Kano — The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, has fixed January 22, 2010 as the day for the turbaning ceremony of the state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, as the Sardaunan Kano.

Shekarau himself made the declaration yesterday at Kano Government House when he received the emir, who paid him a traditional Sallah homage known as Hawan Nassarawa.

A high-powered government delegation had visited the emir on Thursday to thank him for the conferment of the traditional title, a matter that has continued to generate comments in the state ever since it was announced recently.

Shekarau disclosed that the emir has endorsed the date for the ceremony, saying he and members of his family have accepted the honour.

He thanked the emir and his council for "this wonderful and historic recognition," adding that it was an honour not only to him but to the entire citizens of Kano State.

The governor, who described the Sardauna title as a most prestigious one, pledged to remain a good ambassador of the Kano Emirate, as well as uphold the great virtues of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, "whom we are all proud of."

He noted that the offer done to him by the emir coincided with his 54th birthday.

Speaking to newsmen over the conferment of the traditional title, the Deputy Minority Whip in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, who represents the Sumaila and Takai constituency, described the title as timely because Shekarau was truthworthy and respected by his people.

Sumaila criticised those opposing the conferment of the title on the governor, saying they were doing so out of their selfish interest.

He pointed out that Shekarau was not the first politician given such a title, citing an example of the Dan Masanin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, and the Magajin Garin Kano, Alhaji Inuwa Wada, who were appointed to their position while serving as federal minister of information and defence respectively.

Others, according to Sumaila, were the Sarkin Fadan Kano, Alhaji Sule Gaya; the brother of late Malam Aminu Kano who was appointed as the District head in Gezawa; the brother of former Kano State governor, Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, who was appointed as the District Head; the father of the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, the Dictrict Head of Madobi, and the brother of former governor Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi, who is the village head of Rimi town in Sumaila Local Government Area of the state.

Meanwhile, the emir has said that the Sardauna title was earned by Shekarau due to the numerous development projects executed by his administration.

Alhaji Ado Bayero explained this on Thursday when the state deputy governor, Engineer Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, led a powerful delegation from the government house on a thank-you visit to the emir at his palace.

He said ever since the demise of Sardauna of Sokoto, the Kano Emirate Council has been looking for a patriotic citizen who could fill the vacuum left by the late Premier of the Northern Region.

"Malam Ibrahim Shekarau deserved to be conferred with the title of Sardauna because of his great achievements in humanitarian services in Kano State," the emir said. "One of such achievements is the great strides made through the A Daidaita Sahu (societal re-orientation) programme, which is worth copying in this country".

He added: "Kano Emirate Council has three classifications of title; one is for the royal family; second is for those considered to be friends to the emirate who helped in the Jihad, like Madaki, Makama and so on, and the last one is for those great people who contributed a lot to the development of the people and the society at large.

"Malam Ibrahim Shekarau falls into the last category, considering the gigantic projects he has executed and what he is currently doing."

Bayero said that the title of Sardauna was that of Sardauna of the Northern Region and not that of Sokoto and hoped the new Sardauna would adopt the legacies of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello to move the Northern states and Nigeria at large to greater heights.

According to him, his support to the Shekarau administration is also for the latter's maintenance of peace, stability and economic growth of the state.

The emir equally explained that the A Daidaita Sahu programme is now being emulated by some other states and enjoined the people to put government's policies in their minds as part of their contribution towards actualising the good governance of the Shekarau administration.

Speaking, Engineer Gwarzo said they were in the palace to thank the monarch and his council for the title conferred on the governor.

He expressed delight over the warm support and guidance given to the present administration by the emirate, saying the title is well-deserved, considering the governor's efforts towards providing more developmental projects in the state.

He assured that Shekarau will justify the confidence reposed in him in uplifting the traditional council as well as northern states and Nigeria at large.

Those on the deputy governor's entourage included several commissionewrs, special advisers, politicians and the state Head of Service, Malam Rabi'u Zakariya'u.