Colours, cultural display as Kaduna celebrates centenary

It was not a carnival, but the procession at the Murtala Square in Kaduna on Saturday was no less resplendent in the different arrays of costumes and other colourful appurtenances that give zest to a music festival. It was  the grand finale of the celebration of 100 years of Kaduna as the political capital of […]

It was not a carnival, but the procession at the Murtala Square in Kaduna on Saturday was no less resplendent in the different arrays of costumes and other colourful appurtenances that give zest to a music festival.

It was  the grand finale of the celebration of 100 years of Kaduna as the political capital of northern Nigeria.

Explaining the reason behind the celebration, chairman of the Organising Committee of Kaduna Centenary, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said Lord Frederick Lugard established Kaduna in 1917 as the capital of the Northern Protectorate to replace Zungeru. 

“The city was planned carefully, and it quickly became a magnet for all Nigerians, not least the diverse people of the vast areas that constitute the north of Nigeria.

“It is this spirit that the centenary of Kaduna seeks to mark, to pay tribute to the people and communities that have built and upheld this city. The centenary seeks to review the first 100 years of Kaduna to learn lessons for the next 100 years,” he stated.

And the occasion was used to review many things.

Before the grand finale, there were prayers offered in churches and mosques, and   exhibition which portrayed the comportment of past leaders in the region showcasing their devotion to the development of the North.

The exhibition was billed to continue for a week, and it was meant to serve as a window for the youth, who may not have experienced such leaders to see how far the North has come and how they could situate the experience to understand the present.

In his welcome address, the deputy governor of Kaduna State, Barnabas Yusuf Bala, who was at the exhibition, said the pictures spoke for themselves.

“Looking at the pictures, you could clearly see the element of commitment and humility in the leaders. It was also an opportunity to identify those that were associated with events in the country, events that led us to where we are today,” he said. 

The deputy governor said that in the past, Nigeria had only three regions, and the cost of governance was not high.

“I guess this is part of the reason why people said they did better because the cost of governance was relatively low when compared with what we have today,” he stated.

The event, which included speeches from political leaders in the North, cultural displays and  durbar, met the expectations of the organisers. It was billed to start at 9:15am with the national anthem and opening prayer, but as early as 7:00 am, people started trooping into the Murtala Square, the venue of the event.

It was evident from the previous day that there had been an influx of people into Kaduna, with the high increase in traffic and congestions noticed in public places like markets and filling stations.

The security agencies mobilised early enough and stationed their men in strategic points leading to the venue of the event and prevented unauthorised vehicles from gaining access to the streets leading to venue. But it did not discourage the crowd from accessing the venue as most of them walked long distances from where their vehicles were parked.

Soon, a very long line stretching from the gate of the square to far distances like the GTBank junction south of the gate formed for several hours.

The procession was, however, orderly as the crowd patiently submitted to the procedure of being searched by the security agents at the entrances to the square.

But most vehicles were turned back as the vast spaces within the square were filled to capacity and many were compelled to park outside.

Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai said not less than 2,000 horses were expected to participate in the durbar, and true to his projection, seven northern states came with their stables, the largest contingent being the one from Gombe.

The one from Borno was also large and very colourful – the horse  was decked in resplendent costumes like their riders.

The durbar involved a parade of horses and men round the square in full display of their cultures and the symbols that distinguish them as a people, to the entertainment of the dignitaries and other spectators present.

On the side were parades of different cultural troupes based in Kaduna, such as the Ebira, Gbagyi, Gwagwa, Igbo, Yoruba, Fulani and Nupe.

Each contingent stood out for its unique style and sense of fashion, accompanied by songs and dances as they moved gracefully round the arena.

The durbar contingents were from Bauchi, Jigawa, Jamare, Hadieja, Borno, Kano, Keffi, Zazzau, Katagum and Kano.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Musa Bello, commended the state government for organising the event.

He said Kaduna was chosen by destiny to serve as the capital of the Northern Region, 100 years ago. It became the pride of the region so as to play a role in its development and that of Nigeria in general.

He said, “Kaduna city nurtured the whole 19 northern states, including the FCT. This made it a very important city in the history of northern Nigeria, and by extension, the country in general.

“I’m happy to note that the city turned 100 years under the progressing Governor Ahmed Nasir el-Rufa’i,” he said. He congratulated the governor and the people of the state for witnessing the event.

He equally commended the governor for some of his policies, which he said geared towards making the state great.

In his remark, former Vice President Namadi Sambo said Nigeria’s unity was not negotiable. He explained that the amalgamation of Nigeria by Lord Lugard in 1914 was not a mistake but a blessing for the country. He said Lord Lugard ensured that a solid foundation was laid to make Kaduna a city for all to live in peace and harmony.

“Kaduna remains a blessed city in Nigeria. We have gathered here to pay tribute to our forefathers. Let me also use this opportunity to urge us to place national interest above other interests so that our people can live in peace and harmony,” he said.

Sambo commended the governor for protecting the interest of the people of the state.

“The history of Kaduna cannot be complete without mentioning the first premier of northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and other past leaders whose contributions brought the state to where it is today,” he said.

The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, on his part, commended all the emirs in attendance for making history to be part of the centenary celebration.

He appealed to northerners to continue to live in peace and harmony with one another irrespective of cultural and religious affiliations, saying, “It’s always better for us to remain as one indivisible nation. It’s the only way we can develop as a people and nation.”

He commended Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i for hosting the historical event.