Alhaji Abubakar Sambo is the Sarki Hausawa – leader of Hausa community in Enugu State and the National Vice Chairman 1, Inter-tribal Leaders Association of Nigeria. In this interview with Daily Trust on Sunday, he explains how the Hausa community has co-existed with their host community over the years. Excerpts:
How is the relationship between the Enugu State Government and the Hausa community since you came into office?
Talking about the relationship with the state government, I can confidently tell you that we have a strong bond and that we feel like a part of the government. Yes, we have a lot of representatives in various committees in the state government. The first is the most powerful committee that the governor has given so much attention and commitment to financially, morally and what have you – that is the Enugu State Security and Peace Committee.
That committee has been in existence since the inception of this current government and we’ve been working. In that committee, I happen to be a member and there are about 10 other northerners in that committee. We have the representatives of the Commissioner of Police, the Director of SSS, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state who comes in person.
We have the representatives of the commissioner of Agriculture, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Enugu State, Chairman on Security, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu of Ibeagwa-Nike, among others, including the ones working in the 17 local government areas of the state.
That is to tell you how the welfare and the interest of the northerners are dear to Governor Ugwuanyi. Apart from that, there are other committees where I am a member – even the Transition Committee that drew the master plan and guide to His Excellency’s second tenure in office. We have a strong relationship. We have an SA to the Governor on Inter-Community. We have some working in the local government areas as SPAs, to the Governor, etc. And since the coming of Governor Ugwuanyi, the population of the northern community in the state has tripled. That is to tell you that Enugu happens to be one of the safest places down East if not in the entire Nigeria. That credit goes to Governor Ugwuanyi who has created the environment, atmosphere for that peaceful co-existence to thrive. He has made it possible and we have a lot of inter-connectivity with the state government. Every month, you see a lot of northerners trooping to the Government House, having their security meeting. This is the only state in this zone that has demonstrated that concern. We really appreciate that.
Beyond all you have said, are there some challenges facing the northern community in the state?
Yes. In every relationship one finds himself, he must have some challenges. The main challenge we have is that of a community or rather a quarter where the artisans among us can feel at home. I want a situation where we have a place, they can feel at home knowing full well that Enugu is a peaceful state; where they can have their accommodation; houses of their own and that would help in stamping and solidifying the unity of Nigeria. Therefore, I am calling on the state government to please consider giving us a place, where even if it is a hut, somebody can rent as his own just like we have in some parts of the country.
For instance, in the south, we have places we call Sabo – where you see high concentration of northerners. We also have it in the northern part of the country – we call it Sabon Gari where you see a concentration of southerners living. That will integrate us more and solidify the relationship.
Apart from that, the other challenge is the one everybody feels in Nigeria. That is the hardship in the country. It’s not only applicable to other people, it’s applicable to my community (northerners) in Enugu State. Things are becoming very difficult to contain. The cost of living is on the high side. Apart from that, we have inter-marriages with the host community. When the host community is celebrating Christmas, you see us jubilating and eating and drinking with them. I have a lot of traditional rulers who invite me to come and worship with them. Therefore, apart from what I have mentioned, I don’t think we’ve had serious challenges so far.
Have you and your community formally made a request to the state government concerning accommodation?
Yes. We’ve done that and His Excellency equally responded to acquire a lot of land in Amechi Idodo. But because of proximity, there are a lot of challenges moving into the area. However, I think we can reapply because he is a man that listens to his people irrespective of your tribe and religion. And I believe we are going to give it a second push to see how it’s going to be and I know fully well that it’s going to yield a positive result.
What is your leadership doing to make sure that criminal elements don’t infiltrate your community?
As a leader, as soon as I assumed office, I gave the area leaders powers to go ahead to know their neighbours.
I have also created a lot of youth wings which were not in existence before my coming into office. Only last week, I inaugurated that of Awkunanaw in Enugu South Local Government Area. That is to tell you that we are doing a lot to get closer to the people to be able to get information and intelligence. When you talk about crime and criminality, 75 percent are being carried out by the youths. So, by the time we identify leadership of the youths in various camps, they know themselves and their members. And if any new person comes in, they have the right to ask questions and where the new person cannot identify himself very well, they can tell us and we quickly give the report to security agencies that have the constitutional powers to deal with crime and criminality.
In the area of herdsmen, we have those I work with to ensure there is no clash between them and their host community. There is also the association of Miyetti Allah and we are working hand-in-hand. We have meetings so that the criminal elements would be identified and exposed to the security agencies who will make sure that the criminals are arrested, and the arrangement is yielding positive result so far. Anywhere you see a northern community made up of 10, 20 persons, we have an eye there to get information.
As I said before, because we are scattered, gathering intelligence becomes a challenge to us. This is unlike when we were residing in a particular area or location we call the Hausa Quarters. Any person that comes into such a place can be quickly identified, and we can closely monitor everybody. However, we still have leaders who are watching over the communities. Even those that are from the Niger Republic; we have their leaders here. We have market leaders; community leaders and others and they are helping us in intelligence gathering.
Is there any other thing you are doing to prevent farmers-herders clash in your host communities?
Yes. I told you that since I came into office, we have been able to establish trust because we discovered that what is lacking is trust between the farmers and herders in Enugu State. We have been able to contain overrunning of communities. That is talking about reprisal attacks when there is conflict and knowing fully well that conflict is inevitable. But I must tell you that we’ve done a great job in Enugu State.
The farmers have a lot of confidence in us. We paid a lot of compensation in the area of destruction of farm crops. We equally paid a lot of compensation in the area of animal destruction. So, we have a very strong family here in Enugu State and that has reduced the level of complaints. We have been able to reduce deliberate destruction of farm lands. The one we are dealing with now is accidental destruction. We have been able to identify some of the leaders of the herdsmen and establish them in the local government areas where they reside. Those who are sincere provide information and give us intelligence when there is possibility of threat either to life or property, and we extend that to security agencies.
We are doing a great job here in Enugu. It’s just a one-family affair. And you know the Qur’an said your neighbour is your brother. It did not say your Christian neighbour or Muslem neighbour. It just said your neighbour is your brother. We have a good relationship with our neighbours. They are happy with us and we are happy with them, too. We have achieved that peaceful co-existence in Enugu State. You see the northerners moving freely irrespective of the existence of the unknown gunmen. Everywhere you go you see northerners. You see the cobblers, truck pushers, keke operators. They are happy and what we are receiving from them is positive.
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