Proposed Ari Emirate: Chamo, Basse communities begs Bauchi govt to allow them exist under Ningi Emirate
By Samuel Luka,
Bauchi
The people of Chamo and Basse communities under Ningi and Kudu/Yamma in Bauchi state have distanced themselves from the proposal by the Bauchi state government to create Ari Chiefdom/Emirate out of the existing Ningi Emirate Council.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the Tafidan Chamo, Sanusi Mohammed Marke, appreciated the Governor Bala Mohammed led Bauchi state government for proposing additional emirates, chiefdoms and districts across the state, but pleaded that his people be left under the present Ningi emirate.
“We are happy with what our government intends to do because it will further open up the area, usher in development and further improve the living conditions of our people”, Marke said.
According to him, the emirate/chiefdoms when created, will bring government closer to the people at the grassroots.
“However, we are pleading with the Bauchi government to allow us, the people of Chamo and Basse in Ningi to continue to exist under Ningi emirate in order to preserve our long historical background”, the Tafidan Chamo stated.
While noting that the people of Chamo, who were known as ‘Butawan Gurungu” with which the name Ningi was coined from their language, Marke said that they have been in Ningi for over 300 years.
“Anybody that came to Ningi about two or three hundred years ago met our ancestors who were known as ‘Butawan Gurungu there, the name Ningi was coined from their language. Since creation of Ningi emirate we had districts heads such as Sarkin Basse, Sarkin Tabla, Sarkin Munnu, Sarkin Chamo, Sarkin Balla, among others. Since then, we have been with the Ningi emirate and we have been loyal to the emirate, they have been leading us in their capacity as Islamic teachers since they came to Ningi”, he said.
He said since the establishment of Ningi emirate, they have been living with them peacefully, with good understanding, love and care for one another.
“So when we heard that they will create a separate emirate from the existing one, we felt we the Kudawa, Basawa, Chamawa and other tribes should appreciate the government and plead that we should be left under the Ningi emirate, we remain loyal to it”, the Tafidan Chamo explained further.
Also speaking, Danladi Abdullahi Tabla, corroborated the assertions made by Tafidan Chamo, stating that they are contented been with the Ningi emirate.
He commended Governor Bala Mohammed for implanting laudable programmes and projects, which he said converted Ningi from being rural to urban center.
He urged the Bauchi state government to approve the memo requesting for the restoration of Balla, Tabla, Mara, Base and the district of Chamo under the Ningi emirate.
In a document obtained from Tafidan Chamo and others, the communities argue that the inclusion of Old Ningi settlement and Kudu/Yamma communities in the proposed Ari Chiefdom/Emirate would distort history, weaken cultural bonds, and lead to social cohesion and security risks.
The document recalled that Ningi Emirate was founded in the early 18th century by Islamic scholars led by Sheikh Hamza, and has a rich history and identity dating back to the 19th century, with a shared culture and traditions tied to its people.
The communities argue that carving out Old Ningi settlement and Kudu/Yamma communities from Ningi Emirate would dilute its history and weaken its cultural bonds.