Don’t let peace in Birnin Gwari slip away, Emir urges Tinubu

The Emir of Birnin Gwari, His Royal Highness Malam Zubair Jibril, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consolidate the peace recently achieved in the emirate by speeding up key infrastructure, security, and development projects.

“We reassure all prospective investors, local and foreign, that peace and security have firmly returned to Birnin Gwari,” the Emir said. “But peace alone is not enough. We must build on it quickly—while the calm still holds.”

In a statement personally signed and released in Kaduna on Monday, the Emir made the appeal just over a year after Birnin Gwari began to see a major reduction in violence following federal and state security efforts.

The call comes at a time when reports show that banditry in the area has dropped by more than 90 percent, kidnappings have declined sharply, and normal life is slowly returning to a community that endured years of insecurity.

While commending President Tinubu for visiting Birnin Gwari by road in 2022 before his election, the Emir cautioned that the peace could fade without tangible development.

“Your Excellency, you made a covenant with us, not a political promise, but a moral one. You kept your word by restoring security. Now we ask you to help us restore dignity.”

The Emir listed key projects needing urgent attention, including the rehabilitation of the Funtua–Birnin Gwari and Birnin Gwari–Minna federal roads, the creation of a tertiary institution for young people, and the upgrade of the Jibril Mai Gwari I Memorial Hospital to a Federal Medical Centre.

“This hospital is not just for Birnin Gwari,” he said. “It serves four states—Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, and Zamfara. Elevating it will save lives and anchor long-term peace.”

He also appealed for the restoration of banking and telecom services suspended since 2021, saying they are vital for trade, communication, and investment.

“The land is open, the people are ready, and opportunity awaits,” the Emir said. “But we cannot invite investors if they cannot make calls, move money, or access roads.”

Acknowledging Governor Uba Sani’s ongoing development efforts—including a new cattle market and the Bagoma–Gagumi agricultural road—the Emir said the scale of Birnin Gwari’s needs requires federal support and collaboration with international partners.

“We need the continued hand of the Federal Government. We also invite international partners and the private sector. Let us not miss this moment. Our story shows that no place is too broken to heal. But healing must be followed by growth. If not, wounds reopen.”

He concluded with an appeal to President Tinubu: “You were Dakaren Birnin Gwari—the fearless one who stood with us in our darkest hour. Now we ask you to stand with us in our hour of rebuilding. Let Birnin Gwari become a model, not just of peace, but of prosperity.”

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