FOR THE LOVE OF YOBE...AND BORNO.
By: A. G. Abubakar.
Some sections of Yobe State feel nostalgic about their time under old Borno State. Many feel Yobe state is not Kanuri enough by complexion and image. Thus, those who hold this sentiment, have not only set-up permanent homes in Borno but seemed eager to trade their state of origin status for the latter. This is perfect if such moves are devoid of misgivings regarding Yobe as a state. The perception of Yobe by some of her elites has been similar to what obtains in neighboring Jigawa State in relation to Kano State.
It took the tough stand of the then, Governor Sule Lamido in 2007 to force the elites to stay and work in Dutse, the State capital. Two reasons might have accounted for the state of affairs in Yobe and Jigawa namely, the esteem the name Kano and Borno confer on individuals and also the seeming problems associated with the geographic/economic configuration of Yobe and Jigawa. And not discounting the initial challenges of accommodation and logistics, at the inception. However, unlike Jigawa people Yobeans have no reason to feel nostalgic about Borno because the umbilical cord of what is now Borno is buried in Yobe state; old Ngazargamo at that. Borno empire as a successor of Kanem Empire had its first major headquarters at Birnin Ngazargamo for the longest period of time during which it reached its zenith.
2. Established in 1488 AD under Mai Ali Gaji (Gazi) Ngazargamo (1460/88 -1809) served as the seat of the Borno Empire for more than three centuries. It was here that Borno was able to set the tone for later years boundary push and /or dispersal of the Kanuri westward into parts of present day Jigawa (Hadeja, Malammadori, Kirikasama etc), northern Kano and Katsina, up to Damagaram in Niger Republic. The menacing activities of Kwararrafa Kingdom to the southwest of Borno was equally contained from the impirial seat at Ngazargamo. The present-day Southern Borno and Gombe/Bauchi axis were the theatres of some of the wars. The last Jukun (Kwararrafa) and Borno war fought in 1644. Through all these, the Empire was able to extend her influence on as far as Zazzau where the Kanuri constitute one of the ruling families by providence. The same scenario obtains in Lafiya, Nasarawa state and other parts of the Middle Belt region. Later day wars like the one with the vasal Kindom of Mandara under Mai Bila in 1781 and that of Fulani Jihad sympathizer Goni Mukhtar, plus internal power struggles conspired to draw the curtain on Ngazargamo as the seat of Borno Empire. The jihadists and their growing sympathizers were able to sack the capital but were unable to take control. Repeated attempts to do so via the Southwestern flank via Gombe were checkmated by Kingdom of Biu forces, under Mai (Kuthli) Mari Watirwa (1793-1870). The battle took place around present day areas of Gunda/Gulani not too far from Ɓərmi (Bormi). Mai Watirwa succumbed to the battle wounds and eventually died, the Biu Kindgdom and Borno Empire were saved even though the seat of latter's Ngazargamo was lost. Ɓərmi (Bormi) as it were, was where Sultan was martyred by colonial forces which were in pursuit of him from Sokoto. In 1901 Fadi-Allah the son of Rabih was also killed in Gujba a Borno town between Biu and Borno Emirates. Today the areas of Gunda, Gujba, Gulani and Bormi constitute a tripoint region connecting Borno, Yobe and Gombe states; an enclave with huge potential for commerce, if effectively opened up by the three.
3. Now fast forward. And a version of what transpired posits that in August 1991 when the Regime of Babangida contemplated the creation of more states, his second- -in-command Abacha, who doubled as "son of the soil " was despatched to consult with the late Shehu of Borno. And naturally as a monarch, the Shehu's first instinct was to resist the balkanisation of an entity (Empire) bequeathed by his forefathers, during his reign, which was to be expected. As a bait, Abacha was however made to convince him that the state to be created out of Borno would not be to the disadvantage of his subjects especially the Kanuri stock. He was infact promised that the new capital of the proposed will be in the Borno Emirate side of the state which is Damaturu. With that settled the Shehu gave his nod. And consistent with this tacit "understanding" Yobe State was curved out of Borno. Overtly however the reason for the creation of Yobe especially with Damaturu as its capital was presented as being informed by quest for rapid development and "centrality" of the proposed capital, in that the state would comprise three emirates of Biu, Fika and Bade. Consequently, Damaturu, then even though a smaller settlement became the capital in the name of fairness to the trio. The economy and population of both the new Borno and Yobe were equally configured in a balanced way. However, no sooner the state was created, moves were made by made by powerful forces from Biu and Borno Emirates to resist the inclusion of Biu. Fika Emirate "innocently" joined the bandwagon citing an order of protocol "incidence" between the Emirs of Biu and Fika. Biu eventually got struck out of Yobe and thus remained in Borno with far reaching consequences for the long-term development of the two states. Yobe as it is having been left with smaller population with fragile economy in terms of agricultural and ecological considerations. With five local governments, deep in the southern flank of the state, Biu would have been the food basket of Yobe State as it does Borno currently. As for Borno too, having 27 local governments while your weaker offshoot/neighbor has only 17 doesn't look/seem equitable. The initial equation was Biu Emirate with 5 local governments would give Yobe a total of 22 while Borno retains 22 too (27 less 5). Same would have been, with the corresponding populations of the two state But that is now history.
4. The circumstances that brought about Yobe State as it is today could have been better, but Yobe people have every reason to be proud of the entity. The defunct Ngazargamo gave Borno and the Kanuri their essence and prestige. Remove Ngazargamo (Yobe State) in the narrative of Kanem-Borno and the history would be less compelling. In fact, the name of the State should have been Kanem State as a mark of honor. And it believed even other component parts of the State who claim common root/brotherhood with Borno/Kanuri won't say no. After all the etymology of the word Kanem (Annəm) has to do with direction "West or Western" and not ethnicity. Those who appreciate this fact should embrace Yobe with pride. A pride well deserved, just like Borno.
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