Bida agog as Etsu Nupe marks 13 years on the throne

There was every cause to celebrate a man whose reign has brought tremendous advancement and progress to the kingdom and its people. Etsu Yahaya would go down in history as the one to have ruled longest from his Usman Zaki ruling house. He was not only 13 years on the throne of his forebears on […]

There was every cause to celebrate a man whose reign has brought tremendous advancement and progress to the kingdom and its people. Etsu Yahaya would go down in history as the one to have ruled longest from his Usman Zaki ruling house. He was not only 13 years on the throne of his forebears on September 11, 2016, but the 13th to rule the kingdom since its inception. 

In between this period many sons and daughters of the kingdom and indeed the state, which his reign traversed as the chairman of council of chiefs, have risen to prominence within the nation’s political sphere. Within the first tenure of the incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari alone, the state produced two top security chiefs-the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Kpotu Idris and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Abdullahi Mohammed Gana. 

The anniversary organizers decided to kill three birds with a stone by also honouring these illustrious sons and daughters and also celebrate the 8th Nupe Day. So it wasn’t just a celebration of the man who many believed has brought uncommon energy and creativity to the throne of his forefathers, but also that of advancement spurred by bonds of unity and anchored on cultural renaissance.  

And dignitaries from various tribes with which Nupe has historical links flooded Bida, and these were from Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Borno, Yoruba land, Igala among others. The Kingdom’s many cousins from Beni, Benu Kusopa Dibo Ganagana, Kakanda, Basa Cekpan Kede and Kupe were also on hand to identify with their own. And the ancient city was visibly overwhelmed. 

The event which was shifted from its traditional period of September because of the appointment of his royal highness as the 2016 national Amirul Hajj by President Muhammudu Buhari ,commenced on Friday December 16 with a  lecture at the Federal Polytechnic followed by the turbanning of prominent persons within and outside the state ,and merit awards to sons and daughters of the kingdom who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers on the same day. 

But it was the proceedings of the last day, Saturday, December 17 that brought the town of notable warriors to a standstill, probably because of personalities on the honours list. Among the 15 sons and daughters of the kingdoms, 7 were serving security personnel. Commissioner of Police Border Patrol, Sanusi Lemu; Commissioner of Police, Zamfara state, Shaba Alkali; Assistant  Inspector-General of Police, Zone 10, Usman Yakubu; Director Logistics, National Defence College, Abuja, Major General Mohammed Mohammed; Director International Alliance and Linkages, Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, Brig. Gen A. S. Ndalolo. Then the two top-most security chiefs-Abdullahi Mohammed Gana, NSCDC Commandant General and IGP Ibrahim K. Idris. 

In solidarity with their own, three serving Deputy Inspectors General of Police were present along with 9 Assistant Inspector General of Police and 7 CPs. Also at the event to honour the IGP were retired IGPs Sulieman Abba and Mike Okiro, who is also the chairman of the Police Service Commission. The decision by the events’ organizing committee to make Okiro the chairman of the occasion lent credence to the assumption by many that the civic reception was a security affair. But such assemblage of security chiefs does not surprise the kingdom and its people, having elected to entrust their destines into the hands of a Brigadier General of the Nigeria Armoured Corps.  

The kingdom and its ruler no doubt savour such rare moment. Sitting at the Wadata palace venue of the main event among the array of dignitaries that surrounded him, Etsu Abubakar was indeed a happy man. This is more so as the first Nupe man was appointed as the nation’s police chief during his reign. The royal father’s enthusiasm could be appreciated in his many comments shortly after the gesture, to the effect that the appointment was “greatly cherished by Nupe Nation in Nigeria and the Diaspora.”  He charged the new IGP to justify the confidence reposed in him, by confronting the many security challenges bedeviling the country head on so that “Nigerians could sleep with their two eyes close.” 

The royal father as a security personnel himself knew this was a herculean task, because the rising cases of kidnapping, cattle rustling, farmers/herders clashes, insurgency, unrest in the Niger Delta region and armed banditry have defied all innovations by past police bosses, especially since the democratic dispensation in 1999. But Etsu Yahaya was optimistic that his son was equal to the task and could address the many security challenges facing the country. This optimism must be premised on the IGP’s pedigree as leader of the nation’s many peace keeping missions abroad, and track record at home. 

Beyond the task of tracking down the bad eggs and making the country safe, the new IGP is now among the decision makers in the kingdom as the Zarma Nupe. He was presented with the insignia of office, which includes a horse, a sword and a brass pot as the kingdoms chief defender by the Etsu preparatory to the reception. His people were however unanimous that such responsibility runs in the family with his late father, Abdullahi Idris Kutigi who served as as Zanna Kutigi, and his late mother, Hajiya Aishatu Abdulmalik was the Lugban Nupe. And the people feel so secured as different cultural troupes dance with hope and anticipation. 

The event witnessed a cultural renaissance of some sort with an apparent revival of the lost Nupe culture and tradition through the annual Nupe Day initiative of the royal father. It would be a landmark and watershed in the history of the kingdom with the reenactment of Ndakogboya and Igunu masquerades with their various dance steps. 

Although the mystery surrounding Igunu commonly known to the Nupe and Yoruba is still unknown, but a school of thought believed that they are giant masquerades that are initially part of a cult formed to fight witchcraft. Alapini was said to be the head of the hierarchy of Igunu priests which include Elefi, Olohan, Oloba, Aladafa and Oloje, which together led a colonization expedition to Yoruba land, where the masquerades were also believed to be introduced. 

It was said that with the near complete Islamisation of most of the Nupe areas following the incursion of 1830s, the performances of traditional ceremonies and culture declined ,and with it, the extinction of the revered masquerades . 

The Ndakogbaya and Igunu return through a revival effort to dazzle the guests at the event. Their bodies are covered in bright coloured cloth; the dance steps are unpredictable with the body swaying to the music. 

Snake charmers also exhibit their skills by cuddling live serpents to the amazement of the crowd, while warriors show off their invincibility by using sharp knives on their bare bodies without leaving any scar. The revival efforts also include the return of brass and masaga works with their legendary history. The intricate works of art were part of the gifts his royal highness proudly handed to visitors and dignitaries at the occasion. 

Accolades pour in for Etsu from dignitaries who also include Godwin Obaseki of Edo state and his Cross River counterpart, Prof Ben Ayade.  Obaseki described the Etsu as a friend and father in Edo state, while praising him for extending partnership outside the shores of Nupe land. This friendship was seen in the title of Tafida Rayan Kasan Nupe conferred on Obaseki’s benefactor and predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The governor charged his royal highness to continue to strengthen the bond of unity among various section of the country. 

Ayade on his own part commended the Etsu for the foresight which informed the introduction of the Nupe Foundation ICT Centre. “I am particularly pleased with the ICT project by the Etsu Nupe, which is knowledge based and the future of the world. This is a lesson for us as Governors, to recognise the fact that autonomous based communities and ethnic nationalities are veritable channels to programme a better future for our youths and next generation,” he noted. 

The governor was particularly thrilled by the rich cultural heritage of the Nupe people and advised for the introduction of  a carnival to showcase the array of talents to the world. He also urged the Etsu to deepen the Nupe and Cross River unity through cultural exchanges. Both governors supported the ICT initiative with N10 million each. 

The traditional institution was represented at the occasion by Olukpoti of Ikpoti-Ekiti, James Oladipupo, who praised the Etsu for making them proud through his leadership style, while prodding him to strive more as a bridge builder and progressive. 

Like Bida, Kutigi, the home country of the IGP was also agog the following Sunday in honour of their son. The event also coincides with the annual Gani festival. “It is always good to be back home. I am your child and I am here by the grace of the Almighty.It is your blessing and prayers that have kept me all the while,” an overwhelmed IGP told his people.

“As we mark the 674th annual Gani festival, it is clear that the festival is as old as Kutigi itself. Let this mark the beginning of cultural rebirth. Our youths must embrace a cosmopolitan nature and embrace people from different places for peace and economic prosperity. Let us be our brother’s keeper, and avoid acts that could lead to break down of law and order,” he urged.

 Perhaps, in response to the Etsu’s charge on his son to strive to make the nation safe for Nigerians to “sleep with both eyes closed” ,the IGP left the state with an action that the people would continue to appreciate for a long time.He performed the  groundbreaking act for the establishment of a mobile police unit in Kontagora that would serve as a counterforce to tackle Cattle rustling, Kidnapping and Armed banditry in the North-Central and North-West regions. As the various cultural troupes celebrate the action with various dance steps that day, they know that they could go to sleep with their Kpakoyankpa keeping watch over them.