduna Capital School (1963–1969), Barewa College
Barewa College
Barewa College is a college in Zaria, Kaduna State, northern Nigeria. Founded in 1922 by British Governor General Hugh Clifford, it was originally known as "Katsina College." It switched its name to "Kaduna College" in 1938 and then "Government College, Zaria" in 1949 before settling on "Barewa...
, Zaria
Zaria
Zaria may refer to:*Zaria, a city in Kaduna State, Nigeria*Zaria , or Zoria, the Slavic goddess of beauty*Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg, a member of the Dutch royal family...
(1970–1974) and Land Dowel Tutors College in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(1975–1977).
He went on to North Staffordshire Polytechnic (1977–1980) earning a Bachelor's degree in Modern Studies.
He then attended the City University London, gaining a Masters degree from the Department of Sociology in 1983.
Returning to Nigeria, Idrissa worked for a short period at the Owena Bank, Kano
Kano
Kano is a city in Nigeria and the capital of Kano State in Northern Nigeria. Its metropolitan population is the second largest in Nigeria after Lagos. The Kano Urban area covers 137 sq.km and comprises six Local Government Area - Kano Municipal, Fagge, Dala, Gwale, Tarauni and Nassarawa - with a...
as a graduate trainee.
He then joined the Nigerian Security Organization, serving in various departments including the Operations and Counter Espionage Units, and rising to the position of Senior Security/Intelligence Officer at the National Headquarters in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
.
Resigning from the State Security Service in June 1991, he founded a firm that supplies security-related equipment and services.
He was Chief Security Officer of the Nigerian Railway Corporation from December 1998 to June 2007, and then Security Coordinator for Total/Elf
Total S.A.
Total S.A. is a French multinational oil company and one of the six "Supermajor" oil companies in the world.Its businesses cover the entire oil and gas chain, from crude oil and natural gas exploration and production to power generation, transportation, refining, petroleum product marketing, and...
at the Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
Office.
Emir
Idrissa was given the title of Yeriman Fika in 2002, and on 28 February 2009 was turbaned as the District Head of Potiskum.Idrissa became emir in succession to his father in March 2009 after the Governor of Yobe State, Ibrahim Geidam
Ibrahim Geidam
Ibrahim Geidam was sworn in as Executive Governor of Yobe State, Nigeria on January 27, 2009.He was elected on 26 April 2011 for a second term as governor.-Background:...
, selected his name from a list of three candidates presented by the Fika Emirate kingmakers.
Although the 13th Emir since the current Emirate was founded in 1805 during the upheavals of the Fulani jihad, the Emir counts as 43rd Emir according to the traditions of his people, who trace the emirate back to the 15th century.
In April 2010 Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam presented a first class Staff of Office to Idrissa, who was also Chairman of the Yobe State Council of Chiefs. The ceremony was presided over by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III. Notable attendees included governors Ali Modu Sheriff
Ali Modu Sheriff
Ali Modu Sheriff was elected governor of Borno State in Nigeria in April 2003. He is a member of the All Nigeria People's Party .Ali Sheriff was the first governor in Borno state to win the seat two consecutive times.-Background:...
of Borno
Borno State
Borno State is a state in north-eastern Nigeria. Its capital is Maiduguri. The state was formed in 1976 from the split of the North-Eastern State...
, Danjuma Goje of Gombe
Gombe State
Gombe State, located in the northeastern part of Nigeria, is one of the country's 36 states; its capital is Gombe. The boundaries of the state roughly correspond to those of the Gombe Emirate,a traditional state.[2]...
, Danbaba Suntai
Danbaba Suntai
Danbaba Danfulani Suntai is a pharmacist who was elected as Executive Governor of Taraba State, Nigeria running for the People's Democratic Party in April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May 2007....
of Taraba
Taraba State
Taraba State is a state of Nigeria, named after the Taraba River which traverses the southern part of the state. Taraba's capital is Jalingo.-History:...
and Murtala Nyako
Murtala Nyako
Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako , GCON, CFR: rcds, D.Agric. was elected Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Nigeria, taking office in May 2007....
of Adamawa
Adamawa State
Adamawa is a state in northeastern Nigeria, with its capital at Yola. It was formed in 1991 from part of Gongola State with four administrative divisions namely: Adamawa, Ganye, Mubi and Numan. It is one of the thirty-six States which constitute the Federal Republic of Nigeria.-Geography:Adamawa...
.
In July 2009 about 50 fanatics of the fundamentalist Boko Haram
Boko Haram
Boko Haram is a Nigerian Islamist group that seeks the imposition of Shariah law throughout the whole of Nigeria. The group presently has an undefined structure and chain of command...
sect attacked police in Potiskum. Many women and children sought refuge in the Emir's palace. The Emir said the police were not in any way to blame for the violence.
In November 2009, in his Sallah message to the people of Yobe State the Emir called on the heterogeneous community to live with one another peacefully and harmoniously.
In May 2010, while turbanning three district heads at his palace, he again called on his subjects to live in harmony and support the government regardless of their religious, tribal or political affiliation.
Talking to journalists in August 2010, the Emir called on religious leaders to prevent the spread of violence and to report groups that were likely to cause trouble to the authorities.
After a major fire in Potiskum market destroyed about 210 shops and all their goods in March 2010, the Emir placed the blame on the Potiskum Local Council for failing to spend revenue from the market on improvements that would reduce the risk of fire.
In December 2009, and again in June 2010 he said that traditional rulers should have a constitutional role, acting as advisors to the government over day to day issues.
In an August 2010 interview he noted that the government often called on traditional rulers to resolve emergency issues such as the Boko Haram violence, and the constitution should therefore give them a more formal advisory position.
Chancellor of UNIOYO
In April 2010 Idrissa was appointed the 3rd Chancellor of the University of UyoUniversity of Uyo
The University of Uyo is located in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.The university was formerly known as the University of Cross River State . On October 1, 1991 the federal government of Nigeria established it as a federal university and the name was changed to the University of Uyo...
in Akwa Ibom State.
He succeeded his father, Alhaji Abali Muhammadu Idrissa, who was the 2nd Chancellor of the University.
Speaking at his installation, during which he received an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters, the Emir responded to a statement by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON is the 14th Head of State and current President of Nigeria.He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the...
calling for efforts to improve university results. He said "the university must adopt a global perception if we must catch up with the Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
".
He called on the Federal government to make education a national priority and to help the university achieve these ends.