The making of Gombe State
How many of our libraries today have a compendium of our history? That was my quarrel with one of our so-called history professors sometime ago, instead of him to write a book on our history, he ended up writing a book on vernacular, vernacular that a nine-year-old pupil can narrate orally and in writing. Haruna […]
How many of our libraries today have a compendium of our history? That was my quarrel with one of our so-called history professors sometime ago, instead of him to write a book on our history, he ended up writing a book on vernacular, vernacular that a nine-year-old pupil can narrate orally and in writing.
Haruna Garba, the Magayakin Gombe is a source of inspiration to a lot of us. Magayaki is known to many as a football person, during his days as a footballer. But Magayaki has his other side, his role in the creation of Gombe State. We have not been fair to him and others whose foresight we are all benefiting from today. Late President Sani Abacha who as president created Gombe State was equally not acknowledged by our successive governments in Gombe State in not honouring him as they ought to.
Senator Haruna Garba (Magayakin Gombe) is the first person who began the journey towards the creation of Gombe State. The Present Emir of Gombe HRH, Alh. Usman Shehu Abubakar who was a Permanent Secretary in 1991 has been monitoring the activities of Haruna Garba and his commitment to the development of Gombe and invited him in 1996 and asked him to write the memo for the demand for the creation of the present day Gombe State.
Magayakin Gombe drafted a fine and articulate memo and included some names from Local Governments that were proposed to comprise the proposed Gombe State. When Magayaki was to submit the memo to HRH he requested some of his close associates to accompany him to the palace for submission, they are: Col. Musa Mohammed now (rtd), Late Danjuma Abubakar, a medical practitioner and Dr. Danladi Musa. His Royal Highness, a true and pragmatic technocrat and experienced public servant after going through the memo by Magayakin Gombe requested him to report back to the emirate council and defend his memo the following day before the full council at the palace.
The following day was a landmark day for Gombe people and senator Haruna Garba (Magayakin Gombe) came fully prepared to face the council. Inside the council chamber, on one side were: Late Alh. Mukhtar (Walin Gombe), Late, Alh. Pela Aliyu (Dan Iyan Gombe), Late Alkali Bappah, Late Bello Kumo, Late Bello Dukku, Imam of the Gombe Central Mosque and Mal. Abba Tafida, former secretary (magatakarda) to the council.
Magayaki was asked to read what he wrote and he complied. At the end HRH asked that an addition should be made at the end of the memo like this: “General Sani Abacha should be informed that this time around if Gombe State is not created there will be bloodshed”. It was clear HRH was frustrated after a persistent conspiracy to frustrate the creation of Gombe State by some individuals and groups. The J.S Cookey committee report of 1986 under IBB hypocritically excluded the creation of Gombe State after being ably qualified.
Magayakin Gombe immediately and politely rejected HRH addition to the memo noting that such a position to Abacha will be costly and all our efforts will be fruitless. Magayaki was shouted down by the council members present insisting that whatever the emir said is right and final and must not be challenged by a commoner like him, although as at that time Sen. Haruna Garba was not installed as Magayakin Gombe. HRH being a kind hearted leader who listened to any voice of reasonable reasoning later agreed to Magayaki’s observation and the additional threat was dropped and expunged. HRH intervention saved the memo and Magajaki was given a clean bill to proceed and submit the memo for the creation of Gombe State. It was clear that Gombe people are no nonsense people, full of courage and determination. Senator Haruna Garba (Magayakin Gombe) raised a point of observation to the council that the demand memo as drafted does not include southern Gombe. But for us to add value on the demand and attract sympathy, we need to be ambitious, have ability to defend our ambition and carry along our brothers and sisters from the Billiri, Tula, Tangale-Waja axis in the struggle for the creation of Gombe State for us to succeed. HRH asked Magayaki on what the way forward should be in view of his observations? Magayaki promised the emir and the council that he was going to contact two prominent elders from Gombe South which he promptly did after securing the go-ahead from the emir and he wrote two letters which were delivered by Late Danjuma and Magayata Karda Tafida to late A.J Filiya and late Y.B Tadi; the duo made wide consultations with all opinion leaders from Gombe South and subsequently Gombe South endorsed the project by appending their signatures through their leaders. It was at this point that a fruitful foundation for the demand for the creation of Gombe State was laid.
Alh. Usman Shehu Abubakar in his wisdom formed the main committee to mid-wife and co-ordinate the activities of the demand for the creation of Gombe State. The committee was chaired by Alh. Yarima Abdullahi (Sarkin Bai), other members are Alh. Abubakar Habu Hashidu (Mutawallen Dukku), Magayakin Gombe was made Chairman Public Enlightenment subcommittee and Sardaunan Waja as Treasurer, the rest is now history.
Against this background, it is curious to ask what is the position of Magayakin Gombe in present Gombe State? What is the position of HRH in the present Gombe State? What is the position of Late Sani Abacha in the present Gombe State? What is the position of all those late this, late that who made history in the creation of present Gombe State? Whatever we do to our parents our children will do it to us. If we cannot honour the living at least we should honour the dead. Because one day we all will join the dead.
We must set the records of history straight and give honour to whom honour is due. We have to pray for the peaceful repose of the souls of our good leaders so that our children will also pray for our own souls to be in peace. May Allah Bless Gombe State and its people. I also need to be corrected where I may be wrong and educated where I am ignorant. There is wisdom in doing so.
Gara Gombe wrote from H.A.II, Herwa-Gana Quarters, Gombe. [email protected]