Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an, literally Qur’an recitation competition, is an international Islamic religious activity held at national and subnational levels, aimed at glorification of the Qur’an, wherein, participants compete at reciting Islam’s Holy Book. The activity has been around in Nigeria for many years and brings out the best among the Muslim ummah.
A fortnight ago, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was among dignitaries at the Hama Batta’s palace in Demsa Local Government Area, to witness the closing ceremony of the 39th Adamawa State Qur’anic recitation competition which was hosted by the monarch in a rare display of unity and shared purpose.
This year’s activity in Adamawa offered a glimpse into the lavish peaceful coexistence in Demsa Chiefdom under the leadership of the Hama Batta.
His Royal Majesty, Homun Alhamdu Gladstone Teneke, is the 5th Hama Batta, the paramount ruler of Demsa Chiefdom, where I come from.
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For the record, the monarch, a Christian, extended an olive branch by hosting the state’s Qur’anic recitation completion. This further reveals the monarch’s wisdom is not limited to one faith or culture, but encompasses the universal values of tolerance, empathy and understanding.
Perhaps for his antecedence – schooled in Adamawa, Gombe, Kano, Plateau, Sokoto, and served in Kaduna, Borno, Bauchi, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and Rivers states – the charismatic traditional ruler is simply a true Nigerian. His remarkable journey from a teacher, a law enforcement agent, to a compassionate and tolerant leader, is a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy, understanding and respect for humanity.
No wonder, in his remarks at the closing ceremony, Ex-VP Atiku described the monarch as a leader worthy of emulation. “I really want to commend and pay tribute to the current Hama Batta for the confident stride to make sure that there is religious tolerance and accommodation amongst all in his domain. This is extremely important for peace, development and progress to reign,” Atiku said.
In total, no fewer than 200 (male and female) participants contested in the 39th edition of the Qur’anic recitation competition that was tagged “Adamawa State Qur’anic Recitation Competition, Demsa 2024.” The participants were drawn from the 21 local government areas of the state and competed in six categories of the one-week-long contest.
Although Demsa is predominantly a Christian community in Adamawa State, known for its diverse population that include Batta, Mbula, Bille, Mayah, Mundang, Hausa, Fulani, Igbo, Nyandang, Yoruba and Kanuri, among others, the peaceful disposition of his royal majesty has significantly reduced conflicts and violence in the chiefdom, despite the diversity of the inhabitants.
My late father, Babagana Demsa as fondly known by his peers, was a ‘liberal-minded’ person who belonged to the school of thought that people must be seen, first as human beings, then as Nigerians, not necessarily from ethnic or religious point of view. From him, I leant my ‘radicalism’, that the truth is never in our differences, but in our commonalities. Christians or Muslims, we all must strive to see the importance of kindness, compassion and respect for one another.
Although my late father and I each had to pay a price for our ‘radicalism’, I have never regretted taking the path of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Why would I hate a Christian when my primary and secondary schools’ teachers were 80% Christians? Why would I hate a Christian when 50% of my childhood friends were Christians? Why would I hate a Christian when 70% of my late father’s political associates were Christians? I can go on and on.
For me, religious tolerance is the ability to accept and coexist peacefully with individuals or groups of different beliefs. It is an essential aspect in the harmonious coexistence of people in a society, as well as a pivotal tool for societal development. Religious tolerance cultivates a peaceful environment that facilitates economic growth, unity, education and national cohesion. In Nigeria, religious diversity is a reality; therefore, it is imperative that we learn to tolerate each other’s religious beliefs and practices.
Our ability to understand and appreciate our differences is essential in building respect across cultural and religious divides. It is through the ability to accept differences that society finds common ground and a sense of unity, which helps people to come together and work towards a common goal.
Demsa Chiefdom is evidently blessed with the leadership style of his highness, and his candor is creating a sense of security that encourages people to settle down and drive innovation, economic growth and social development.
In recent times, farming activities have significantly increased across the chiefdom, largely due to peaceful coexistence between farming and herding communities. Recent situation report on food security in Dong and Mayah (the major grains markets in the chiefdom) is quite encouraging.
Ever since 2010 when his royal majesty ascended the throne, Demsa Chiefdom has been witnessing drastic reduction in communal and religious crises. Trust and understanding grew between individuals and groups, fostering stronger relationships. Open communication and dialogue among different groups, which were hitherto regarded as no-go areas, are now common, helping people to resolve issues and prevent conflicts.
The peaceful coexistence enjoyed by the people also promotes trade and commercial activities in major markets in Nassarawo-Demsa, Demsa town, Dong, Borong and Mayah, stimulating economic growth and development in the chiefdom.
His Majesty’s ideology of peaceful coexistence has, without a doubt, offered numerous benefits to the chiefdom that extended beyond individual relationships to encompass economic, social, psychological, environmental and national advantages.
Today, history is made in Demsa as his Royal Majesty, Homun Alhamdu Gladstone Teneke, has in addition to promoting traditional festivities that include the popular Farai annual festival, Vayato and Kwapodei wrestling festivals, hosted a major Islamic activity that brought people of the chiefdom who are within and in the diaspora to be more united and work in harmony for the growth and development of his domain and Nigeria as whole. The royal father is devotedly a shining example of the power of tolerance, love and acceptance, that will inspire generations to come. Humanity needs to take a moment and smell the roses.
Your majesty, you have run a tight ship, and all is well that ends well. You are simply a ray of sunshine. Very big congratulations. And to the people of Demsa Chiefdom, I say let us keep the peace.
Babagana sent this piece from Yola, Adamawa State
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