Bauchi Communities Raise Alarm Over Rising Tensions in Ningi Amid Proposed Emirates

Table of Contents

1. Community Alarm Over Potential Tension
2. Petition to the Bauchi State House of Assembly
3. High-Powered Committee Recommendations
4. Concerns Over Cultural Identity
5. Political Implications of the Proposal
6. Social Cohesion and Security Risks
7. Growing Mistrust Among Ethnic Nationalities
8. Conclusion and Appeal for Review

Community stakeholders from the Ningi Emirate in Bauchi State have expressed concerns about the potential communal tensions that could arise if the government decides to merge the old Ningi settlements with Kudu/Yamma from the existing Ningi Emirate to establish the proposed Ari Chiefdom/Emirate.

In a seven-page petition addressed to the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, the communities provided a historical overview of the Ningi Emirate and warned against altering its historical context.

DAILY POST recalls that the State Government’s High-Powered Committee on the Creation of Chiefdoms and Emirates, led by Hamza Koshe Akuyam, submitted a report recommending the establishment of 13 additional emirates, two chiefdoms, and 111 districts, which has been sent to the Assembly for approval.

The Ningi stakeholders, in the petition titled “Objection to the Proposal for the Inclusion of Old Ningi and Kudu/Yamma Village Areas in the Proposed Ari Chiefdom/Emirate Out of Ningi Emirate Council, Bauchi State,” claimed that the proposal distorts history and cultural identity.

They stated: “Ningi Emirate has a rich history dating back to the 19th Century, rooted in shared culture and traditions. Detaching the Old Ningi settlements and Kudu/Yamma communities from the Ningi Emirate to create the proposed Ari Chiefdom/Emirate will dilute our history, disrupt continuity, and weaken the cultural bonds that have united us for over two centuries.

“From a political standpoint, Ningi Emirate serves as both a traditional and political symbol of authority and legitimacy. Any attempt to remove key areas will reduce its influence and might be seen as the government’s effort to undermine the Emir’s authority and the political significance of the emirate within the State.

“Regarding social cohesion and security, the removal of these communities could trigger communal tensions among tribes and groups that support either the new or old traditional structures. This may lead to rivalry, conflict, and a breakdown of peace.

“Establishing jurisdictional boundaries between Ningi Emirate and the proposed Ari Chiefdom will also be challenging since both share similar peoples, cultures, religions, and geography. This will inevitably result in conflicts of loyalty and authority.”

The petition further pointed out that there is already a growing mistrust and calls for justice and equity among ethnic nationalities, noting that advocates for the Ari Chiefdom have not adequately involved the affected communities in their efforts.

The stakeholders clarified that while they are not opposed to the creation of the Ari Chiefdom itself, they emphasized that fairness and objectivity must guide governmental decisions to ensure inclusivity.

They concluded: “We firmly believe that the separation of Old Ningi and Kudu/Yamma communities for the proposed Ari Chiefdom/Emirate will cause more harm than good to the Ningi Emirate, its people, and Bauchi State as a whole. We therefore appeal to Mr. Speaker and the Assembly to, in the interest of peace, unity, and security, review and restructure the designated areas of the proposed Ari Chiefdom/Emirate.”