Nigeria: Christian Lawyers, Journalists Support Creation Of Sayawa Chiefdom, Urge Unity in Bauchi State

Press Release

We, the Christian Lawyers and Christian Journalists working in Bauchi State during a joint forum meeting held on 21st December, 2024, feel duty bound to give out this press release to address some of the issues that have risen following the pronouncement of His Excellency, Senator Bala A. Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi).  His Excellency Governor of Bauchi State creates Sayawa Chiefdom.

We as neutral parties feel it necessary to make the following points:

1. We wish to show our deepest appreciation to his Excellency Governor, Bala A. Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi) for taking a bold step in addressing the issue of creating a Sayawa Chiefdom which has injured for over three decades and seemingly defied solutions by previous administration in Bauchi State. This bold step taken by the Governor of Bauchi State has been applauded by a cross section of Nigerians particularly ethnic groups and peace-loving Nigerians, who view the move by the Governor as a commendable step to bring lasting peace and development to hitherto marginalized people who have struggled for self-actualization for decades.
2. However, the Governor’s kind gesture towards bringing lasting peace to the Sayawa people has generated a lot of controversies, especially as it pertains to the siting of the Headquarters of the Chiefdom in Tafawa Balewa town. We feel these controversies and uproar are needless, owing to the Governor’s statement during a meeting with the committee on creation of Sayawa Chiefdom and key stakeholders at the Governors house on December 9th, 2024 that: “After due consultation and conviction and persuasion, the Headquarters of the Sayawa Chiefdom shall be cited in Tafawa Balewa town.” Sequel to this we feel that there is no need for personal attacks and criticism on the person of the Governor who is the chief security officer of the state, this is the only way to bring peace to the land that has been faced with many ethnic/religious crises that have led to loss of lives and destruction of properties.
3. We feel that the involvement of the National Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, the Muslim Right Council and some Islamic Clerics among others is needless. This is further compounding issues and causing unnecessary tension in Bauchi State which has enjoyed relative peace in the past few years especially under the Administration of His Excellency, Sen. Bala A. Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi).
4. We call on those who are aggrieved and dissatisfied with the Bauchi State Governor’s decision on the creation of the Sayawa Chiefdom and citing its headquarters in Tafawa Balewa Town, to sheath their swords and seek for redress, if any, from the appropriate quarters. We submit that it is of paramount importance we focus on what unites rather than what divides us.
5. We call on his Excellency, Sen. Bala A. Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi) not to be deterred by any form of distractions which might come in any guise against his pursuit of creating the Zaar chiefdom because this long-anticipated pursuit will bring long lasting peace amongst the Zaar people (home and abroad), create a sense of hope amongst them and a stronger sense of belonging to their home, Bauchi state.
6. Finally, we therefore call for unity and peace among Nigerians especially Bauchi State and we also appeal to our traditional leaders, interest groups, individuals and particularly religious leaders to eschew bitterness and desist from inciting and propagating hatred and divisions among the good people of Bauchi State as there can be no development in an atmosphere of chaos.

Signed:

Joint Assembly of Christian Lawyers and Journalists, Bauchi