Sights, sounds of Borgu coronation

New Bussa, the headquarters of Borno Local Government Area of Niger State, was in a state of frenzy for three days. The traditional headquarters of the popular emirate was in a temporary halt from Thursday, October 27 to 29. 

The organizers themselves acknowledged that the ancient city had not seen such assemblage of people for a long time, at least not since the ceremony that ushered in the reign of the older Mai Borgu, the late Senator Haliru Mohammed Dantoro Kitero III, 16 years ago.

It started with the pre-coronation activities which included a carnival procession and a parade by teams led by the Kainji Lake National Park and Federal College of Wildlife management as well and other groups, then, the wrestling competition and cultural performance by various troupes to entertain the many guests.

On the second day, Friday, October 28, came the commissioning of the Muhammadu Sani Memorial mosque by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II and the various displays as well as the various competitions at the Regatta Village beachfront.

However, it was the main event on the D-Day, Saturday, October 29, that brought  Kisra to a standstill. Dignitaries from all over the country and neigbouring Niger and Benin Republics which have historical ties with the Borgu emirate joined the guests. 

The alliance was understandable and has its roots in many centuries of relationship. The kingdom was said to be founded by Kirsa, who migrated from the present day Iran at about the 7th century. In the course of his migration, he was said to have traversed Borno, where he briefly stayed and later moved to some northern states.

His influence was said to be noticeable in places like Gobri, Marwa, Muri, Kari, Keffi, Zaria, Wukari, Doma and Gara among others. So it was the procession from various nuclear and composite communities across Nigeria and Nikki, Segbana, Kalale and Parakou in Benin Republic and Dosso in  Niger Republic that were on hand to identify with one of their own at the popular Sabuke Square, venue of the final event. And they came with their horsemen and a large number of camels and cultural troupes.

The man of the moment, Dantoro, Kitoro IV, a lawyer and businessman, was overwhelmed, just like the emirate.

At 50, he is the youngest person to rule the emirate in modern times and the 714th in the Kirsa line. He seems to appreciate the enormous responsibility which providence has bestowed on him, and has realized early, that he needs the support of his ancestors whose epic accomplishments made Borgu popular across the Middle East, Songhai Empire, Europe and Oyo Empire, among others.

“I stand with our forefathers, the architects of modern Borgu, through whose sweat, toil and vision Borgu is today an integral and progressive part of modern Nigeria,” he said. 

He also acknowledged with hindsight, the support of the present and future generations of Borgu people across Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states, as well as their relations in Benin Republic.

In advancing the course of the emirate, he pledged to draw inspiration from the four patriarchs and pathfinders of modern Borgu. One of them was Prince Sabuke. Sabuke, he said, was the warrior who defended the emirate in 1915 against the “ravaging iconoclastic” inroads of colonial policies. 

“If not for the Sabuke rebellion, Borgu may not have been the geo-political and economic entity it is today,” he noted.

Another patriarch of the emirate, who may be the driving force in his reign according to him, was the 14th emir, Alhaji Muhmmadu Sani, through whose 32-year reign, Borgu took its pride of place in the comity of Nigerian kingdoms by nurturing and facilitating the completion of the Kainji Hydro Power Station in New Bussa.

Then, there was Alhaji Mohammed Kigera III, the 15th emir of the kingdom, whose reign he said, witnessed unprecedented urban growth coupled with rapid socio- political advancement of the Borgu people. “It is to the eternal credit of Kigera III that his reign ushered in the transformation of New Bussa from a rural community to an urban township densely populated with over a dozen federal agencies and parastatals,” he said.

 However, among the architects of modern Borgu, it appears the reign of his late father, Senator Haliru Mohammed Dantoro Kitoro III, the 16th emir, whom he described as the ‘’priceless treasure”, would influence him more. He broke down midway into the tribute for his father. 

“My father’s reign on the throne of our forefathers, though comparatively brief, will forever remain the definition of our true leadership, not just in Borgu history, but in the annals of this country. 

“Like generous raindrops from the heavens, the blessings of Mai Borgu’s reign fell not just on Borgu but also fertilised the very destiny of this great nation. My late father was a hero who was prepared to sacrifice even his exalted seat for our beloved country. I call on the leaders of change in Nigeria to honour the late emir by burying their differences and working as a team in the interest of the common man,” he said in the tribute.

The state government, through Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, acknowledged the immense potentials of the emirate in a speech at the occasion: “At a time like this, faced with a dwindling economy, the state is committed to exploring all avenues to bring about the very needed change for our people and we will continue to engage our development partners in this direction.” But such promises have not yielded the desired results through successive governments that administered the state in the past.

The new emir may have to look the way of the federal government through President Muhammadu Buhari, his late father’s personal friend, to realize these lofty dreams. There is also the serious issue of alleged marginalization the emirate had to endure overtime. The Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission has been on the drawing board for several years. Its bill is still awaiting review at the National Assembly. Also, the emirate has been moving in a circle as part of Kontagora, Kwara, Kebbi and even Benin Republic since 1904.

 “It remains a community that has remained marginalized and historically abused for convenience of government and state politics right from the colonial era,” the late emir had acknowledged in an interview five years ago.  

However, the new emir said its future was already settled in the past. 

“We are committed to enthroning a present and future of modern life more abundant for our people, we are passionate about reclaiming, refining and rebranding the glories of our historical and rich cultural heritages,” he optimised.