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By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government and other relevant security agencies whose primary responsibility is to maintain law and order have been called upon to ensure that Peace reigns in Tafawa Balewa Community by suspending the 21st memorial event of late Baba Peter Gonto for now in order to avert any breach of the peace.
The call was made by Mwari Youth Development Association (MWAYODA) in Bogoro Local Government Area stating that, “We reiterate with a loud voice that we reject in totality the event as we foresee a great crisis and disunity in the land from a programme based on the desperation of the organizers” .
MWAYODA through its leadership addressed Journalists at the NUJ Press Center stating that, “We unequivocally state that, the organizers should be held responsible for any breach of peace that may occur in Zaarland as a result of the event. The organizers should be made to sign an undertaking with the security agencies as we used to do during Zaar annual festival”.
Reading text of the briefing on behalf of the Association Chairman, Comrade Madalla Yakubu, stated that, “One will be right to say that this event is aimed at creating problem and more disunity among ourselves, and if not properly handle, it will create chaos and insecurity”.
The Association further stated that, “Visible on the invitation card, one will notice that many prominent names of Zaar sons and daughters are missing. Notable of all, is the deliberate refusal to recognize the most important figure in the land, the Paramount Ruler of our people, Gung Zaar – Select and his Council on the host of dignitaries that will grace the occasion.
“Baba Gonto lived his life and died in anticipation of a Zaar Chiefdom under a united family. Baba Gonto was a man of the the people. He was for all and he’ll continue to be for all even in death. In a situation where a deliberate attempt is made to create disharmony among our people, Baba Gonto wouldn’t have accepted such disuniting gesture. In view of the above, we therefore wish to state clearly our positions regarding the said Memorial”.
It added that in respect to the press conference held earlier by so called MWARI Concerned Youth Forum, “we, as the mother body of Mwari Youth Development Association, we totally condemned their decision, More so such union is not recognized by Mwsri youth”.
According to MWAYODA, “It has become imperative for us to address the world and to make the record straight about our position regarding the preparation of the said ‘Baba Gonto 21st Memorial Anniversary’ which is scheduled to take place on 31st December, 2021” .
“I informed the world that MWAYODA as a body called an emergency meeting on the 10th of December, 2021 to discuss about the proposed Late Baba Peter Gonto’s 21st Memorial programme. At the emergency meeting, we reached an agreement that since the event is not organized by either Zaar Development Association (ZDA) or COUNCIL of Gung Zaar-Select, it means it’s something that we have no role to play unless otherwise, because it’s purely a family business. We made reference to a clean and unbiased memorial programme”, it explained.
The Association however stated that, “But to our greatest dismay, we saw an invitation card circulating in the name of the family of Baba Peter Gonto in conjunction with our mother body ZDA NATIONAL”.
It concluded that, “We are tired of desperate individuals scheming to bring our people and land into disrepute”.
