BY RAYYANU BALA.                         The Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Mohammad Bage, who doubles as chairman of the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, recently at Unguwar Makama in the Akwanga local government council, came out publicly and without any ambiguity to announce to the gathering of people drawn from all walks of life who converged on Unguwar Makama to celebrate HRH Chim Nku 1, Ambassador Habila Adamu Aboki’s 5-year anniversary on his ascension to the throne of his forefathers, that Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu is not only the Magajin dagin of Lafia but he is the Magajin dagin of Nasarawa State. The Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Mohammad Bage, we all know him as a revered emir who is not known for trivialities or gimmicks. Unlike most of his contemporaries, Justice Sidi Mohammad Bage is one emir that has towering credentials. His sojourn at the bench, culminating in his occupation of a seat at the Supreme Court, was splendid as he came out from the bench unblemished. For the Emir of Lafia to come out and say the title of Magajin Dangin Lafia, which he bestowed on Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, is not that of Lafia alone but that of Nasarawa State as a whole, means a lot, especially coming from an Emir who is known for his straightforwardness, impeccable character, and integrity—a fact that nobody can contest. Of course, Senator Wadada deserves this title; if there is any title more to this, Senator Wadada deserves it because he is one person who is working tirelessly to not only advance the cause of traditional institutions in Nasarawa State but is also working to advance the cause of the entire people of Nasarawa State. Senator Wadada has never relented, in all the offices he occupied before and even the one he is presently occupying, in promoting and protecting the interests of traditional institutions as well as the interests of the people of Nasarawa State. Thus, the title of Magajin Dagin Lafia and Nasarawa State has not come to all the discerning minds as surprising. Bestowing this title of Magajin Dangin Lafia and Nasarawa State on Senator Wadada by the Emir of Lafia has therefore thrown a spanner in all the shenanigans and the subterfuge by some to paint Senator Wadada black in the eyes of our most revered traditional rulers in Nasarawa State. Yes, there are some who are working day and night to blackmail Senator Wadada by hiding under different covers. This writer can confidently assert that there are some people who went to town telling the gullible among us that Senator Wadada has a different mindset against a certain throne in the state. But one will be wondering as to this kind of primitive campaign linking Senator Wadada to having an untoward idea against a certain throne. To put the record straight and to disabuse the unsuspecting minds, these insinuations are false and have never crossed the mind of Senator Wadada, let alone to do anything that will drag the throne into disrepute. Anybody residing in Nasarawa State will bear witness to the kind of respect Senator Wadada has for our traditional rulers. He has never viewed the institution with disrespect. He in fact recognises the fact that traditional rulers in Nasarawa State are playing important but crucial roles in various aspects of our lives. Whenever Senator Wadada speaks either in public or in private, he always shows respect and admiration for our traditional institutions; you can’t hear him saying anything disrespectful with regard to our traditional rulers. He indeed views them in high esteem, believing that traditional rulers are sets of revered leaders who help in various ways towards cultural preservation through maintaining and promoting cultural heritage, traditions, and values. He sees traditional rulers as an instrument for fostering unity and harmony within communities by way of resolving conflicts and promoting peace. Only recently, Senator Wadada was quoted during an occasion at the Taal Hotel in Lafia as describing traditional rulers as a link between the government and the people, facilitating communication and governance at the grassroots level. He also indicated at another forum in Akwanga that traditional institutions are about the only institutions that provide a sense of identity and belonging for individuals, reinforcing communal ties in Nasarawa State. From the foregoing, it is easy to locate the fact that Senator Wadada, more than you can think of, recognises the place, roles, and indeed, the importance of traditional rulers in our society; thus, it is unthinkable to say that Senator Wadada will say or do anything that will drag the name of this very throne into disrepute. He has tremendous respect for our traditional rulers to the extent that he has never, never rebelled against them and will never throughout his life. It was indeed for his respect for the institution that he earned a lot of traditional titles from various traditional rulers across the state, which space could not allow us to mention here, but prominent among which was the one bestowed on him just last month by the Emir of Lafia as Magajin Dagin Lafia and as well Magajin Dagin Nasarawa State, not even to talk of the prestigious title given to him by the Emir of Keffi as Sarkin Yakin Keffi. And the one bestowed on him today, Saturday, 8th February, 2025, at Kwandare as Shattima Babbah of Kwandare by HRH the Sarkin Kwandare Alh. Ahmadu Almakura. Senator Wadada’s respect for traditional institutions has transcended far beyond the boundary of Nasarawa State. Without any fear of being contradicted, there is indeed no prominent palace in Nigeria today to which Senator Wadada has not gone there to pay his respect. Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu cannot, even by wildest imagination, do anything that can bring or cause disrespect to traditional rulers in Nasarawa State. It is therefore absurd, ridiculous, and preposterous for one to suggest that Senator Wadada will wake up one day and begin to show some disrespect to our traditional rulers. Now, as the Magajin Dagin Lafia and Magajin Dangin Nasarawa State, Senator Wadada becomes not only the leading but indeed the shining light of Nasarawa State, thus making him the most ‘loved person’ in the state. We take it or we leave it.