The Muslim community of Tafawa Balewa, a local government area displaced by past ethno-religious crisis, has rejected the citing of the proposed Sayawa Chiefdom in Tafawa Balewa town in totality.
The displaced Tafawa Balewa inhabitants, most of whom are currently living in Bauchi as a result of the recurring crisis, drew the attention of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, who recently spoke about the establishment of the Sayawa chiefdom. Mohammed said that the case of the chiefdom creation is already before a competent court of law.
The Tafawa Balewa community, at a press conference in Bauchi yesterday, recalled that the Sayawas who were agitating for the chiefdom are those who took the matter to the court, claiming that Tafawa Balewa town is their ancestral home and must be the headquarters of the chiefdom.
The press conference, led by the Secretary of Tafawa Balewa Town Development Association (TABTODA), Malam Yunusa Ado, described the comments on the establishment of the Sayawa chiefdom as subjudice, with the matter being before the court.
Malam Yunusa Ado said, “And the same Sayawa agitating for the chiefdom that took the matter to court. So, for the executive governor of the state, a person of that calibre, knowing fully that the case is before a court unless he is misled, he is not even contemplating doing anything on something in the court”.
Ado further recalled that the issue of Sayawa chiefdom leverages the Babalakin Judicial Commission of Inquiry, but the governor did not even mention the commission’s recommendations, such as bringing the culprits of the Tafawa Balewa crisis to book.
He said the culprits were accused of culpable homicide. “They set our properties ablaze, so what we are saying is that we cannot exchange the blood of our people being shed for the chiefdom,” he added.
Ado added, “The government should be fair to us. Let those people be brought to book. Our brothers are the Sayawas. Whenever we talk about the trial of the suspects, they would say, ‘This is a bygone issue. Please, let’s forget about it’. This is very sensitive to the lives of people who were lost. “
“We are afraid that our brother, the executive Governor, is being misled, so we are offering all these things to bring to his knowledge. We are not fighting him; we are not quarrelling with him. Maybe he was misled, but he should understand that this case is before a court of law”, Ado added.
“It is important to note that, since Thursday, 27th January 2011, no single Muslim has been residing in Tafawa Balewa town because they were massively killed and displaced. People may also wish to note the following forms of provocations against the people: the entire 48 mosques, including 2 Izalah Juma mosques and the Central Mosque in Tafawa Balewa, were razed.
“No single house belonging to the Muslims still exists in the town. Economic trees like date palms, baobabs and fig trees (rimi) were altogether uprooted. Their entire shops and business centres were completely destroyed,” he said.
They added that “The Bauchi State government under Governor Abdulkadir Bala Muhammed, for reasons best known to him, out of egoism and tribalism, decided to cede Tafawa Balewa town to the Sayawas not minding all the historical antecedents of the past.
“In all the four commissions and committees report, none has recommended the establishment of the Sayawa Chiefdom in any place other than Bogoro local government area.
“People may wonder why the governor is so desperate to create the Sayawa Chiefdom now. The answer is that Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammed is coming towards the end of his tenure as governor of Bauchi State and is eyeing the seat of the president of Nigeria in 2027.
“He is desperate for the support of the Christian Sayawa and the Christian Association of Nigeria in general. He thinks it is now time to please them, not caring for the support of other Nigerian populations who are not Christians.
“It seems that in all our tribulations over the years since 1958, the general population of people in Bauchi and the country as a whole are not aware of these happenings. We hope with this publication, people will be enlightened.
“It is important to note that the situation in Tafawa Balewa remained as it is because of our respect for the Constitution, law and order and, in particular, the presence of security outfits in the town.
“We suggest that these outfits be withdrawn from the town. It is imperative for the Governor to know that the displaced Muslims of Tafawa Balews have not given up and are ever ready to reclaim their ancestral home,” they concluded.
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