In the footsteps of his grandfather: Emir of Fika to be honoured again with CFR
Story from Ibraheem Hamza MUHAMMAD
The Emir of Fika, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Muhammad Abali Muhammadu Idrissa (CON) is set to be honoured for the second time by President Muhammadu Buhari with the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
Alhaji Muhammadu was also conferred Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2010 by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
HRH Muhammad Abali (CON) reigns over the prestigious Fika Emirate that dates back to the 15th century. The Emirate is dominated by the Bole tribe of Yobe state whose origin traces back to Daniski in 1805. The headquarters of the Emirate is situated in the iconic Potiskum town.
The Emir, who is a seasoned security expert is set to be honoured by President Muhammadu Buhari for his meritorious service to the fatherland.
His grandfather, the 41st Emir of Fika, His Royal Highness Muhammad Ibn Idrissa, of blessed memory was also conferred an honourary M. B. E by the then King of England, Albert Frederick Arthur George (VI).
The letter dated 1st January 1944, was signed by the then governor in Lagos who also congratulated the 41st emir.
See attachment of the letter below:
Alhaji Muhammad Abali ibn Muhammadu Idrisa CON, was born into the royal lineage of the Abali Ibn Muhammad Idrissa family on the 14th of August, 1956.
He started his educational pursuit at the Kaduna Capital School in 1963 until 1969. He joined the prestigious Barewa College, Zaria from 1970 to 1974 and obtained the General Certificate of Education (GCE) before he proceeded for Advanced Level Studies at the Landsdowne Tutors College in London.
Muhammadu further went to Staffordshire University, England in the city of Stoke-on-Trent from 1977 to 1980 for Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Studies in African Development studies at the University of Birmingham, UK in 1980. He participated in the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) from 1981-1982 at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Kaduna. He proceeded for his post-graduate studies in Law at the City University, London from 1982-1983.
The emir began his working career in the private sector with Owena Bank and later joined the public service in 1984 and worked with the Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO) which metamorphose to State Security Service (SSS) and now known as Department of Security Service (DSS).
He served a diligent career and rose to the rank of Senior Security/Intelligence Officer, serving at the National Headquarters, Lagos before he voluntarily resigned from the service in June 1991. He was appointed as Chief Security Officer of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) from 1996 till 2005. He later became the Security Coordinator for the multinational corporation, Total/Elf Headquarters, Abuja between 2006-2009.
The Emir has always prioritised empowering his people and has impacted thousands of lives through numerous social, corporate and human capital development initiatives.
Among his initiatives includes pioneering the exploration of Gypsum deposits in Yobe State and the establishment of Gypsum Miners Association. The Association created unlimited awareness on the extraction of Gypsum and other mineral resources in Nigeria. He also recognises the importance of Nigerians feeding themselves given the potential human and natural resources available. He has created awareness and has actively empowered communities to venture into large scale mechanised agriculture in order to alleviate poverty, create employment and wealth for his people.
Emir of Fika in collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has personally sponsored over 200 youths to acquire various skills to boost employment and self-reliance.
He has expressed his desire for youth empowerment. He wishes to develop youths that the Emirate and State can be proud of, and country at large.
The Emir of Fika succeeded his late father to become the Emir of Fika and Chairman Yobe State Council of Traditional rulers on Monday, March 16th, 2009.
He was appointed Chancellor University of Uyo in 2009, and he is presently the Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State. The traditional ruler has been conferred with Doctorate Degree, honoris causa in Law by the University of Uyo in 2010. He was also honoured with the honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration in 2012 by the University of Commonwealth, Belize.
The Emir of Fika is happily married and blessed with children.
Indigens of the state and associates alike have acknowledged and credited the efforts of the Emir in taming the insurgency that has bedevilled the State and several parts of the North-East through his wealth of experience and knowledge in security matters.
