MUHAMMAD SABIU captures the pomp and circumstance that attended the centenary (100 years) celebration of the founding of Kaduna as the administrative capital of the northern region, adding that efforts are underway to restore its glorious past.
ABOUT 100 years ago, an event that was to change the political history of the northern region, nay the entire country, took place. Before then, the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates had taken place in 1914, bringing into existence a new nation called Nigeria. At that time also, the administrative capital of the northern protectorate was in Zungeru, in present day Niger State.
The then Governor-General of Nigeria, Sir Fredrick Lugard, in his administrative wisdom thought it wise to move further inland. He then moved from Zungeru to Kaduna, which derived its name from Kada, the local Hausa word for crocodile, which was in abundance then in the river also named after the town.
More desirable capital
Defending his action for moving the capital to Kaduna, Lugard was reported to have said: “The climate here is invigorating; the soil is good and adapted for vegetable and flower gardens. The water supply pure and inexhaustible, and the site is within 81 kilometres of the great trade centre of Zaria.”
Since then, Kaduna has continued to be the rallying point of people of the region. According to a resident, Mallam Ibrahim Agaie, the importance of Kaduna to the northern region was evident in the presence of diverse people from Borno, Adamawa, Biu, Gombe, Otukpo, Makurdi, Plateau, Okene, Kabba, Offa, Lokoja, Bida, Gusau, Sokoto and even beyond, who came in search of greener pastures.
These people are of indigenous ethnic groups such as the Hausa, Fulani, Gbagyi, Jaba, Ikulu, Kataf ninzom, Kaninkon, Adara, Yoruba and Igbo, among others.
Over time, the population of the new administrative capital grew, leading to the creation of new settlements, such as Unguwar Kanawa, Abakpa, Unguwar Shanu, Unguwar Sarki, Unguwar Rimi, Malali, Unguwar Dosa, Magaji Gari, Kakuri, Makera, and Barnawa, within a short time.
“If you come to Kaduna today, there are a lot of people from these places I earlier mentioned, who have now adopted Kaduna as their home. Honestly speaking, most of us cannot leave. I built my house here over 40 years ago. I had all my 13 children here. If you ask me to leave, where would I go?” Mallam Agaie from Agaie, Niger State, asked rhetorically.
Things fall apart
However, events of the last three decades have left much to be desired as the once peaceful city became the theatre of war. According to the state governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufai, in an interview with Sunday Tribune, the state had witnessed 14 sectarian crises that culminated in the loss of thousands of innocent lives and the destruction of property worth billions of naira.
Furthermore, the city of Kaduna today has been divided into North and South. The North is predominantly Muslim with residents living in areas like Unguwar Sarki, Unguwar Rimi, Magajin gari, among others, while the South is predominantly occupied by Christians who live in areas such as Sabo, Television, Romi, Gonin gora and others.
The collapse of the textile industry and other companies has also worsened the situation in the crocodile city. Many former residents had left the state in search of greener pastures and more peaceful towns to reside. Others had relocated to the parts of the country where they originally came from.
Though, the once monolithic North is now made up 19 states, Kaduna is still playing the role of a former capital of the region. For example, the meeting of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) is still taking place in Kaduna. Also, the meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC) takes place there, including meetings of the Muslim Ummahs in the region and the country at large.
Centenary Durbar
It was against this backdrop that the state government decided to use this month of December to celebrate the centenary of the city, during which the major event, the durbar was held on Saturday 16th December, 2017 at the Murtala Muhammed Square, which attracted thousands of people from all walks of life.
Durbar is one of the important events celebrated in the North. Usually a durbar is celebrated during the two Muslims festival: Eid el-Fitr and Eid el-Kabir.
However, Sunday Tribune learnt that in modern history, the region had only witnessed about five durbars. The first recorded durbar known as the Queen’s durbar was held in 1926 in Kano. The durbar was organised by the then Queen of England for the region.
After that another durbar was held in honour of the visiting Queen Elizabeth of England in 1956 in Kaduna. One of the hallmarks of the event was when the then Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi, the grandfather of the present emir of Kano attended the epic occasion in a green Rolls Royce.
History would repeat itself at the just concluded durbar, when the current emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, came into the venue in the same 1956 Rolls-Royce.
In 1973, a durbar was held in honour of His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie of Ethiopia in Kaduna, while another was held in 1977 in Kaduna to honour the contingents of the first Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (Festac77).
It was gathered that at the 1977 durbar, two Emirs – the Emirs of Zazzau and Jama are attended the durbar as young rulers. Again, they were among the traditional rulers that attended the 2017 durbar in Kaduna.
Declaring the durbar open, the Shehu of Borno, Garbai El-Kanemi, paid glowing tributes to the leaders of region. He advised that the sacrifice made by the two Northern icons, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa should not be allowed to go in vain.
In his own remarks, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno noted that Kaduna is strategic for the survival of the North, as well as the country saying, “if Kaduna sneezes, the entire region, as well as the whole country, would be affected,” claimed Shettima, calling for a united region in line with the dream of the late icons.
Also speaking on the occasion, President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Muhammad Bello, said Kaduna was destined to play a significant role in the development of the region. He noted that important decisions that had shaped the destiny of the country were taken in the “crocodile city.”
“So, celebrating the 100 years of its existence as a political capital of the region is by no means a child›s play and I’m happy this celebration is happening under a progressive government,” he said.
Governor, El-rufai said in his own speech that “in the next 100 years, we are determined to develop the eastern part of the city as well as manage the orderly expansion of our metropolis.”
To achieve this, he said: “This APC government has, therefore, passed a law to protect the master plan of Kaduna and we extended the city limits to 40 km radius from the post office.
“Thus, we celebrate the first 100 years of Kaduna, not because they have been perfect. We celebrate not because there have not been regrettable incidents in this city. We celebrate because Kaduna must be a Northern dynamo of progress and a natural model of development.”
An estimated 3,000 horses participated in the durbar which has been tagged the biggest durbar in modern history. Highlights of the epic event included a photo exhibition which shows different historical pictures that shaped the region in the last one hundred years. Also, there were cultural displays by other ethnic groups like the Tiv, Yoruba, Igbo, Birom, among others, who had made the city their home.
Among the dignitaries that attended the event were former Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Ibrahim Coomasie; Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima and chairman of the Northern states Governors Forum, Aminu Bello Masari.
Others were the deputy governors of Zamfara, Bauchi and Plateau states, including 11 Northern traditional rulers, amongst whom were the Shehu of Borno, El-Kanemi and Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar.
Though Kaduna like every other city is evolving, it may take some time to recover its cosmopolitan character which obtained in the 70s and 80s. But hopefully, in the next few decades it might just achieve the aim of the founding father(s) as a home for all, not only northerners but also for every Nigerian.
and then