Superiority Battle between Zaar and Caliphate cultural heritage.

✍🏾 Madalla Kadiri, Zaar Activist.

Introduction:

Previous governments attempted to implement local government reforms to foster peace and development at the grassroots level, but these efforts failed due to the unequal distribution of traditional institutions in Nigeria. Minority groups, such as the Zaar and others in Northern Nigeria, were denied the the right of having a local government,  traditional institution that aligns with their cultural heritage.

Is  a culture from 1960 - date if a Local Government emerge in Nigeria,  it  emerge with a traditional institution in line with the cultural heritage of the  people.

The religious, tribal Crisis ravaging the middle belt of Nigeria at the moment is as a result of more agitation by minority  tribes for equal distribution of traditional institution and nobody knows when this agitation will end.

Traditional Rulers are  custodian of cultural heritage of there  people.

Brief History of Sokoto Caliphate.

When the Sokoto Caliphate was conquered by British colonial forces in 1903 and the territory was divided between British, French, and German powers. While the caliphate itself was abolished, the British retained the honorary position of Sultan which continues to be recognized in contemporary Nigeria as an influential religious and spiritual leader. 

Chieftancy Ordinance was promulgated by the British to give them power for the   appointment and deposition of Chiefs. 

The Sokoto Caliphate, Emirs under it Territory lost there  powers as Traditional Rulers to the colonial masters , then the colonial masters  re-employ them as Civil Servant under the British Government not as Traditional Rulers to assist them with the  following functions; 

 1. Heads of native authorities at the local level.

 2. They performed judicial functions

3. Custodians of revenue at the local level.

4. Participants in national political institutions.

 5. They served as a link between the local people and the colonial government.

Colonial Chieftaincy law of 1930 Retain by Sir Ahmadu Bello.

After Nigerian independence  from the British empire in 1960 and the British left, Sir Ahmadu Bello the first and last  Premier of Northern Nigeria under Northern People Congress a party that form by the Caliphate to protect of the Emirate did exactly what the British Colonial Master did  he retained the honorary position of Sultan as the Grandson of Usman Danfodio,  he abrogate power to himself  Appoint and Depose   chiefs in Northern Nigeria under the British Colonial Chieftaincy law.

The independent that Nigeria got from British was not a real independent, it was just  a well crafted organized criminal arrangement of international Colonialist transferring power to local Colonialist to continue from where they stop.

The Chieftancy laws in  all the State of  Northern Nigeria is an offshoot of Colonial Chieftaincy law of 1930.

Superiority Battle between Zaar and Caliphate Cultural Heritage.

Under the Chieftaincy law of Bauchi State and  traditional selection rights of Ghun Zaar, the authority to choose the Ghun Zaar lies with the Kingmaker, not the Governor. 

The Zaar  Kingmakers consist of Zaar elders and village heads, and the Caliphate Kingmakers consist of  Galadima, Madaki, and Sarkin Yaki, then Wambai, Ajiya and Imam.

The Governor bestows the staff of office based on the recommendation, advice of the Kingmakers.

The Zaar elders and village heads have done  their part  while ago,  now waiting for the Governor to bestowed the staff of office, but  past, present Governors have refused.

The present Governor in his  various press release have argued that the ancient Zaar traditional Selection right of Chief use by Zaar kingmakers is not recognize by law, claiming that it contravenes Chieftaincy law of Bauchi State. He have already labelled the current Ghun Zaar select as imposter.

It is quite glaring  that there is  a Superiority Battle between Zaar and  Caliphate Cultural Heritage . The question that remain unanswered is who will win? time will tell.

Let us rise up and  preserve our ancient cultural heritage from extinction, many tribes in Bauchi State have  lost there own due to absent of traditional ruler as  custodian of  cultural heritage and they are regretting.

Reference 

 (https://rpl.hds.harvard.edu/faq/sokoto-caliphate). Chieftancy Ordinance. 

 (https://www.cegastacademy.com/2021/05/21/role-of-traditional-rulers-under-indirect-rule-in-british-west-africa/).