Shehu of Bama and test of faith

I first met the Shehu of Bama,  Kyari  Ibrahim Ibn El-Kanemi in November 2002 through Late Ali Mai Sangayama, a member of the Borno State House of Assembly  representing Gulumba-Woloji constituency . It is worthy to note that out of the 27 local government areas of Borno state, only Bama has two seats at the house of assembly, Gulumba-Woloji and Bama constituency due to its size and population.

Mai Sangayama, who  later became Ali Sheriff’s Commissioner for Works died in 2005 after a brief illness.  He was one of the few members of the house that I related closely with. Others are Inuwa Musa Kubo, former speaker and now commissioner for Education, Minority leader, Kolo Bukar,Yusuf Gana Balami and AbdulRahman AbdulKareem, majority leader and now caretaker chairman, Ngala local government council. I have taken time to go into details because after 1999-2003 legislators in Borno, the state house of assembly lost its vibrancy and robust debate. Two thirds of the members who were elected later were either executive apologists or individuals who knew little or nothing about the value and meaning of law making. I will revisit this issue later.

Sangayama had moved a motion under matters of urgent importance on the floor of the house that people from his constituency were relocating to Cameroun due to lack of basic amenities. For those who know Bama,Banki town is a few kilometers from the Camerounian border. Sangayama specifically mentioned a couple of villages namely Walasa, Amchaka and others  that I cannot remember. As a reporter with nose for news, I decided to go with him the following week to Gulumba/Woloji to see things for myself. On our way, Sangayama asked his driver, Abubakar to stop at the palace of the Emir of Bama to pay courtesy.

As we sauntered into the palace, we met Ibrahim Ibn El-Kanemi sitting on a chair in the court yard, while his aides sat on a mat listening to him.  Sangayama briefed him about our mission and introduced me in an atmosphere of conviviality. He was very friendly and humble that he asked me where I came from, what I think of Bama and my experience so far in Borno as a journalist. This swept me off my feet as I did not expect such a warm reception in a palace that I have never been to. I later learnt that was the culture of Bama people being widely travelled businessmen known for their cosmopolitan nature like the people of Maiduguri and Konduga.

This encounter endeared him to me. I looked forward to coming back someday. This is because he was connected to his people, that virtually all the people and children that came while we were there, he called them by their names.

In mid 2003, I met Fara Modu, an Information officer with Ministry of Women Affairs with Ladi Mamman Watila as Commissioner. Modu was close to the Emir being a son of Bama and he further strengthened my links to Bama. He buys a copy of TELL magazine every week for the royal father. After his transfer to Bama, Modu kept coming to Maiduguri every week to buy the magazine for El-Kanemi. At a point, I started giving him a copy from my complimentary copies every week for onward delivery to the Emir. Occasionally, when I visit Bama we will stop by the palace to greet the Emir. I valued my relationship with Modu because of his loyalty to friendship and secondly, he had access to every Bama politician or businessman. Within an hour, he could arrange an interview for me. I recall these events in excruciating pain because both Sangayama and Modu have since passed on.

In March 2010,  the then governor Ali Modu Sheriff splitted the old Dikwa Emirate into new Bama and Dikwa Emirate. The new Dikwa Emirate has three local government areas namely Dikwa, Ngala and Kala Balge. Under the new arrangement, El-Kanemi was left  with only Bama local government area. Sheriff’s reason was that he wanted to correct the injustice done to his people in 1902 by the colonialists who moved Dikwa emirate to Bama for administrative convenience.

However, some other people felt Sheriff was only settling scores with El-Kanemi over his support for Late Mala Kachallah. People had expected the state house of assembly to stop the move, but the lawmakers had no courage because the governor made their elections possible .This is why I said earlier that the 1999-2003 set of lawmakers in Borno were the best of legislators produced in the last sixteen years.

For an average Nigerian traditional ruler, his throne, areas under him and palace are of strategic importance to him. He is ready to fight with the last drop of his blood anything that will undermine these three. It is about ego, self esteem, political economy and preservation of family heritage.

Many had expected El-Kanemi to put up a fight by seeking redress in court, but he kept his cool. Few weeks after the incident, I was in Bama to visit Fara Modu and we stopped by the palace to greet him. To my surprise, El-Kanemi was looking unruffled and beaming. Modu then pushed further by asking how he had been, but he merely said in every situation one should give glory to God. I was shocked, because an average traditional ruler in Nigeria with their obsession with royalty and control o f their domain will have been shattered. I saw in him the attributes of Muhammad Al-Amin Ibn El-Kanemi (1809-1837), the founder of El-Kanemi dynasty who was said to be a man of faith and courage.

Unfortunately, Fara Modu was killed by Boko Haram in 2013 while relaxing in front of his house in Bama.I was devastated by his death for three reasons, the circumstances, lost of contact with his wife, Hauwa Kulu, a staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and my inability to attend the burial because I was away in the United States. It took several weeks before Bulama Talba, a friend of Modu who also works with the Borno State Ministry of Information could break the news to me.

While still grieving over the loss of my bosom friend, On September 1,2014, the rampaging Boko Haram sacked Bama town, destroying the palace and kidnapping the emir’s wife and two children. This forced the Emir to relocate to Maiduguri like his counterpart from Gwoza. As fate would have it, the wife, Queen Hajju and her daughter, Princess Amma escaped from their captors on July 24,2016. Unfortunately, the sect had killed his son. Like our people will say, when an incident that could have taken one’s life, removes the cap, the person should give glory to God. It could have been worse.

According to the Bring Back Our Girls Group (BBOG), nineteen parents of the missing Chibok girls have since died due to emotional trauma. I cannot imagine what life has been like for him in the last two years.

One great thing about the Kanuris of Borno is their fatalism.I wish other Nigerians can learn from it. No matter how hopeless a situation is, they are optimistic that tomorrow will be better. I cannot imagine how traumatizing life can be for Bama people  famous  for their ‘’enigmatic love’’ for the town, that they are living in camps for two years. To underscore their love for Bama, they will leave Maiduguri at 7pm just to pass the night at their ‘’city like’’ town which is 70 kilometers away. Considering what the people of Borno had undergone in the last six years, some other people will develop health issues, but they put their faith in God. They believe that since their great grandparents overcome Rabeh Zubayr Ibn Fadl Allah, Boko Haram will also be history some day.

After all, the holy Quran  in Suratul Mulk,chapter 67,Verse 2 says ‘’It is Allah, He who created Death and life, that  he may try which of you is best in deed: and he is the exalted  in might, oft –forgiving.’ ’After all, Allah says after hardship, comes relief.

I was gladdened by the return of his wife and daughter because I cannot imagine what it  is like for a man whose life was enveloped by darkness for nearly two years,and within a twinkle of an eye light takes over. This is because a deceased wife or children is far better than abducted ones, due to the emotional and psychological trauma that comes with it. It is only those who have experienced it that can say what it feels like.

With three different trials in six years that could have taken his life, but El-Kanemi is alive to tell the story, only a few are this lucky. I say Bara’a n3min, sai kanadi. Kuru, Ala fuuyero ashir’a zaks3 (PLEASE NOTE:THESE ARE KANURI ALPHABETS THAT HAVE NO  SUBSTITUTE IN ENGLISH). I urge him to take solace in Allah’s words in Suratul Baqarah  (Quran 2:155-157) ‘’ And surely we shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops; but give glad tidings to the patient, who says, when afflicted with calamity. To Allah we belong, and to him is our return: They are those on whom (descend) blessings from Allah and they are the ones that receive guidance.’’

I pray to the lord of majesty and bounty (Dhul Jalal Wal Ikhram) to save us from a trial that will test our faith during our life time. For those who have experienced it like Kyari Ibrahim Ibn El-Kanemi, parents of the Chibok girls and the state in general, may God comfort them and make it a gateway to good health and long life

Lawal can be reached through [email protected]:AbdulRafiu19