There is growing tension and series of protest among different youth groups in Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas of Bauchi State, over the plan to host Late Baba Peter Gonto 21st memorial anniversary.
The memorial is scheduled to take place on 30 and 31 December 2021, just as Bauchi State Police Commissioner deployed policemen to ensure hitch free event.
Tension started earlier this week when youth group from Tafawa Balewa organized a press conference at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, alleging that former House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara wrote a letter to the Inspector General of Police opposing the planned celebration and lecture.
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Hundreds of youths staged a peaceful demonstration in Tafawa Balewa, alleging plot to create disharmony, threat to lives and properties of people of Gung Zaar community
The national youth leader of Zaar Youth Development Association (ZAYODA), Comrade Ga’allah Daniel said the organisers of the event deliberately excluded some prominent sons and daughters of Zaar land, already breeding confusion and hatred among people in the area.
Comrade Daniel said, going by reactions from different platforms on social media, in support and against the scheduled anniversary, there may be breach of peace if the event holds.
“We reiterate with a loud voice that we reject in totality the event as we foresee a great crisis and disunity in the land from the programme based on the desperation of the organizers”, he said.
The youths, while stating that the organizers of the event, should be held responsible for any breach of peace in the area for anything that may occur in the cause of holding the event, said the organizers should also be made to sign an undertaking with the security agencies as it did during Zaar annual festival.
According to the ZAYODA, no one is opposed to holding such historic event for the late sage, considering his immense contribution to the development of Zaar people when he was alive.
He pointed out during their last meeting on the 25th December, 2021, he informed the world that ZAYODA, as a body, had an emergency call on the 10th of December 2021 to discuss the proposed memorial programme.
Daniel also reiterated that, at the emergency meeting, agreement was made that since the event is not being organized by either ZDA or council of Gung Zaar select, it is an indication that the youth body has no role to play because it’s purely a family affair.
“We made reference to a clean and unbiased memorial programme held by the children of late Ayuba Sarki at Zainab Sumi center, Tafawa Balewa town. But to our great dismay we saw an invitation card circulating in the name of the family of Baba Peter Gonto in conjunction with our mother body ZDA national”, he said.
Women leader of Zaar community, Mama Rahatu, vowed that as women in the area, they will not allow such exclusion to happen. “They didn’t include those that are supposed to be in the forefront of honouring this man, Baba Peter Gonto. So therefore, we reject any arrangements towards this planned ceremony, because we need peace in our community, we don’t want division and any attempt to cause confusion and disunity among us, all ZAYODA women in Tafawa Balewa will not accept”, she said.
An elderstateman of Zaar people Sarki Benard Bako acknowledged that the planned event is empty from the onset, adding that “what we want is peace in our community not the opposite”. He also affirmed that “any event that doesn’t have the blessings of elders within the community, and a lot of people are disassociating themselves from that, it’s not a do or die appear, they should suspend it in the interest of peace.”
Dateline Nigeria reports that the protest, followed by additional press briefing by two different groups – with one in support and the other against the anniversary .
Zakka Faruk, the Vice Chairman of Mwari Youths, told reporters that “Mwari Youth Development Association (MWAYODA) said the programmes means that we have no role to play unless otherwise, because it’s purely a family business. We made reference to a clean and unbiased memorial programme. But to our greatest dismay we saw an invitation card circulating in the name of the family of Baba Peter Gonto in conjunction with our mother body ZDA NATIONAL. One will be right to say this event is aimed at creating problem and more disunity among ourselves, and if not properly handled, it will create chaos and insecurity”.
Zakka said “Visible on the invitation card, one will notice that many prominent names of Zaar sons and daughters are missing. Notable of all, is the deliberate refusal to recognise the most important figure in the land, the paramount ruler of our people, Gung Zaar Select and his council on the host of dignitaries that will grace the occasion”.
He said “late Baba Gonto lived his life and died in anticipation of a Zar chiefdom under a united family. Baba Gonto was a man of the people. He was for all and he’ll continue to be for all even in death. In a situation where a deliberate attempt is made to create disharmony among our people, Baba Gonto wouldn’t have accepted such disuniting gesture.”
Similarly another group called Mwari Youths in Bogoro LGA of Bauchi State have refuted allegation by Dogara that there is security threat in the area which if not carefully handled may lead to breakdown of law and order.
“The claim by Yakubu Dogara”, according to the Mwari Youths, “is to disrupt the planned commemoration of the 21 anniversary of the death of the late Sayawa nation crusader, Baba Peter Gonto.”
Spokesman of the group, Pastor Isuwa Samaila stated that, “We, the concerned Youths in Mwari, Bogoro LGA of Bauchi State feel duty bound to refute the complaint written to the Inspector General of Police purportedly signed by Rt Hon. Dogara Yakubu, the Honourable member representing Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of the Federal House of Representatives which is also making rounds in the social media”.
He stated further that, “In the complaint, it is alleged that unless the planned reception in honour of the Zaar sage, Baba Peter Gonto is put an hold, there may be a very serious breach of the peace.” The author further argued that he has worked hard to restore peace to the area, and that he is so concerned about any activity that is to reverse the peace enjoyed in the area.
“We are here to address you, members of the press and to inform you clearly that, as youths of Mwari, the claims in the complaint are not true. We, on our behalf and the people of Mwari, completely support the reception in honour of our grandfather, Late Baba Peter Gonto. We interact closely with youths within our neighborhood, there is no any unanimity that the reception should go on”, he said.
Isuwa Samaila said that “Our Late Sage, Baba Peter Gonto was a political leader, a devoted religious leader, a pacesetter in Sayawa land, whose ideals were to propagate the message of peace and unity amongst his people, so no amount of honour that would be given to him will be too much”.
He said that the Late Baba Gonto was a father to every Zaar man, who was an architect of unity among the Zaar people and our neighbors, he was further the beacon of hope and light. “We are surprised that any Zaar man would have the courage and audacity to oppose a reception in honour of this legend; we are much more surprised that Rt. Hon. Dogara Yakubu who is an In-law to Mwari would want to oppose a reception in honour of this great man”.
Meanwhile, Bauchi State Police Commissioner Umar Mamman Sanda has ordered the full deployment of police tactical teams to provide security to lives and properties before, during and after the event.
A statement distributed to newsmen by SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, Police Public Relation Officer, said the deployment of the police was sequel to the letter of notification sent by the ZAAR community to the Commissioner of Police Bauchi State Command to celebrate the 21st anniversary in honor of Late Baba Peter Gonto scheduled to hold on 30th and 31st December, 2021 at Bogoro township,
He said the commissioner ordered officers and men of the command to intensify efforts in resisting and curtailing any act of lawlessness, oppression or intimidation from any group of persons and warned officers to be professional while discharging their duties.
He advised law abiding citizens of the state, particularly the people of Bogoro/Tafawa Balewa Local Governments, not to panic but go about their normal businesses and stay away from all forms of crime and criminality.
