By Umar Sani
The Bauchi Emirate Council has been urged to protect its reputation by staying away from partisan politics.
The Bauchi South Zonal Coordinator of Northern Agenda for Good Governance, Ismail Musa, made the call in a press statement on Thursday following the decision of the emirate to withdraw the traditional title of the senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Buba.
The group who warned that the emirate was involved in partisan politics stated that “Our most respectful traditional institution decision on the removal of Senator Shehu Buba as Mujaddadin Bauchi was allegedly influenced and motivated by a political feud between the sitting governor Bala Mohammed and Senator Shehu Buba.
“We find this development as a grave disservice to the revered traditional institution because custodians of the nation’s sacred values and cultural authorities ought and must remain objective, politically neutral, and live above board since all political actors from diverse political platforms are also your subject.”
Recalled that Senator Buba was stripped of his Bauchi emirate council traditional title on Thursday.
In a letter signed by Nasiru Musa on behalf of the emirate’s secretary and addressed to Buba, it was specifically announced that the lawmaker’s title has been withdrawn for a decision reached on the alleged misdemeanor deliberated upon.
The statement pointed out that “the bad precedence governor Bala wants to leave behind for victimizing political opponents using traditional institution can not only continue to rubbish the public image of the institution in the eyes of members of the civilized public but will also be responsible for the heightening of social discord and the constant heating up of the polity which will lead to exacerbation of civil strife.”
The group recalled that “Some victims of this nonchalant attitude of His Excellency are Yakubu Dogara as Jakkadan Bauchi, Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi as Wakilin Birnin Bauchi as well as our father Muhammad Bello Kirfi as Wazirin Bauchi.”
According to Isma’il, the emirate ought to be a promoter of peace and harmony among its subjects in the society rather than allowing themselves and their offices to be used as a unit in politics.
“Traditional rulers should remain neutral and serve as a role model for all.
“We strongly believe that the Bauchi Emirate Council ought not to allow its hard-earned glory to be lost in the eyes of the public.
“We urged Governor Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, the executive Governor of Bauchi state to exercise the powers he has with due sensitivity and humanity, “the statement emphasized.
Punch correspondent reported that the Northern Agenda for Good Governance is one of the civil society organizations that operate alongside other like-minded groups constantly engaging government and other relevant stakeholders towards ensuring the independence of traditional institutions in the Northern part of the country.
