Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa

Alhaji Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissapronunciation^ⓘ (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.^[1] The Emir (or Moi in the local language) is head of the Bole people.^[2]

Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa
Emir of Fika
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 March 2009
Preceded by	Abali Ibn Muhammadu
Personal details
Born	(1956-08-14) 14 August 1956 (age 67) Potiskum, Yobe State, Nigeria

Early years

Muhammad Abali was born in Potiskum on 14 August 1956, the eldest son of Alhaji Abali Ibn Muhammadu, the 12th Emir. 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.^[1] He then attended the City University London, gaining a master's degree from the Department of Sociology in 1983.^[3]

Returning to Nigeria, Muhammad Abali 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.^[4]

Emir

Muhammad Abali was given the title of Yeriman Fika in 2002, and on 28 February 2009 was turbaned as the District Head of Potiskum.^[4] Muhammad Abali 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.^[1] 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.^[5][6] 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.^[7]

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.^[8] 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.^[9] 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.^[10] 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.^[11]

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.^[12] 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.^[13][14] 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.^[15]

Chancellor of UNIOYO

In April 2010 Idrissa was appointed the 3rd Chancellor of the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State. He succeeded his father, Alhaji Abali Muhammadu Idrissa, who was the 2nd Chancellor of the University.^[16] 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".^[17] He called on the Federal government to make education a national priority and to help the university achieve these ends.^[18]

Awards

In October 2022, a Nigerian national honor of Commander Of The Order Of The Federal Republic (CFR) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.^[19]

References

1. Michael Olugbode (17 March 2009). "Fika Gets New Emir". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
2. P. Benton (1968). The Languages and Peoples of Bornu: Notes on Some Languages of Western Sudan. Routledge. p. 22. ISBN 0-7146-1635-4.
3. "Sociology Alumni Success". City University London. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
4. Mohammed Abubakar (21 April 2010). "Fika Emir Becomes Uyo Varsity Chancellor". Daily Independent. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
5. Roger Blench; Selbut Longtau; Umar Hassan; Martin Walsh (9 November 2006). "The Role of Traditional Rulers in Conflict Prevention and Mediation in Nigeria" (PDF). DFID, Nigeria. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
6. Mohammed Abubakar (12 May 2010). "As Potiskum Stands Still for Fika's Emir (2)". Daily Independent. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
7. Hamza Idris (23 April 2010). "Emir of Fika gets 1st class staff of office". Weekly Trust. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
8. Isa Umar Gusau; Mustapha Isah Kwaru; Ahmad Salkida; Hamza Idris; Ja'afar Ja'afar (28 July 2009). "Sect Violence Spreads in North - Deaths - Borno 100, Kano Three, Yobe Two". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
9. "Live in peace, Emir urges Yobe residents". Nigerian Compass. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
10. Mohammed Abubakar (2 June 2010). "Fika Monarch Sues for Peace". Daily Independent. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
11. Samuel Aruwan (8 August 2010). "Emir Tasks Religious Leaders on Peaceful Co-Existence". Leadership. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
12. Mohammed Abubakar (7 March 2010). "'Improper Planning Triggered Potiskum Market Fire Incident'". Daily Independent. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
13. "We can't develop without peace –Emir of Fika". Nigerian Compass. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
14. Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen (9 June 2010). "Emir of Fika Urges Constitutional Role for Traditional Rulers". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
15. "When there is problem government comes to us, when solved they leave, says Emir of Fika". Peoples Daily. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
16. "University of Uyo Gets New Chancellor". Akwa Ibom State Government. 13 Apr 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
17. Okon Bassey (20 April 2010). "Jonathan Tasks Chancellors On Devt, Discipline". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
18. Okon Bassey (12 April 2010). "Don't Neglect Education Sector, Chancellor Tells FG". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
19. "FULL LIST: 2022 National Honours Award Recipients The Nation Newspaper". 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2022-10-27.