A philanthropist and traditional titleholder of Cikaren Bauchi, Muhammed Abubakar Umar has cautioned politicians against dragging the revered traditional institution into partisan politics.
Speaking to our correspondent on phone, Cikare described the recent feud between Senator Shehu Buba Umar and Governor Bala Muhammed that resulted to stripping Shehu Buba the traditional title of Mujaddadin Bauchi and his reaction against the Bauchi Emirate Council as unwarranted. “As a politician and representative of the people, Sen. Shehu could have maintained silence as respect to the Emirate Council not minding what transpired as a loyal subject. “Shehu’s response to the Emirate Council was very unfortunate because he failed to control his emotion and sentiment without firing an immediate reply to the Emirate Council. The response ignited several reactions that forced some people to wash their dirty linings in public either in defence of the Emirate Council or that of Sen. Buba which was uncalled for and against the traditional core values.” Cikare added that:
“Our traditional rulers cannot be pawns on the chessboard of politics and they should not be put in a position where they cannot defend themselves or where they have to defend themselves “The royal fathers don’t belong to politicians and they are not seasonal hirelings of the political class to be hired and fired according to how the political fevers break.” He noted that when politics fails, it is the traditional institution that will provide the needed succor to the people, saying that, “We must separate the palace from
politics and separate politicians from the royal thrones because politicians don’t mind going to hell in high waters as long as they can capture power, whereas the traditional institution is part of what we have when politics fail. “Pageantry, pomp, protocols, rites and rituals that accompany the colors and sounds of the palace are signposts of the remnants of our past glories salvaged to remind us that we came from a grand past and are entitled to claim a great future, especially when the borrowed western paradigms break down or fail us. At least, we have something which is originally and authentically ours to rely on.”
He finally appealed for calm and understanding in the spirit of brotherliness and oneness, advising that misunderstanding, mudslinging and hatred are not the necessary ingredients for acceptance in politics but patience, tolerance, perseverance and sincerity spiced with honesty.
He described Governor Bala Muhammed and Sen. Shehu Buba as philanthropists in leadership in the present political journey of Bauchi State that should divert their attention to a baseless feud but lead by example for emulation any day.
