New Emir of Dass speaks: ‘I was the closest son to my father’
Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman: Well, as you know, I am the eldest child of our late father. I was born here in Dass. I attended my primary school here and proceeded to Toro Science Secondary School in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State. From there, I went to the School of Agriculture of the […]
Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman: Well, as you know, I am the eldest child of our late father. I was born here in Dass. I attended my primary school here and proceeded to Toro Science Secondary School in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State. From there, I went to the School of Agriculture of the State Polytechnic, Bauchi and from there, I proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru College of Agriculture. I graduated in 199I and worked briefly with the state Ministry of Agriculture and was seconded to the Agricultural Development Project (ADP). From there, I took appointment with the then Bank of the North where I served for about eight years. In 2004, I came back home and was appointed Special Assistant to former Bauchi State Governor, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu. When the present Governor Isa Yuguda, came into office, he appointed me Special Assistant on Youth matters. I have a wife and three children, all males.
WT: How do you feel succeeding your late father?
Othman: I thank Almighty Allah. I pray God to give me the wisdom to lead my people appropriately with the fear of Allah. I feel very much happy. It isn’t all that difficult for me to go about my new role because I have been in the system. Before becoming an emir, I was with my father. I served in the capacity of the Ciroma, a title normally given to the eldest son of an incumbent emir. I served for about 15 years as the Ciroma, I had been in the system. I have learnt so many things with my late father.
WT: What was the nature of the competition before emerging as the new emir?
Bilyaminu Othman: There was serious competition but it did not bother me much such because I had been trained already by my late father who was a rare gem and the right person to emulate.
I had worked with him before he left us and I learnt a lot from him. He taught me a lot, especially how to relate with kingmakers. I and the kingmakers are like brothers, so my selection as the emir did not come as a surprise.
WT: The late emir was said to be very humble and carried his people along. How prepared are you to fit into his shoes?
Othman: As I have told you earlier, I have lived with him for several years serving as the Ciroma. I had undertaken most of the secretarial jobs and most of the documentations within and outside the emirate while serving as the Ciroma. I always accompanied him to meetings, seminars and all that. I saw how he was relating with his people and others and I was also a witness to some of the challenges he faced. I am assuring you that I am not changing anything of his good works.
WT: Your father left behind a very large family. How are you going to carry them along?
Othman: Life continues as it used to be because even when he was alive, I was the head of the family with regards to the children, being the eldest child. They channeled almost all their problems to me and I always attended to them. I have been attending to such issues even before this time so, it is normal for me. We are still united.
WT: What will you say are your major challenges now?
Othman: Actually the challenge before me now is to be able to serve the community with the fear of Allah.
WT: What is your message for your subjects?
Othman: My people are known to be law-abiding citizens and I will like to appeal to them to continue to be loyal to constituted authority. I want them to give us the necessary support so that we can carry on and deliver to the entire community.
WT: You came at the time there is a clamour by traditional rulers to be given specific roles in the country’s constitution. What is your view on this?
Othman: I think it will be very good for traditional rulers to have specific roles to play in the constitution apart from their fatherly roles of advisers in all aspects of our national life. They need to be backed by the constitution.