By Adamu Idris Manarakis niw,
Alhaji (Dr) Yahaya Abubakar CFR was born on 12th September, 1952 in Bida and until his appointment as Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar was a Colonel in the Nigerian Army who was promoted to Brigadier General on retirement and was awarded the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on 16th December 2004.
The current Etsu Nupe is a man of simplicity, honour and peace. He is one of the shinning examples of pro-masses traditional leaders we have today in this country. Despite his disciplinarian nature, he exudes the highest sense of humility, jollity, empathy and optimism always, especially around the poor masses he considers his friends, as it is evident that he has never been any far from them even for a minute since his enthronement.
He is not one of those Emirs known widely for luxury and extravagance, as he doesnt ride on a pronounced and elaborate convoy. Modesty is his watch-word in everything he does. His style of dressing, the friends he keeps, how often he interferes with governments activities and others point to the fact that he is truly a down-to-earth, focused and highly-committed royal father. All Bida indigenes will affirm that his listening-ear is the biggest in the country.
For the past sixteen years that he has been the Emir of Bida, the Emirate has enjoyed relative peace and progress, thanks to his dogged fights for the interests of his people. Everyone who is abreast with the socio-political happenings in this land, will testify that the indefatigable Etsu Nupe has been a Peace Ambassador and Proponent of Good Governance ever since he became the Etsu.
His high integrity and sense of purpose are really helping him in the discharge of his responsibilities as the traditional head of the Nupe Nation.
His quality of education, experience and exposure facilitate his unique style of custodianship of the cultures and traditions of his ancestors and the application of wisdom in sifting out the negative and antiquated ones for the continuous stability and progress of his people.
The current Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar is indeed a quintessence of leadership, gifted to the Nupe nation by God Almighty.