Community stakeholders from Ningi Emirate in Bauchi State have raised alarm over looming communal tension that may arise if the government merges the old Ningi settlements with Kudu/Yamma from the existing Ningi Emirate to form 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 outlined the historical background of the Ningi Emirate and cautioned against tampering with its history.
DAILY POST recall the State Government’s High-Powered Committee on the Creation of Chiefdoms and Emirates, chaired by Hamza Koshe Akuyam, submitted its report recommending 13 additional emirates, two chiefdoms, and 111 districts, which has been forwarded to the Assembly for approval.
The Ningi stakeholders, in the petition titled “Objection on 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,” alleged distortion of history and cultural identity.
They wrote: “Ningi Emirate has a long-standing history dating back to the 19th Century, rooted in shared culture and traditions. Detaching Old Ningi settlements and Kudu/Yamma communities from Ningi Emirate to create the proposed Ari Chiefdom/Emirate will dilute our history, disrupt continuity, and weaken the cultural bonds that have held us together for over two centuries.
“From a political perspective, Ningi Emirate is both a traditional and political symbol of authority and legitimacy. Any attempt to remove key areas will diminish its influence and could be perceived as an effort by the government to weaken the Emir’s authority and the emirate’s political relevance in the State.
“On social cohesion and security, the removal of these communities may spark communal tension among tribes and groups supporting either the new or old traditional structures. This could result in rivalry, conflict, and breach of peace.
“Determining jurisdictional boundaries between Ningi Emirate and the proposed Ari Chiefdom will also be complex since both share similar people, culture, religion, and geography. This will inevitably cause conflicts of loyalty and authority.”
The petition further noted that there is already growing mistrust and calls for justice and equity among ethnic nationalities, adding that proponents of the Ari Chiefdom have never carried the affected communities along in their agitation.
The stakeholders clarified that they are not opposed to the creation of the Ari Chiefdom itself but stressed that fairness and objectivity must guide government decisions to ensure inclusiveness.
They concluded: “We are convinced beyond any doubt that carving out 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 at large. 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.”
