Zamfara State Governor, Bello Mohammed Matawale has reinstated Alh. Aliyu Garba Marafa as Emir of Birnin Yandoto.
Matawale had in July last year suspended the Emir for conferring a chieftaincy title on a banditry kingpin, Ado Aleiru.
Following the controversy generated by the conferment, the Emir had claimed that Alieru was honoured because of the major role he played during a peace process arranged between the Emirate and bandits who were terrorising Tsafe Local Government Area.
Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Kabiru Balarabe Sardauna, in a statement on Sunday, announced the reinstatement of the emir.
The SSG said that the Emir’s reinstatement was based on the recommendations of the committee constituted to investigate the issue.
He said, “The committee found no evidence of any ill motive or collaboration between the Emir and the bandit.
“This is to inform the public that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, MON, (Shatiman Sokoto), has approved the reinstatement of Alh. Aliyu Garba Marafa as the Emir of Birnin Yandoto.
“His reinstatement is based on the recommendations of the Committee constituted to investigate all issues pertaining to the conferment of a traditional title on a repentant bandit, Ado Aleiru. The committee found no evidence of any ill motive or collaboration between the Emir and the bandit.
“Based on the findings of the committee, the traditional title was conferred on the repentant bandit as part of peace building efforts between the repentant bandit and banditry-affected communities in Tsafe and Gusau Local Government Areas, which include Yandoto town. The reinstatement takes immediate effect.”