Bogoro crisis: Bauchi Council constitutes 11-man fact-finding committee

By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi

Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State has constituted a 11 man Committee to identify the persons and properties affected by the crisis in the LG as well as recommend immediate assistance to cushion their effects. 
The committee which has one week to summit its report followed the crisis that erupted and disrupted the 21st memorial service and book launch for late Baba Peter Gonto held at the end of last year in Bogoro. 
While inaugurating the Committee on Tuesday at the Council Secretariat in Bogoro, the Council Chairman, Iliya Habila recalled that, “in the morning of the grand finale of the anniversary, law abiding citizens from the villages of both Tafawa Balewa and BOGORO LGAs, the state and across other states were trooping into the venue for the event”. 
The Council Chairman added that, “In fact, some personalities had gone to the venue of the historic event and the event had started when reports reached us that some persons, including women and children had gathered themselves in Tafawa Balewa and were marching to Bogoro to come and disrupt the event”. 
According to him, “The hoodlums blocked roads from Tafawa Balewa, Gobbiya, Mallar-Lusa and other entry points to Bogoro, smashed cars, beat those who were going for the events and created chaos and anarchy in the Local Government. Important guests and personalities from across the country who had been invited to the event and were coming were molested; their cars smashed and were forced to go back”. 
Iliya Habila added that, “The hoodlums still advanced through Bar to Bogoro with the intention of disrupting the event. The event was therefore, hurriedly ended after the Convener, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro presented his speech urging all to embrace peace and announced the establishment of the Baba Peter Gonto Foundation”. 
“Still determined to cause disharmony, some of the hoodlums who had taken the Bar-Mwari road went to the venue of the event , set the whole place ablaze. Other hoodlums in Mwari too went about destroying houses and properties of the sons of the Late Patriarch, Baba Peter Gonto Mwari and those whom they perceived to be supporting the event”, he added. 
He added that, “The eldest son of Baba Peter Gonto was attacked in his house by the rampaging youths where he was almost killed immediately. He later died in the hospital after seven days of excruciating pains. Another 12 year-old boy was also said to have died in Mwari during the attack. May their souls and the souls of the faithful departed Rest In Peace”. 
The Council Chairman retorted that, “My dear brothers and sisters of Bogoro LGA, we have been the most peaceful community in the state, knowing that our common enemies have been poverty, illiteracy and other developmental challenges. Our very focus over the years has been on farming and education”. 

According to him, “of late, we embraced politics and we are still learning the robes. And that is why any developmental projects that have to do with education, skills acquisition, agriculture and small scale businesses are welcome developments in our LGA” .

He explained that, “That explained the reason for us to accept wholeheartedly the hosting of the Baba Gonto event which had as its central theme the establishment of the Foundation. I believe if there is a community that is in dire need of a Foundation that would cater for the education of our students, skill acquisition and other empowerment programme for our women and youths, it’s Bogoro LGA”. 
“And the event was aimed at meeting such needs. While as co-host, we in Bogoro had welcomed the development amidst some misgivings which is normal in human existence; some lies from the pit of hell were manufactured, using the mindset of our people and some gullible youths to rubbish the well intended project. Ironically, those that were supposed to be the beneficiaries of such a noble gesture were the ones used to disrupt the event”. 
He also said that, “In this scenario, the peaceful and harmonious relationship that existed between brothers and sisters of Zaar land and other minority tribes in our communities have been stained through a selfish and self serving interest” . 
He however declared that, “I am privy to the planning and execution of the project and can say that wide consultations were made with religious leaders, traditional rulers, tribal associations of both Zaar extraction and other minority groups, people from all shades of opinions and political leanings were involved in the planning, except those who declined their membership for reasons best known to them – they have their rights to decline anyway”. 
He lamented that, “That singular event was another opportunity again to launch the Zaar Land into the history of peace loving, accommodating society. But the lies that shouldn’t ordinarily be accepted from even a society lesser enlightened than ours was taken and the evil plan actualized to the disadvantage of our women and youths”. 
“Or how else would you believe that a noble institution such as the Zaar Kingdom will be ridiculed to the point of coronating someone from the blues at a Football field in Bogoro? But because the heart of a Zaar man is in the Chieftaincy (For some people, first before God), you can easily manipulate him to achieve your goal”, he stressed. 
Iliya Habila further lamented that, “Now the unfortunate event has passed but left us with a new and regrettable development in our land. The wounds and scares are all over in our families, the negative values of hate, jealousy, bitterness, envy have been planted in the minds of our young ones. Even within same families, there is rancour and disharmony because of lies and selfishness of some persons”. 
“The recent happenings have shown that unless the People decide to live in peace, the establishment of traditional institutions and installations of Kings therein are not necessary instruments and panacea for underdevelopment of communities”, he opined.
Though he agreed that, “While conflicts and misunderstandings are not exclusive of any society, our ability to engage in sober reflection of our mistakes is what will make us stronger. We must go back to our God and Holy Books to take a cue from there in order to remedy the present situation”. 
He stressed that, “We must wear sackclothes and spray ashes and honestly confess our sins before God to clear the path for forgiveness of our sins and rehabilitation and reconstruction of our mindset.  I sincerely commiserate with the families and relations of especially late Baba Aralla Peter Gonto, those who were displaced as a result of destruction of their houses in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro LGAs”. 
Though living in Tafawa Balewa town, he said that most of those affected are from the LGA saying, “Our sympathy goes to our Village Head, Chief Nuhu Tafida for double losses: His residence in Tafawa Balewa and the houses of his subjects in Bar and Mwari villages, the families of Mr Peter Roko who losed properties in both Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro, National President Zaar Development Association (ZDA) Engr Isuwa Galla, Malam Mamaki Ishaya, Maiyaki, Mr Kefas Kura Sang, Habila Samu Sur, Amos Zaks (Sarkin Yaki), Williams Wadni, Luka Maigunduma and Mr Daniel Gadu”.
He added that, “In Bogoro LGA in particular our houses of our people were destroyed in Mwari and Bar while some properties in Bogoro town were torched. While the security agencies and the Courts are doing their statutory duties, we felt we should take roll of the extent of damage to properties and see areas of immediate assistance”. 
The Council Chairman then urged “our people to embrace peace, respect constituted authorities and support Government’s programmes aimed at developing our area. I, therefore express our unflinching support and gratitude to our Governor, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi) for constituting a committee to look into the issue of the Zaar Chiefdom”. 
He concluded that, “The surest way to go is for all and sundry to cooperate with the Governor towards the actualisation of the dreams of our Forefathers. Enough of this blood shedding and sowing of seeds of discord in the process of this struggle. We must be law abiding and not give the World the impression that we are a law less society. All sectors: religious, traditional, youth groups, women, intelligentsia, elites and others must wake up to their responsibilities”. 
Members of the Committee are: Simon Dudo Michael K. Alvin Chairman, Ambima Magani, Hon. Jinah Juala, DPO;
NSCD, Village Head, Samari Alyn, Schmun Denis and CAN.