From Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi
There is growing tension and series of protest among different Youths groups in Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas of Bauchi State, over the plan to host Late Baba Peter Gonto 21st memorial anniversary scheduled to take place on 30th and 31st December 2021, just as Bauchi State Police Commissioner deployed policemen to ensure hitch-free Memorial anniversary.
Tension started earlier this week when youth group from Tafawa Balewa organized a Press conference at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and alleged that Former Speaker Yakubu Dogara wrote a letter to the Inspector General of Police opposing the plan to hold the Late Baba Peter Gonto 21st memorial lecture.
Hundreds of youths staged a peaceful demonstration in Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi state, alleging creation of disharmony, threat to lives and property of people of Gung Zaar community
The National youth leader of Zaar Youth Development Association (ZAYODA), Comrade Ga’allah Daniel alleged that the organisers of the event deliberately excluded some prominent sons and daughters of Zaar land stating that there is already brewing confusion and hatred among people in the area.
Comrade Daniel said that going by reactions from different platforms in social media over the scheduled anniversary, there is the possibility of a breach of peace if the event hold
“We reiterate with a laud voice that we reject in totality the event as we foresee a great crises and disunity in the land from the program based on the desperation of the organizers”, he noted.
The youth while stating that the organizers of the event be held responsible for any breach of peace in the area for anything that may occur in the cause of holding the event, said that the organizers should be made to sign an undertaking with the security agencies as it used during Zaar annual festival.
According to the ZAYODA, no one is opposed to holding such a historic event for the late sage considering his immense contribution to the development of Zaar people when he was alive.
He pointed out that 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 about the proposed Late Baba Peter Gonto’s 21st memorial program.
Daniel also reiterate, that at the emergency meeting, agreement was made that since the event isopods to get it out to be not been 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 Affairs
“We made reference to a clean and unbiased memorial program 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”,
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 fore front 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 fumed.
An elderstateman of Zaar people Sarki Benard Bako, acknowledged that the planned event is empty from the unset because according to him no prominace at all, so what we want is peace in our community not the opposite, affirming that “any events that doesn’t have the blessings of elders within the community and alot of people are disassociating themselves from that, it’s not a do or die appear they should suspend it in the interest of peace”, he warned.
The protest Followed by additional press briefing by two different groups that came from Mwari one group was supporting the anniversary while the other group opposed the anniversary .
Zakka Faruk is 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 handle, 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 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.
Zakka reiterated with a loud voice that we reject in totality the event as we foresee a great crisis and disunity in the land from a programme based on the desperation of the organizers, and the Organizers should be held responsible for any breach of peace that may occur in Zarland a
Similarly another group called Mwari Youths in Bogoro LGA of Bauchi State have refuted allegation by former Speaker, House of Reps, Barr Yakubu Dogara that there is security threat in the area which if not carefully handled may cause breakdown of law and order.
The claim by Yakubu Dogara according to the Mwari youths is to allegedly 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, Bagoro 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 on 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, 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 supports 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”.
