Nupes celebrate yet another festival

By Wole Mosadomi , Minna
Freedom and Victory are sweet. Everyone wants to be associated with success . Whatever year these two events occur  in someone’s life, or  that of a community, tribe and even Country, the memories become fresh as if the two events have just been accomplished, whenever the sweet memories come alive again either by celebration or mere remembrance.

Governor Shekarau being turbaned by Etsu Nupe

That was exactly what happened in the Ancient town of Bida , Headquarters of the Nupe Kingdom recently.

Recently, the sweet memory of freedom and victory from the clutches of the British Army was re-enacted. To be precise, in 1896, the Nupes led by the 13th Emir, Etsu Bubakar attacked the Colonial Army led by its leader, Taubman Goldie’s and they were dislodged.
Just like Nigeria ’s Independence  from the Colonial Masters, the Nupes also regained their independence from the British Army and thus restoring a new life back to them.
For many years, the sweet memories were forgotten by the Nupes especially Bida people not until last year when the present Etsu who is also Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar brought back the sweet memories and set aside a day for the celebration to reflect on the past and project into the future.

Tagged Nupe Day, the second celebration which came up over a week ago was a combination of display of culture of the people, celebration of Victory over the British Army and turbaning of eminent Nigerians who have in no small way contributed to the progress of the town.

The Wadata Palace of the Etsu along the busy Bida – Mokwa – Jebba road could not accommodate the mammoth crowd that graced the occasion to the extent that the highway was made nearly impassable for commuters and even pedestrians. Some of the travellers who travelled on the road on the day could not resist coming down from their vehicles to join in the celebration.

With intermittent shots from the Dane guns, with men and women gorgeously dressed in their best attires and with traditional title holders all in their traditional outfit riding on their horses which were specially dressed with the finest ornament for the occasion, the Wadata palace and indeed Bida town was enlivened with their rich culture which was almost forgotten.

The presence of personalities which include Vice President of the Country, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Governor of Kwara State who is also the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Dr. Bukola Sharaki, Governor, of Kano, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Danjuma Goje of Gombe, Idris Ibrahim of Kogi, that of Jigawa,  Katsina and host Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State added colour to the celebration.
Also among the joyous crowd were traditional rulers of Niger State , those of Lafiagi, Pategi, Kazaure, Tsaragi and Songa among others.

With the weather so clement for the occasion, horse riders, traditional dancers from different ethnic groups of the federation and with the life Elephant gaily dressed popularly called Talban Minna Elephant which is the traditional title of Governor of Niger State, Dr. Aliyu filed past the eminent personalities with the blowing of the local trumpets, drumming and dancing and shooting of the Dane guns to the air intermittently to the admiration of the excited crowd.

Just as the cultural display was going on, the event was almost turned into a political gathering especially when supporters, friends and well wishers of Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau stormed the venue most of them dressed in specially made attires with the portrait of the Governor displayed on them.

Governor Ibrahim Shekarau was not only an invited guest at the occasion but also a recipient as he was turbaned as Wazirin Raya while his wife Hajiya Halima was also given the title of Soniyan Nupe just as the host Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu and his wife, Hajiya Jummai Aliyu were turbaned as Sodangi Nupe and Garkuwan Nupe respectively.

Besides the two Governors and their wives, those also turbaned were immediate past chief Justice of the federation, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, Former President, Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullahi Mustapha among others.It was really a combination of cultural display where costumes were freely used.

From Kano came a group popularly called the Yandaba known for their tradition of using very sharp knives and daggers to pierce parts of their bodies but without penetration while dangerous animals including snakes, hyena and other wild animals were taken along but already rendered harmless to entertain the crowds who were also moved and appreciative of their prowess.

As all these were going on, supporters of the Kano State Governor almost took over the arena with the posters of Mallam Shekarau with various inscriptions.

Answering questions from Journalist shortly after the ceremony, Shekarau said, “this Country has been misruled by PDP in the last 11years and that is why I am presenting myself for the nation’s top job in order to change things around for the better, because our Country today needs a change of Government for us to move forward.”

Shekarau was said to have been also recognized by the Etsu Nupe because of his “positive impact he has made to the development of Nigeria in general and Kano in particular in the past years and for accommodating and protecting Nupe sons and daughters in the Nupe quarters in Kano without any form of harassment.”

The Estu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar who was highly appreciative of the tumultuous turn out and success of the event thanked the people for their attendance and support and promised to sustain the annual ceremony which he said has re_united the Nupes.

Vice president Namadi Sambo  said the present administration was aware of the rich culture and tradition of the country which it is ready to protect and promote.

Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje who spoke on behalf of more than eight Governors and others represented by their deputies thanked the Etsu Nupe for the honour done their colleagues – Mallam Shekarau and Babangida Aliyu and jointly announced a donation of a bus to the palace of the Etsu

Governor Shekarau who responded on behalf of the recipients thanked the people of Bida especially the Etsu for the honour done them saying, “This honour is unique in the sense that this is an honour coming from an entire kingdom and we promise to be good Ambassadors of the Nupes anywhere we go.”

Minister of culture, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq capped it all by commending the organizers for the flawless organization saying, “with what we have seen today, this country particularly the Nupe Kingdom is rich in culture which we should promote within and outside the country and to this end, my ministry will dialogue with the Bida Emirate Council on how to include the Nupe National Day in the nation annual Arts and Culture Calendar.”

For the Nupes especially Bida people, it was an occasion for re_uniting and a time to appreciate the God_given culture which should be jealously guarded, exhibited and not allowed to die.