Etsu Nupe @ 70: A life of unquantifiable grace

By Muhammed Kuta Yahaya  For nearly two weeks, the Nupe nation, friends, and admirers have been in a celebratory mood ahead of the 70th birthday anniversary of the the Etsu Nupe and paramount ruler of the Nupe people, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Dr Yahaya Abubakar, CFR. The euphoria that today’s event has generated should not […]

By Muhammed Kuta Yahaya 

For nearly two weeks, the Nupe nation, friends, and admirers have been in a celebratory mood ahead of the 70th birthday anniversary of the the Etsu Nupe and paramount ruler of the Nupe people, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Dr Yahaya Abubakar, CFR. The euphoria that today’s event has generated should not be surprising for, in the last five decades, this debonair monarch has bestrode the military, traditional and public scene.  

At every tum, he has been distinguished and exceptional, exuding a genius that is intimidating in every sense of the word. There is no section of the Nigerian public space in which the influence of Etsu Yahaya Abubakar has not been felt. There is no sphere of human endeavour that has not engaged his attention. During his days in the army, Etsu Yahaya Abubakar inspired awe, not just with his physical presence, but with the depth of the knowledge of his job, and his complete mastery of the fine points of military tradition.  

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It is self-evident that the Etsu’s strength lies in the maintenance of peace which has served as a catalyst for sustained growth and development of his kingdom. It is to his credit that in the last 19 years that he has been on the throne, there has been no reported case of any violence in his domain, where Muslims, Christians and people from diverse backgrounds cohabit in peace. 

Etsu has also been a unifying factor across Niger State in his capacity as the permanent Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers; a role he has played with uncommon humility and carriage. He has forged unity and cooperation among the Nupe people of Niger, Kwara and Kogi states. In spite of the continuous effort to obliterate African cultural practices by agents of western civilisation, the Nupe are enjoying a renaissance.  

The Etsu has made this possible through the symbolic celebration of the Annual Nupe National Day in Bida, the headquarters of the Nupe nation. During the annual event which takes place on June  26, every year, the Etsu Nupe with the support of his colleagues superintend symbolic exhibition of culture and reliving of age long traditions.  

The day was when the British Army was defeated by Nupe warriors led by the then Etsu Nupe Abubakar in 1896. The British Protectorate in Lokoja had approached the Bida Military camp at Ogidi in present Kogi State resulting in the defeat of the British Constabulary and the Union Jack was seized by the Nupe Cavalry.  

Significantly, the cultural values being revived  on the day include the Patigi Regatta – a colourful boat racing festival on River Niger in Patigi and Bariki celebrations in Bida which is usually held on the fifth day of Sallah festivals both Id-el fitr and Id-el Kabir celebrations in Bida. Each of these celebrations lasts five days. The fifth day is marked with fan-fare, where the Etsu Nupe rides on a horse-back with his subjects positioned at strategic locations to catch a glimpse of and pay respect to the Etsu-Nupe and his beautiful procession of horses. People visit Bida from far and wide to watch this colourful event. Also, being revived is the Gani Festival in Kutigi.  

The Kingdom’s rich tourist attractions are also being further projected to the world in the renewed efforts to revive the Nupe culture. The Masaga glass work in Bida is also a wonderful tourist resort. It involves melting of bottles into liquid products that are used to make different types of ornaments such as bangles, bracelets, beads, snake-like toys etc. Other tourist attractions include Kainji Lake National Park and the Cenotaphs of Mungo Park and Lander Brothers in Jebba, Kainji and Jebba Hydro Electricity Dams sites. 

Embedded in the cultural revival effort by the Etsu Nupe includes the effort by the Etsu’s council to keep the world abreast of happenings in Nupe Kingdom through a robust engagement with the media on the key social and mystical powers of Nupe that have made the people very popular, especially the Ndako Gboya Masquerades. Not to be missed is the traditional horse racing competition which now holds annually at the Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar Race Course, Bida.   

It is singularly remarkable that everyone who has been privileged to encounter Etsu Nupe has been impressed by the man’s humility, his common sense and touch, his love for his family and his loyalty to friends. He has had to play father-figure to generations of Nigerians regardless of their ethnic extraction, among whom is yours sincerely, who currently holds the traditional title of Magatakarda Nupe and a close confidant of the Etsu Nupe. 

Etsu Yahaya Abubakar has been in the forefront of promoting religious tolerance through his work as the Chairman, Coordinating Committee, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria as well as a strong voice in the Nigeria Interreligious Council (NIREC). His significance as a worthy citizen, traditional ruler of note and patriot continues to shine through in all that he has had to do in his most exemplary life. When the history of Nigeria is written, his name shall be etched in gold surely.  

Happy 70th birthday, Bagandozhi! 

Prof Yahaya is the Magatakarda Nupe and the author of “The Nupe People of Nigeria”