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Warns decision could escalate ethno-religious conflicts
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the decision of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, to site the headquarters of the Sayawa Chiefdom in Tafawa-Balewa.
In a statement released on Thursday, NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, warned that the decision could reignite the ethno-religious conflicts that have plagued the community since the first major disturbance in 1991.
The Council reminded the governor of the implications of his decision and urged him to reconsider in line with the recommendations of multiple committees established to address the crises.
Prof. Oloyede said:
“Efforts by past and present governors to restore peace and foster harmonious coexistence have yielded relative peace, albeit one akin to a graveyard silence, as Muslims have been displaced from the town for over 14 years.
“The persistent issue in the Tafawa-Balewa crises has been the Sayawa Chiefdom, particularly the location of its headquarters. While the Bauchi Emirate Council and the Muslim community of Tafawa-Balewa have conceded to the Chiefdom’s creation for peace, they remain resolutely opposed to its headquarters being located in Tafawa-Balewa.”
The Council noted that several committees, including one appointed by Governor Bala Mohammed under Ambassador Chinade, have recommended Bogoro as the Chiefdom’s headquarters. It pointed out that in 2014, then-Governor Isa Yuguda submitted a bill to the State House of Assembly that specified Bogoro as the headquarters, but Sayawa leaders rejected it, insisting on Tafawa-Balewa.
Prof. Oloyede outlined reasons for opposing the Tafawa-Balewa location, including:
Historical Context: The town was founded by the Fulanis over four centuries ago, with the first Sayawa settlers arriving in the 1960s.
Moral Grounds: Violence against Muslims in Tafawa-Balewa has left hundreds dead, making it unjust to hand the town over as the Chiefdom’s headquarters.
Demographic and Political Realities: The Sayawa people are predominantly in Bogoro Local Government Area (LGA) and hold only two of 16 wards in Tafawa-Balewa LGA.
The NSCIA cautioned that establishing the Chiefdom’s headquarters in Tafawa-Balewa would not promote peace or justice but rather exacerbate existing tensions.
“It is clear that the planned siting of the Sayawa Chiefdom headquarters in Tafawa-Balewa is neither in the interest of peace nor in line with the principles of justice and moral rectitude,” the statement concluded.
The Council urged Governor Mohammed to adopt a solution aligned with equity and sustainable peaceful coexistence, warning that the current plan risks perpetuating unending ethno-religious conflicts.