By Rauf Oyewole
Community stakeholders from Ningi Emirate in Bauchi State have raised an alarm over imminent communal tension that might erupt should the government combine the old Ningi settlements with Kudu/Yamma from the existing Ningi Emirate to form Ari Chiefdom/Emirate.
The communities in a seven-page petition the Bauchi State House of Assembly addressed to the Speaker, Hon. Abubakar Suleiman, gave the historical background of the emirate and why the history should not be tampered with.
On Monday, the State Government High-Powered Committee on Creation of Chiefdoms and Emirates led by Hamza Koshe Akuyam had submitted a report recommending additional 13 emirates, two chiefdoms and 111 which has been forwarded to the House for ratification.
The stakeholders from the area in the petition titled “Objection On The Proposal For The Inclusion Of Old Ningi And Kudu/yamma Village Areas In The Proposed Ari Chiefdom/emirate Out Of Ningi Emirate Council, Bauchi State”, alleged distortion of history and cultural unity.
They said: “Distortion of history and cultural unity: Ningi Emirate has long-standing history and identity dating back to the 19th Century which is deeply-rooted in a shared culture and traditions tied to its people. Carving out Old Ningi settlement and Kudu/Yamma Communities from Ningi Emirate to the proposed Ari Chiefdom/Emirate will dilute our history, distort historical continuity and weaken the cultural bonds that held us together for over 2 centuries.
“Political considerations and competitive advantage: Ningi Emirate as a single entity is not only traditional but a political symbol of authority and legitimacy. The Ningi emirate enjoys a strategic political advantage in the central zone of the State. Any attempt to remove some of its critical component parts will weaken the traditional institution and will be perceived as an attempt by the government of the day to strategically kill and weaken the influence of the ruling Emir and reduce the emirates' political voice within the State.
“Social cohesion and security risks: Removal of old Ningi settlement and Kudu/Yamma communities which are all cited and seated within Ningi Emirate historically will lead to communal tensions between tribes/groups/ethnic nationalities that supports the new Chiefdom and those loyal to the old traditional structure. These will eventually lead to catastrophic rivalries, tensions, conflicts and breach of the peace.
“Conflict in determination of areas of authority: Ningi Emirate, especially the contending areas having the same people, culture, tradition, religion and geographical location will be very difficult to determine and divide areas of jurisdiction between Ningi Emirate and the expected new Ari Chiefdom,” they said.
They added that “There will definitely be serious conflicts of loyalty and authority.”
The petition added that mistrust and continuous cries of justice, equity and recognition by other ethnic nationalities. According to them, the people of the proposed Ari Chiefdom/Emirate do not at all consider the contending areas as their component parts which was why they had never at a time consulted or carried them along in their movements for the creation of the proposed Ari Chiefdom/Emirate.
The communities said that they do not in any way hold objection to the creation of the proposed Ari Chiefdom, but the people of Ningi and Kudu/Yamma communities deserve fairness and objective treatment in the Government's aspiration to bring traditional administration closer to the people.
“We are majorly concerned and convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that based on the above compelling reasons, the proposal to curve Old Ningi settlement and Kudu/Yamma Communities to the proposed Ari Chiefdom/Emirate will cause greater harm to Ningi Emirate and its people and is not in the overall interest of the Emirate, its people and the State at large.
“We urge Mr. Speaker and the Assembly to in the overall interest of peace, security, unity and identity of our people critically look at our genuine demand by restructuring the designated areas of the proposed Ari Chiefdom/Emirate.”
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