Rejoinder on Sulieman Jaji’s incoherent diatribe, call for movement of Fika Emirate from Potiskum

By Yobe State Government

Fortune Archibong

One should have naturally dismissed the bombastic, diatribes, incoherent fictions, jaundiced and half-truths spewed by one Dr. Suleiman Jaji of Yobe State University, Damaturu. The interview was anchored by one Ahmed Amshi on the pages of Punch Newspaper. He mentioned my name, Fortune Archibong. He also mentioned the book I published in 2006. This makes a rejoinder imperative to put records and facts straight. This is essential for posterity.

The book authored by me and entitled: The Emir and People of Fika Emirate was a detribalized and patriotic attempt. It aimed to record the history of Fika Emirate. The 42nd Emir of Fika was also highlighted. His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Abali Muhammadu Ibn Idrissa, CFR, CON, D.Lits, of blessed memory, was a man of unquestionable integrity. He was a true, eminent, detribalized and reasonable personality by all standards and ranking.

Between 2005 and 2006, I was confronted with half-truths and sentiments. These came from folks who wanted nothing but an ethnic war in Potiskum. I faced purveyors of hate speech and bitter actions from the mind, soul, spirit, and consciousness. Despite these challenges, I took the bold step as a member of the National Youth Service Corps. Guided by my calling as a linguist and media documentation specialist, I aimed to find truth in half-truths. I worked to discover facts in diction. I sought to uncover love from hateful tendencies in a bloc of misguided historical rants.

I arrived in Potiskum when the dust of Emirate creation of the year 2000 had almost simmered. However, fumes of hatred for the presence of Fika Emirate and her Emir in Potiskum lingered strongly in the air. I went to work, town, and countryside. I spoke with the rich, poor, and peasants. I visited museums and research centres, like the Centre for Trans-Saharan studies at the University of Maiduguri. My goal was to gather facts on the warped misconceptions against the Emir of Fika and his people. I also explored migrations, successions, and the evolution of the cosmopolitan City of Potiskum, Yobe State.

Armed with the facts of my historical search, the book referred to by Dr. Suleman Jaji was published. I am pleased to note his acceptance of the facts of the book. However, he also carefully ignored most of the facts. He wrongly stated the evolution of Fika Emirate to only be 1805. This is far from the migration accounts of Fika Emirate. Its birth was stated around 940 AD in Yemen in the Middle East. The so-called 1805 was only a migratory date of a location of migration.

The colonialists had falsely claimed they found Ngizim of the recent Pataskum Emirate in Potiskum. They claimed there was a 400-year authority and civilisation there. If this had been true, the frugal British would not have sought the movement of Fika Emirate. They would not have moved the Bolewa from Fika Town to Potiskum in 1924. The British found a people well organised with documented history. Their history starts with their first king, “Maidibi”. They had a matchless succession and genealogical tree, along with the graves of past kings. The British needed an active and coordinated monarchy in Potiskum. This was completely absent.

The British-inspired movement of the Fika Emirate to Potiskum occurred. Despite this, the local peasants still engaged in pockets of resistance. They were led by one Agudum, whose ancestry and monarchy appeared suspicious. The same Agudum engaged the British and invited the Fika Emirate/Bolewa into wars and conflicts. The Bolewa won these conflicts and became conquerors.

This same fellow engaged the British in needle supremacy battles. He broke British laws and was tried in a formal court. He was sentenced to death by hanging around 1916 at Biu. He was defeated by the Fika Emirate but spared to live. This was probably for later remorse and accommodation by the large heart of Fika/Bolewa. Eventually, he was caught up by the wrath of his uncivilized and rebellious tendencies. The colonial masters were not ready to brood over or accommodate these tendencies.

Still on the Agudum issue, colonial records from an archive in Lagos and Kaduna recorded that Agudum was tried. He was sentenced to death by hanging. This was for the murder of the Chief of Dazigau, Mai Gazangi, and his two sons in 1915. Agudum was in the company of a man addressed as Alhaji. Alhaji was from the village of Degubi. He was also with Shadi, a prominent Ngizim leader. Shadi was a murderer. Agudum was the murderer in chief.

A trial at the Provincial Court in Borno fined nineteen Kare-Kare people. Ngizim villages were also fined various sums for supporting the attack on Lawan Suleiman of Fika Emirate. This was done under the colonial Collective Punishment Ordinance of 1915. A telegram from the British Governor General stated that the execution order of Agudum would be given. The time, date, and place were to be decided subsequently. This was related to a case known as Rex Versus Agudum.

The order for the execution of Agudum stated thus: Agudum was convicted of a capital offence. This took place at the Provincial Court of Borno. The court was held at Maiduguri on the nineteenth day of January, 1916. He was sentenced to death. Now, therefore, I do hereby order that the said sentence be carried out according to law. The British Resident Officer in charge of Borno will appoint the time and place for Agudum’s execution. The body of Agudum shall be buried in the usual place of interment for condemned criminals.

Given under my hand and public seal of Nigeria this 28th day of March, 1916 and signed by F. D. Lugard, Governor-General, Agudum was executed as per the above directive in Biu at a location designated for condemned criminals. One of his murder partners, Shadi, died on the way to Maiduguri.

Another British report dated 7th March 1915 and signed by Hugh C. Elder also indicated that Shadi resisted the arrest of his son, who was convicted for robbery. It was also confirmed that he and his sons were living from the proceeds of robbery. His death on the way to Maiduguri happened due to festering wounds on his head. He incurred these wounds on the day of the Potiskum crisis of 1915. This crisis was caused by his kinsman Agudum against British rule and control of Potiskum.

If Suleman Jaji had been properly informed and exposed to historical and colonial facts, he would have made different choices. He should have left the “sleeping dog” to lie. He should never have dabbled in issues capable of burning his fingers and the peace of Potiskum.     

 On the 400-heritage story of the Ngizims in Potiskum, which is a classical historical misnomer, there is a question. How come that before Agudum, no trace be made to his father and forebears as Kings of Potiskum? There is no clear historical record or succession tree. This absence exists except for the recent attempt at historical reconstruction brandished by later day historians and vague record keepers. Potiskum soil has not seen or been traced to the grave of any Ngizim kings. It is unknown how or where Agudum’s remains were disposed. The executors of the British laws he broke managed this task.

A lecturer from Yobe State University with a Doctor of Philosophy granting an interview to Punch newspaper is very disappointing. Punch is one of the leading tabloids of the elitist Western Nigerian Media. It is humiliating when the interview is used to spew half-truths and display crass ignorance. This act is disappointing to the hallowed academia whose spirit and letters are based on veritable evidence. The call for Yobe State Government to intervene in the Potiskum chieftaincy issue is misguided. Additionally, the idea of sacking Fika Emirate/Bolewa from Potiskum shows a lack of understanding.

A local Mallam from either Machina or Kanama might make a mistake. They could claim that the Yobe State Government has not dealt with the Potiskum Emirates issue. This is because these individuals have never visited nor experienced the state capital or state government located in Damaturu. The Mai Pataskum, his acolytes, and sympathisers have refused to heed the Yobe State Government’s directives. Local rebel groups have also ignored the directives. These directives aim for peace to reign fully in Potiskum metropolis. The goal is to relocate to Yerimaram, the Yobe State Government-approved headquarters for their Pataskum Emirate.

Good enough, the same Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim of blessed memory was misled. He balkanized Fika Emirate. This action brought succour to the Emirate brouhaha. After the break of Fika Emirate, the late Alhaji (Dr) Abali Muhammadu Ibn Idressa, CFR, CON, D.Lits was the Emir of Fika at that time. He needed to be re-appointed by the Yobe State Government. This was confirmed in a letter entitled: Instrument at Appointment of Emir of Fika dated 6th January, 2000. The letter states, “I exercise the powers conferred upon me by section 4(1). Section 5 of the Yobe State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Edit 1996 also confers powers upon me. I have other powers enabling me. I hereby appoint Alhaji Abali Mohammed Idriss as 1st Class Emir of Fika Emirate. This is done by me, Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim (FNIQS), the Executive Governor of Yobe State of Nigeria. The headquarters is at Potiskum.

I hereby prescribe the following areas as the areas constituting your area of authority. The areas include (a) Malari. They also include (b) Goya (including Godowoli). Additionally, the areas cover (c) Ngalda, (d) Janga, (e) Fika. Furthermore, they encompass (f) Potiskum, (g) Dambo, and (h) Lallai.

The instrument of Appointment of Emir Fika about the defunct Fika Emirate is hereby revoked. This repeal is effective as from the commencement of this order, this 4th day of January, 2000. It is signed by Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim (FNIGS), Executive Governor, Yobe State of Nigeria.

In the same vein, Yobe State Gazette No. YBS LN. No. 7 of 2000, the same Governor Bukar Ibrahim is quoted in parts. “I hereby appoint Alhaji Umaru Babaram as 2nd Class Emir of Pataskum Emirate. The headquarters is in Yerimaram, Potiskum Local Government Area. I hereby prescribe the following areas constituting your area of authority, namely”, (a)Yandiski, (b) Danchuwa, (c) Gamawa and (d) Ngojin.

The instrument of appointment of the Emir of Fika concerning the defunct Fika Emirate is hereby revoked. It is repealed as from the commencement of this order.

From the foregoing, Dr. Suleiman Jaji was only ranting and dabbling with warped historical polemics without any substance of truth. The call on the Yobe State Government is intended to relocate Fika Emirate from its approved headquarters, Potiskum. This aims to incite ethnic crisis. This has been the long-time desire of his Ngizim kinsmen. They aim to destabilize the emirate, exterminate the Bolewa race, and possibly kill the Emir. Their goal is to advance a planned ethnic cleansing. They aim to conduct a pogrom against a peace-loving people. These people have already survived in the area for a century and one year, from 1924 to 2025.

No chiefdom installed by the British colonialists like Fika Emirate has been asked to relocate in modern day Nigeria. Later day ethnic chauvinists have not made such demands. They are dwelling peacefully in realization and acceptance of the human phenomena of migration. The people of Nigeria are doing everything to banish aboriginal questions and concerns. The government also strives to address the reality of human existence. However, the likes of Dr. Suleiman Jaji are pinching old wounds of rested issues to cause disaffection that could lead to dire consequences. His ethnic champions are certainly funding him. They want to whip up sentiments. His aim is to cry foul for nothing. This effort is meant to lubricate the hate machinery of his tribesmen.

To be frank, the real problem of Potiskum is the lack of knowledge of history. Those who are supposed to know the truth are seen to have spoken it. However, they would ignore the truth to fan the flames of ethnicity. This behavior risks an ethnic conflagration in the area.

False claims of the ownership of Potiskum are evident. No tribe in the area can trace the ownership of the Potiskum well. This well is domiciled in the Bolewa/Fika Emirate Area. The Yobe State Government, with figures like Dr. Suleiman Jaji, is calling to relocate Fika Emirate from Potiskum. They had designated the headquarters of Pataskum Emirate to be Yerimaram. However, the Pataskum Emir has refused to obey the directives of Yobe State Government. The refusal aims to portray Potiskum as a dangerous city. It suggests that having two monarchs in the same metropolis can breed anarchy, chaos, and confusion.

Let the truth be finally told, Dr. Suleiman Jaja should visit the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Damaturu, Yobe State. There, he can peruse the Government Gazette and the instruments of appointments of Fika and Pataskum Emirs and emirates. This will doubly convince him that Yermaram is the approved headquarters of Pataskum Emirate.

He should refrain from emotion laden interviews. He should also say the truth to save his posterity and audiences from tissues of lies. This will disengage the gullible and unsuspected public from wrong enlistment into a tribal hatred project.

Fortune Archibong authored the Book: The Emir and People of Fika Emirate.