The emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris on Tuesday humiliated and denied access to the venue of the commissioning ceremony of the multi-billion naira Olam Poultry and Feed Mill in Kaduna.
Sources said, the security operatives attached to President Muhammadu Buhari who was in Kaduna to commission the privately-own Singaporean company.
The US$150m investment, expected to produce 1.2m day-old chicks weekly, and create 3, 000 jobs for artisans and veterinary doctors, comprises of grain silos with a combined capacity of 50, 000 metric tones, a world class state of the art hatchery and feed mill.
Witnesses said that the emir arrived at the venue of the event in the morning shortly after the arrival of the state governor, Nasir el-Rufai.
Even though the special guest of honour, President Muhammadu Buhari, was yet to arrive, and event was yet to start properly, but the emir and his entourage were blocked by the security agents on “orders from the above”.
Witnesses said the emir was kept waiting for 30 minutes before offering to allow him enter alone without his aides, but infuriated looking emir however rejected offer and left the venue.
“While they turned back the Emir of Zazzau, Emirs of Kano and Marwa came much later but were allowed into venue with their entourage,” said a witness.