By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
Hausas, world wide , celebrated world Hausa day on Tuesday with the Hausa- Fulani Youths Development Forum( HAFYDOF)Sokoto chapter joining to mark the event in Sokoto, seat of the caliphate amidst large turnout of youths and elders in their numbers urging leaders across the north to recalibrate and provide just, fair and equitable driven leadership and not seeking elective positions and forget their people.
Professors Aliyu Muhammad Bunza, Bello Daudan Bada and Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto took turn one after another to do justice to papers they presented that revolved around history , origin , coexistence, religion, tribe, security and synergy to drive unity of purpose and inter tribal marriages.
The auditorium Hall of the Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic , Sokoto was venue of the event.
Attendants including dignitaries of Hausa and Fulanis roots from Zamfara and Kebbi states as well students of the two tribes and other tribes were not left out of the gathering that also promoted unity voice with ovation.
However, in his presentation of the topic: ” Tribes , people , security and Development ” , Professor Aliyu Bunza noted that the duo(Hausa/Fulani) had from time immemorial been coexisting with other tribes especially in the north based on the historical origin that defined the old Sokoto caliphate mounted on the path of education, learning and religion by Sheikh Usmanu Bn Fodiyo who believed that justice, peace and religious teachings were significant to sustain a peaceful and harmonious society .
” Danfodiyo dwelled on faith for people to co-exist inorder to remember and acknowledge the existence of God without discrimination . He knew no tribe but to promote justice, education and fairness based on the tenets of islamic religion “, Bunza stressed.
According to Bunza who is of the Department of Languages , Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto traced the origin of Sokoto way back 1804 .
” Sokoto was originally defined within 9 villages and had tribes including Hausa and Fulanis with the Gobir enclave(dynasty) as it’s origin . With the coming of Islamic Jihadist, Sheikh Bn Fodiyo , many people became reformed under his leadership.
Bunza rhetorically asked ” why are we fighting each other today? “We have turned ourselves to refugees , debase our economy and worsened opportunities of our people , discourage inter marriages and subject ourselves to difficulties and endless hatred.”
He said ” all these disasters in the name of tribes could be avoided . Living in peace and harmony only can drive prosperity “, he noted.
According to the academic, no town , village or community across the north is an exception to the current security challenges attributing all forms of terrorism and banditry to drug addiction, abuse and other substances as catalyst to the menace fast affecting unity at all levels .
” Tribal crisis is a disaster we need to distance ourselves from . The era of ignorance of past should be ignored and embrace peace for sustainable growth and development while our culture and tradition should be strengthen for identification and synergy
On security, Bunza pointed out all hands must be on deck especially leaders who should use their position and strength the bond of unity against all forms of security challenges especially banditry and terrorism while putting in perspective culture and tradition to deepen and strengthen identification and synergy.
” Amicable reconciliation is important between Hausa farmers and Fulani herders. We need to identify grey areas that need to be calibrated to give the Fulanis some sense of belonging “, he added.
Also speaking on – Hausa man: ” Yesterday,Today and Tomorrow”, Professor Bello Bada noted that Hausa and Fulanis have found themselves at a cross road under difficult situation.
” This is so, because we seem not to know our selves. Our leaders are only interested in winning elections and abandoning responsibilities to their people.”
Bada, who is also of UDUS , noted that Hausa and Fulanis were long living in absolute peace braced by common similarities in culture, tradition , religion and inter marriages even with other tribes within the north which were reasons that bounded them in unity.
According to Bada ” We failed to take note of how Saddam Hussain was toppled with the active collaboration of the west in the name of democracy which is seemingly be used to further lock our heads.
” What we are having today in the north is not far from that . Fulani had fought and conquered the Hausas not on tribal grounds but religion and today , the Hausa are being brainwashed not to allow the Fulanis space they should take revenge .”
He continued : ” Today we are implanted in our hearts, the choice of hatred and divisive tendencies which resulted in the current stagnation and insecurity in the north, all in the name of democracy that promoted the agenda of the west”, Bada alleged.
The university don said corruption and self centeredness have eaten deep into the fabrics of north’s reasoning that it no longer encourages peaceful coexistence and development.
” All these have ditched us into the well of complete disunity , hatred and development with lives being lost daily occasioned by socio-economic deficiencies and denying the average Fulani education and other basic rights to live as citizens like others “, he mentioned with concerns as he reflected on the current predicament.
” We are in total difficulties. Youths are like time bomb today. Our leaders must not fail to commit themselves to realities of the day. They must rise to the situation and ensure justice , equity and progress. The situation spreading against our capacity to contain “, he further alerted.
Patron of the association and Wazirin Sokoto, Prof Sambo Wali Junaidu represented by Dr Wadata Hakimi said the current challenges faced as a result of the divisive tendencies driven by misgivings between Hausas and Fulanis must not be allowed to persist noting that the duo were noted to have common historical background that promote better understanding.
” We need to do more to regain the past good glory and strengthen the bond with resilience against all odds”, Hakimi said.
He added” we have to sustain our origin and common similarities that kept us peaceful in the past through sensitising ourselves not to allow division and hatred between us.”
He noted the pivotal role of the forum while urging Sokoto state government to extend support to the forum as a rallying force in fostering the much needed bond for peaceful co-existence and inclusive development.
Earlier, the state Coordinator of the Forum, Nura Bello Shettiman Kasarawa said the event was the 11th edition after its inauguration 10 years ago in Sokoto.
According to Bello , the idea was muted to conduct activities that symbolised the principles of culture and tradition of the Hausa /Fulanis through robust synergy with Emirates in the north.
” Our target is to pilot affairs that border on health, education and social economic activities of our people and others for the purpose of peace, unity and brotherhood and especially the future of our young ones.
” The forum has it’s presence across 19 states of the north “, he disclosed as he reflected on this year’s theme: ” Our culture ,our tradition , our investment ”
Bello disclosed that the forum had within it’s efforts , sponsored a number of almajiris into integrated education and supported others to acquire skills in different trades for self reliance and economic independence.
” We are also exploring other collaborations with organised bodies and experts for more impactful programmes that carry our people along “, Bello added as he assured of more initiatives and sensitisation to encourage better understanding and unity between the two and among other tribes in the north.
” We need to see ourselves as progressives with love for each and one another across the north”, he urged while noting the the legacies of Usmanu Bn Fodiyo on character, learning and peaceful coexistence by actualising leadership which promoted just, fair and equitable treatment that benefited of all.
