By Arch Ali Madu Zangina
“A society never grows until leaders understand their role in sustain peace and harmony through responsible utterances”
Hans Kung, 1967
For almost two decades, I have never been so embarrassed by the utterance of a leader like I am today after I read with a broken heart an inciteful press statement by the National President of Bachama People under the auspices of Pene Da Bwatiye.
The toxic statement that was signed by Prince Hezron Fada unjustifiably called on the suspension of The Sultan, the Lamido of Adamawa and the Emir of Kano – I have never read any unfair and injust claim for removal of a traditional ruler like this particular statement.
The statement falsely accused the three leaders’ role at the commissioning of a radio station – Pulaku Radio – as the reason behind the crisis between the Bachama and Fulani people. Which is so absurd.
The statement further demanded for the sack of the commissioner for information in Adamawa state, Ahmad Sajoh – for telling the good people of Adamawa State, that the government has done everything possible to maintain peace in the affected areas and those responsible will be brought to book. Simple!
The most ridiculous part of the statement is, when the clown mandated to read the lies accused the Nigeria Air Force of supporting fulani attacks against the Bachama people and claimed the Nigerian Air Force gave the Fulani people air cover during the fake and untrue attacks on them.
I will like to bring it to the notice of the Bachama nation and everyone that cares to read this piece, that in many other countries – the above false accusations label against the Nigerian Air Force is actually treason – capital treason.
The issued statement is not a concern about the plight of the Bachama people – at least, it’s contents proved that. Its just a clear delineation of hatred and malice which the national president of the Bachama people has for the Sultan, Lamido of Adamawa and the Emir of Kano. No more, no less.
The freedom of expression is guaranteed in the Nigerian constitution. That right guarantees every Nigerian to speak his mind on issues, be it an ordinary citizen or a leader. However, for a state like Adamawa where different tongues and tribes were weaved to form a delicate state, an expression of such by the national leader of the Bachama is worrying and unpatriotic.
Traditional leaders are the mirror of the community and for any state to achieve any meaningful development, political stability is required thus the collaboration and cooperation of all on tribal violent issues like this is paramount. It is on this that, I call on the Adamawa State Govt to caution the national president of the Bachama in such dangerous and inciteful statements.
These unfortunate incident has affected both side of the divide – just recently many Fulani women and children were found dead in some areas of Numan and it took the govt’s very cautious and wise intervention to halt a retaliatory attack.
What I had expected from the Bachama nation is a statement of peace and calm to help the govt resolve this critical issues not a falseful indictment of Fulani leaders who wants peace in Adamawa as much as any indigene of the state.
Any attempt to trade blame will only heighten the tension in the affected areas and if such violence escalated – it will not be good for any of us here. A word is enough for the wise.
Zangina wrote in from Yola and can be reached on zalizan@gmail.com
