Nigerians, especially the elites, have been enjoined to emulate the detribalised nature of the Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji (Dr) Yahaya Abubakar CFR.
In his statement issued in Owerri on Wednesday, a prominent monarch in the South East and the traditional ruler of Umuofor Ancient Kingdom in Oguta Council Area of Imo State, HRH Eze (Dr) Chimaeze Abdulfatah Emetumah, said that Etsu Nupe, who is the Coordinating Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, is one of the patriotic monarchs with whom God Almighty has blessed Nigeria.
He described him as one of the notable Nigerians who has continued to aspire to build a new Nigeria imbued with unity, peace, and brotherhood where no one suffers from oppression or discrimination.
He said, “As a prince, he was humble and unassuming. As a soldier, he served the nation with patriotic zeal in various cadres and army formations across Nigeria and beyond. As ECOMOG Commander in Sierra Leone during their civil war, he led gallantly, applied international military rules of engagement, and most of all, took very good care of men and officers under him.”
Sheik Emetumah, a member of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, noted that Etsu Nupe left the army as a Brigadier General with impeccable service records amid many awards and medals.
He said: “On ascending the throne of the Nupe ancient kingdom as the Etsu Nupe of the great Bida Emirate, he applied the experience and administrative dexterity he acquired over the years in the military in placing Bida Emirate and indeed Niger State to enviable heights.”
He pointed out that the people of Niger State have benefited immensely from their monarch in many areas of socio-economic, religious, cultural, charity, and philanthropy, adding that his love for the educational advancement of his people and Nigerians at large led him to establish Edosoko University in Bida, Niger State.
He said, “Due to his love for Nigerians irrespective of their tribe or religion, he renders help to them and solves their problems relentlessly.”
He said, “Although his main palace is situated in Bida, Niger State, most of the time he is in Abuja, a more central place where Nigerians in need of his help can access him easily. Once he is around, hale and hearty, he will, in his usual charismatic mien, attend to each and every visitor and group in sequence.”
Describing him as a detribalised senior citizen and Nigerian, a monarch with a Midas touch worthy of emulation by all Nigerians, especially his contemporaries, Emetumah, a member of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria and the Forum of Kings in Africa, said that Etsu Nupe is a good family man, loving husband, and father to many children, both biological and adopted.
As a devout Muslim, spiritual mentor, entrepreneur, motivator, imam, and sheikh, and in admiration of his virtues, Sheik Emetumah said that this is why he named him EZINWANNE, an Igbo acronym for a Good Brother.
The Igbo traditional ruler fervently asked Allah to continue to safeguard him and bestow him with more radiant health to fulfil these divinely inspired humanitarian, religious, patriotic, kingship, and many more assignments too numerous to mention.
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE