The minister of transport was on February 4, 2022 turbaned by the Emir of Daura, Umar – Faruk Umar.
Daura in Katsina state is the birth place of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The conferment of the chieftaincy title has generated debate but the Emir has defended his action, explaining that the emirate considered Amaechi worthy of the reward because of his worth to the people of Daura.
“I would like to remind you that the good things the minister brought to this emirate are countless but we have seen the University of Transport Technology that he has sited here, we have seen the railway that has been sited here to Niger Republic.”
The Emir on Saturday said he appointed the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as Dan Amanar Daura (trusted son of Daura) for his “dedication to the development of his emirate and Nigeria”.
Mr Umar-Faruk said he did not turban Mr Amaechi “because the minister gave him money but to reciprocate the minister’s gesture to the emirate.”
“We are Muslims and our religion allows us to respect those who respect us.
If I turban anyone, it is not because he gave us money or we want something from that person, we turban people irrespective of their religion or tribe.
You are living witnesses that we have turbaned a lot of people in this country and even beyond. You know that we don’t do what we do for monetary gain,” he said.
The monarch said people like Mr Amaechi deserved a traditional title in the Emirate “because they have proven reliable”.
“I would like to remind you that the good things the minister brought to this emirate are countless but we have seen the University of Transport Technology that he has sited here, we have seen the railway that has been sited here to Niger Republic. Because of that rail line, we will have a station here were our people’s business will progress.
“Are we not supposed to appreciate what he has done? So, if anybody says it’s because of money, it is their own business. I know that I did this because of what he has done for us in Daura.
I don’t give people tittles because of money no matter how rich you’ are. It’s a tradition here to reward those who have shown great love and commitment to our people,” the emir said.
The emir also spoke about Nasiru Haladu Danu, whom he turbaned the Tafida Babban Daura on Saturday.
“I have heard a lot about what he has been doing to the public especially the poor people in our midst. He is a philanthropist who has shown that he is for the development of the people.
Once again, I am reiterating that the titles are strictly based on merit and we will continue to toe that line,” he added.
Mr Danu, who was turbaned alongside Mr Amaechi, is a businessman, politician and philanthropist.
According to Mr Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), President Buhari, Amaechi’s boss welcomed the turbanning
President Buhari has sent messages of congratulations to two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC and Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation and two-time Director General of his election campaigns, and Nasiru Haladu Danu, a reputable businessman, on the conferment of a chieftaincy titles on them tomorrow, Saturday by the Daura Emirate Council.
President Buhari described the conferment of the title of “Dan Amana,” (the trusted one) to Amaechi as a clear commitment to the harmonious relationship between the nation’s diverse cultures.
He commended the Minister “for working with enormous energy to make the CHANGE we promised Nigerians a reality,” noting that “the change we are witnessing in the transport sector is an extraordinary legacy.”
