Emir of Fune celebrates 25 years on the throne

By: Yahaya Wakili

The Emir of Fune in Yobe State, Alhaji Dr. Saleh Idriss Ibn Usman, on Saturday, 28th June, 2025, celebrates his 25th anniversary on the throne. The colorful historic occasion was held at the emir’s place in Damagum, the headquarters of the emirate.

Alhaji Dr. Saleh Idriss Ibn Usman expressed his gratitude to Yobe State Governor, His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, COMN, Chiroman Gujba, and Sardaunan Fune for his continued support given to the emirate. He said he was appointed as Emir of Fune in 2000 after the demise of his senior brother, the late Alhaji Mohammed Shuwa, and within these 25 years, the emirate witnessed a lot of achievements and infrastructural development.

The royal father appealed to the people of his domain to redouble their efforts in engaging in farming activities so as to enable them to have enough food security in the domain, in Yobe State, and in Nigeria as a whole. And he also charged them to register their wards into school, as he said no development could be achieved withouteducation.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Governor of Yobe State, who is also the Wazirin Fune Emirate Council, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, said the event was a milestone in the life of Alhaji Dr. Saleh Idriss Ibn Usman, noting that spending 25 years on the throne is a rare blessing from Allah (SWT) and he is worth celebrating.

The deputy governor congratulated the emir for the historic milestone of celebrating his silver jubilee on the throne and prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the emir more beneficial years in steering the affairs of the emirate. He said the administration of Mai Mala Buni holds traditional rulers in high esteem and recognizes their fatherly role in giving crucial advice to the government as well as promoting mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence among the various groups living within their domain.

In his remarks, His Royal Highness, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai, who spoke on behalf of all the emirs and chiefs, urged the royal fathers to work for the unity and peace of their respective domains, and he congratulated the emir of Fune, Alhaji Dr. Saleh Idriss Ibn Usman, for clocking 25 years on the throne.

In a vote of thanks, the Madakin Fune and National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umaru Iliya Damagum, expressed appreciation and thanked all the personalities for honoring the invitation and appealed to the people of the emirate to complement the efforts of the Yobe state government in supporting the emirate.

The personalities who attended the occasion include the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo; former Deputy Governor of Adamawa State Siege Crowth; former President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, PhD, GCON, Sardaunan Bade; Shehu of Borno; Emirs of Fika, Bauchi, Bade, Damaturu, Machina, Misau, Balawaje, Kaltingo, Biu, Ningi, UBA, Nafada, Yusufari, Tikau, Pataskum, Jajere, Mai Tangale, Nguru, and Dukku; and representatives of the Emirs of Zazzau and Gaya Emirates.

Other dignitaries attending the occasion included the Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Baba Malam Wali mni; Head of Service, Alhaji Tonga Betara; Speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Chiroma Buba Mashio; and commissioners, among others.

The occasion also witnessed a wedding ceremony and the turbanning of kingmakers and council members as well as district heads of the emirate. Also, the Emir of Fune, Alhaji Saleh Idriss Ibn Usman, led a colorful burbar.

Emir of Fune celebrates 25 years on the throne