By Rayyanu Bala News of death of Emir of Lafia, Alhaji (Dr) Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 on Thursday 10 January 2019 came to the people of Lafia in particular, Nasarawa state and the nation in general like a thunderbolt. But as people of faith, we were all consoled with the fact that life and death belongs to God; He gives and takes at a time He wishes. However the article below was written by me when the late Emir
Alh (Dr) Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 marked his 40 years on
the throne four years ago and was reproduced when he celebrated his 44 years in May last. The 44 years celebration was marked silently except for the
prayers to Al-mighty Allah which he organized, I decided to re-produced the piece again as a tribute to our departed Emir.
<<<<<Lafia the Nasarawa state capital will today witness the coming
together of personalities from varied backgrounds whom by all standard could
be regarded as shrewd. These caliber of people would throng Lafia from
every nooks and crannies of Nigeria and beyond to personally grace the
celebration of 40 years on the throne of Lafia Emirate Council by His
Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr) Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 the 16th Emir of Lafia
whom palace jesters fondly referred to as Isa Dan-Halima.
Today’s occasion will, as well, witness the conferment of prestigious
traditional title of Barde Babba of Lafia on General T. Y Danjuma and
his wife, Senator Daisy Danjuma as Aminiyar Lafia by His Royal the
Emir of Lafia as part of line-up activities for the celebration of his
40 years on the throne.
This gathering of crème de la crème in Lafia will for many years to come
be remember due to its significance, as the occasion promises to
not only be flamboyant but ambitious.
Of course, the celebrant His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr) Isa Mustapha
Agwai 1 is by no means a benevolent ruler whose reign as Emir, from
all angles we look at it, is an exemplification of kindness and
compassion which knows no bounds. The Emir treats all his subjects as one,
regardless of tribe, religion or creed, hence the respect he attracted
from the old and the young, the rich and the poor.
To us in Nasarawa state, His Royal Highness (Dr) Isa Mustapha
epitomizes a tireless ruler whose only passion in life is to see to
the betterment of his people, through peaceful and harmonious
co-existence.
For the benefit of hindsight, since his ascension to the throne as
16th Emir of Lafia, precisely 40 years ago, His Royal Highness (Dr)
Isa Mustapha never shied away from his responsibilities entrusted upon
him as paramount ruler of Lafia just as he never shivered from
confronting whoever impinged on the path of his people’s progress and
development. It is precisely against this backdrop that many see or
refer him as the ‘earthmover’ of our time
Even though this writer was only 12 years or there about when His
Royal Highness (Dr) Isa Mustapha ascended the throne but from the
narration given by our elders, Dr Isa Mustapha is the first paramount
ruler of Lafia who is said to have, right from onset, conquered the
fear usually associated with revered stool of Lafia emirate.
Born some 79 years ago precisely in 1935 in Lafia Nasarawa state, His
Royal Highness (Dr) Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 has his early education at
Lafia Elementary School between 1945 and 1950. From there, he
proceeded to Katsina- Ala Middle School in 1951 and graduated in 1957.
In his quest to acquire more western education, His Royal Highness
(Dr) Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 enrolled at Institute of Administration
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU) between 1959 and 1960. And in 1963
he attended British Council School in Kano. His Royal Highness the
Emir of Lafia, started his working career with Lafia Native Authority
in 1958 as an Accountant and later rose to became Chief Accountant in
1960. He became Assistant Treasurer, Lafia Native Authority in 1962.
Until his selection as 16th Emir of Lafia in 1974, His Royal Highness (Dr)
Isa Mustapha was the District Head of Obi and Dan-Galadima of Lafia.
Apart from his Traditional functions as Emir of Lafia, His Royal
Highness (Dr) Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 served variously as Chairman,
College of Education Akwanga, and Chancellor Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
University Bauchi. He is currently serving as Chancellor Federal
University of Technology Akure Ondo state. Besides being the Chairman
Nasarawa state Council of Chiefs, The Emir of Lafia is also a member
of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria which makes him
one of most influential and outstanding Traditional Ruler in the
country.
Dr Isa Mustapha was conferred with an award of Commander of the Order
of Niger (CON) in 1994 and in 2011 he received the award of Commander
of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the President of Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
However, as said earlier, His Royal Highness Alh. (Dr) Isa Mustapha’s
kindness knows no bounds as in the last 40 years; his benevolence
covers virtually every home, hence today in Lafia there is no single
family that has not benefited from his munificence in one form or the
other. Further to this, it was on record that during the struggle for
the creation of Nasarawa state, His Royal Highness has exhibited a
rare courage and doggedness when he singlehandedly traversed the four
corners of this country and even beyond, conversing and lobbying for
the creation of Nasarawa state. And in October 1996, God in His
infinite Marcy answered the prayers of His Royal Highness and indeed,
the prayers of all the people of Nasarawa state and gave us a state we
can proudly call our own.
And just like what erudite columnist Adamu Adamu pointed out in his
Friday column titled: ‘HH Agwai 1: Lafia Zaki’ His Royal Highness the
Emir of Lafia is indeed, a no-nonsense monarch and courageous fighter
who is not afraid of speaking the truth to power. Indeed, it worth
noting that it is this courage and no-nonsense posturing of the Emir
that makes him wins the love and sympathy of the people of Lafia.
As His Royal Highness (Dr) Isa Mustapha celebrates his 40 years on
throne today, we wish to join the good people of Nasarawa state in
thanking Al-Mighty Allah for sparing the life our monarch to this
date. And we also pray to Allah to give him more strength and wisdom
to continue offering his selfless service to humanity. Allah ya kara
ja zamanin Sarki Dan- Halima.
Alh (Dr) Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 marked his 40 years on
the throne four years ago and was reproduced when he celebrated his 44 years in May last. The 44 years celebration was marked silently except for the
prayers to Al-mighty Allah which he organized, I decided to re-produced the piece again as a tribute to our departed Emir.
<<<<<Lafia the Nasarawa state capital will today witness the coming
together of personalities from varied backgrounds whom by all standard could
be regarded as shrewd. These caliber of people would throng Lafia from
every nooks and crannies of Nigeria and beyond to personally grace the
celebration of 40 years on the throne of Lafia Emirate Council by His
Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr) Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 the 16th Emir of Lafia
whom palace jesters fondly referred to as Isa Dan-Halima.
Today’s occasion will, as well, witness the conferment of prestigious
traditional title of Barde Babba of Lafia on General T. Y Danjuma and
his wife, Senator Daisy Danjuma as Aminiyar Lafia by His Royal the
Emir of Lafia as part of line-up activities for the celebration of his
40 years on the throne.
This gathering of crème de la crème in Lafia will for many years to come
be remember due to its significance, as the occasion promises to
not only be flamboyant but ambitious.
Of course, the celebrant His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr) Isa Mustapha
Agwai 1 is by no means a benevolent ruler whose reign as Emir, from
all angles we look at it, is an exemplification of kindness and
compassion which knows no bounds. The Emir treats all his subjects as one,
regardless of tribe, religion or creed, hence the respect he attracted
from the old and the young, the rich and the poor.
To us in Nasarawa state, His Royal Highness (Dr) Isa Mustapha
epitomizes a tireless ruler whose only passion in life is to see to
the betterment of his people, through peaceful and harmonious
co-existence.
For the benefit of hindsight, since his ascension to the throne as
16th Emir of Lafia, precisely 40 years ago, His Royal Highness (Dr)
Isa Mustapha never shied away from his responsibilities entrusted upon
him as paramount ruler of Lafia just as he never shivered from
confronting whoever impinged on the path of his people’s progress and
development. It is precisely against this backdrop that many see or
refer him as the ‘earthmover’ of our time
Even though this writer was only 12 years or there about when His
Royal Highness (Dr) Isa Mustapha ascended the throne but from the
narration given by our elders, Dr Isa Mustapha is the first paramount
ruler of Lafia who is said to have, right from onset, conquered the
fear usually associated with revered stool of Lafia emirate.
Born some 79 years ago precisely in 1935 in Lafia Nasarawa state, His
Royal Highness (Dr) Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 has his early education at
Lafia Elementary School between 1945 and 1950. From there, he
proceeded to Katsina- Ala Middle School in 1951 and graduated in 1957.
In his quest to acquire more western education, His Royal Highness
(Dr) Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 enrolled at Institute of Administration
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU) between 1959 and 1960. And in 1963
he attended British Council School in Kano. His Royal Highness the
Emir of Lafia, started his working career with Lafia Native Authority
in 1958 as an Accountant and later rose to became Chief Accountant in
1960. He became Assistant Treasurer, Lafia Native Authority in 1962.
Until his selection as 16th Emir of Lafia in 1974, His Royal Highness (Dr)
Isa Mustapha was the District Head of Obi and Dan-Galadima of Lafia.
Apart from his Traditional functions as Emir of Lafia, His Royal
Highness (Dr) Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 served variously as Chairman,
College of Education Akwanga, and Chancellor Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
University Bauchi. He is currently serving as Chancellor Federal
University of Technology Akure Ondo state. Besides being the Chairman
Nasarawa state Council of Chiefs, The Emir of Lafia is also a member
of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria which makes him
one of most influential and outstanding Traditional Ruler in the
country.
Dr Isa Mustapha was conferred with an award of Commander of the Order
of Niger (CON) in 1994 and in 2011 he received the award of Commander
of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the President of Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
However, as said earlier, His Royal Highness Alh. (Dr) Isa Mustapha’s
kindness knows no bounds as in the last 40 years; his benevolence
covers virtually every home, hence today in Lafia there is no single
family that has not benefited from his munificence in one form or the
other. Further to this, it was on record that during the struggle for
the creation of Nasarawa state, His Royal Highness has exhibited a
rare courage and doggedness when he singlehandedly traversed the four
corners of this country and even beyond, conversing and lobbying for
the creation of Nasarawa state. And in October 1996, God in His
infinite Marcy answered the prayers of His Royal Highness and indeed,
the prayers of all the people of Nasarawa state and gave us a state we
can proudly call our own.
And just like what erudite columnist Adamu Adamu pointed out in his
Friday column titled: ‘HH Agwai 1: Lafia Zaki’ His Royal Highness the
Emir of Lafia is indeed, a no-nonsense monarch and courageous fighter
who is not afraid of speaking the truth to power. Indeed, it worth
noting that it is this courage and no-nonsense posturing of the Emir
that makes him wins the love and sympathy of the people of Lafia.
As His Royal Highness (Dr) Isa Mustapha celebrates his 40 years on
throne today, we wish to join the good people of Nasarawa state in
thanking Al-Mighty Allah for sparing the life our monarch to this
date. And we also pray to Allah to give him more strength and wisdom
to continue offering his selfless service to humanity. Allah ya kara
ja zamanin Sarki Dan- Halima.
nasarawaeye.com 