From Yahaya Audu, Bauchi
Former Minister of Special Duties who double as the Wazirin Bauchi, Alhaji Bello Kirfi has been sacked by the Emir of Bauchi Alhaji (Dr) Riwan Adamu for disrespect and grouse misconduct.
This was contained in a press release dated March 6, 2017 and copy made available to newsmen in the states
According to the release “His Royal Highness, The Emir of Bauchi Alhaji (Dr) Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu, has permanently suspended Alhaji Mohammadu Bello Kirfi as Wazirin Bauchi and member of the Bauchi emirate council with immediate effect”.
The press release further states that the suspension was due to the Waziri’s unsatisfactory conduct and disloyalty to the Bauchi emirate.
Though the press release did not specifically mention the nature of the “unsatisfactory conduct” that led to the termination of Waziri appointment as the Wazirin Bauchi but a source close to the palace said the reason for the suspension was as a result of disrespect by Waziri at last Friday’s Jua’at prayer at the central mosques Bauch.
Our source who pleaded anonymity said “ when the Waziri came into the mosque, he saw Alhaji Adamu Aliyu (The Walin Katagum) sitting close to the emir of Bauchi, which was supposedly his position. The Waziri felt it was not right and promptly reprimanded the Wali and as the Wali made to change his position, the emir of Bauchi held his hand and asked him to remain seated. The action of the emir, according to our source, led the Waziri to rebuke him, telling him that it is not right for the emir to act the way he did because it is tantamount to bringing disrespect to the Bauchi emirate council.
Our source at Bauchi emirate council quoted the Waziri as saying “Can Adamu Aliyu (Walin Katagum) have the courage and temerity to sit as close to emir of Katagum as he did to emir of Bauchi?”
Our source further hinted that the Emir of Bauchi was furious with the public outburst of the Waziri and directed the immediate and permanent suspension of the Waziri in order to assert his authority.
All attempt to reach the Waziri for a reaction proved futile as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile there was mixed reactions by Bauchi residents over the suspension of the elderly traditional title holder. Mallam Lawan Yusuf a resident in Bauchi said though it’s a sad situation for the emirate council but if “what was alleged happened between the Emir and the Waziri at Juma’at mosque actually transpired, then the Waziri in my opinion has erred because one cannot talk publicly to a head of a traditional institution like Bauchi Emirate and expect to get away with it”.
Another resident Mallam Mohammad Shehu Ilelah saw nothing wrong in what was alleged the Waziri did that led to his suspension. He said “ in my view, the Waziri was trying to bring respect to the emirate council and that the public reprimand of the Walin Katagum will deter others from making such attempts in future”.
