Open letter to Emir of Bwari
Mai Martaba, a crushing emotional tremor, akin to the 1945 nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, quivered the hearts of the good people of Bwari area council, and Abuja residents, on the 28th of September this year. On that fateful day, Alhaji (Dr.) Musa Muhammad Ijakoro, the then Emir of Bwari, answered the inevitable call, […]
Mai Martaba, a crushing emotional tremor, akin to the 1945 nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, quivered the hearts of the good people of Bwari area council, and Abuja residents, on the 28th of September this year.
On that fateful day, Alhaji (Dr.) Musa Muhammad Ijakoro, the then Emir of Bwari, answered the inevitable call, leaving his subjects and teeming admirers in a state of traumatizing grief.
As a matter of fact, Alhaji Ijakoro, your father, was an inimitable leader, abundantly gifted with an extraordinary finesse, amazing dexterity, and intimidating charisma. A distinguished, committed and foremost traditional leader, not a few people, truly believed he was.
It was with resolute courage and legendary sincerity of purpose, that he advanced the cause of purposeful leadership. Through his influence, prominent institutions like the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Bwari, The Nigeria Law School (NLS) Abuja campus, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) headquarters, and the Public Service Institute (PSI), were all sighted at Bwari area council, during his 41 years reign.
But amidst the unspeakable grief, compelled by such a royal loss, I ask: can emir Ijakoro’s sterling achievements and glowing feats, ever be re-enacted by his successor, Alhaji Muhammad Awwal Ijakoro (II)?
Your highness, and newly-appointed emir of Bwari, this writer’s conviction in your leadership pedigree, is absolute. However, it is with genuine concern and sense of burning patriotism, I decided to set the following agenda for you. This is in a bid to herald another glorious epoch, under your distinguished leadership, perhaps.
Mai Martaba, as you settle down in your palace, the overriding concern of yours should be: “How can I better the lot of my people?’’ Surpassing the legendary accomplishments of your predecessor is a task, too daunting. Yet, it is not a ‘mission impossible’, I dare say.
Kickstarting a reconciliation process to placate those who earlier kicked against your emergence as emir, I must first recommend. Offer a hand of fellowship and extend an olive branch to perceived ‘wounded’ persons. Members of all the ethnic groups in your chiefdom should see you as a rallying force, unifying factor and bridge-builder.
Your Highness, Bwari is considered to be a desolate town-owing to a dearth of critical infrastructure such as regular power supply, water system, standard health facilities, recreational centres, and accessible roads in some areas.
Through robust executive lobbying, these infrastructural deficits can be corrected. However, Bwari residents will appreciate if you impress it on government to construct bridges to link some rural settlements. More importantly, rehabilitation works should be carried out on the deplorable Kogo-Ushafa, JAMB-Zango, Emir Palace-Bwari market, Sabon Gari, Tudun Fulani-F.C.D.A Quarters and Garam-Sabon Wuse roads, among others.
Likewise, it is germane that you solicit for Nigeria Police’s men of ‘’Operation-Absolute-Sanity’’ to patrol the dangerous Bwari-Jere-Kaduna road, so as to shield armless travellers from dare-devils kidnappers.
Communities like Shere, Pyazhi, Barangoni, Ijakoro, Ijagwari, Garam and several others in your chiefdom, are mainly agrarian. What can be done to increase farmers’ production capacity, and make farming lucrative? Government should help provide basic farm inputs, high-yield fertilizers, mass storage facilities, modern implements, exotic planting seeds, and grant soft loans to peasant farmers. Bwari area council, today I declare, shall become the ‘Food Basket’ of the nation! Your Highness, by the time you help woo investors, the above prophecy, verily will come to pass in no distant future.
Mai Martaba, it will be morally-expedient that you regularly consult with the kingmakers and other title holders. Considering age, experience and wisdom, their rich fatherly advice, guidance and direction, are invaluable and critical to your successful reign.
Abdulsalam Mahmud, Abuja.