HAM or Jaba land, in Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State is popular world-wide as a citadel of an ancient civilisation of iron dating back centuries  before Christ was born. Nok village in Ham land is sited beside gaping caves on the foot of the rugged Nok hill, a strolling distance from Koi, the administrative headquarters of Jaba land.

This is where the famous Nok Terracotta was first discovered. This figurine still invokes pride and honour not only to the people of Ham, but it is also revered and treasured as an important reminder of the contributions of the ethnic tribes of central Nigeria to African civilisation.

In this Interview, our Kaduna State Correspondent LUKA BINNIYAT, and OLU AJAYI, Vanguard Photographer, speak to Mr. James Kura Garba, a senior Ham son, who retired from the service of the State Security Service, SSS, in 1994. He is to be turbaned the Magajin Rafi Jabba on November 10, 2012 by the paramount traditional ruler of Jabba land, His Royal Highness, Kpop Ham, Dr. Danladi Gyet Maude. Kura, speaks about his passion for development in Ham land and what  should be done about ginger production, which Ham land is also very famous for, among other issues.

Can we get to know the Magajin Rafin Jaba?

My name is James Kura Garba. I was born in Kyari, Baddu district in Jaba Local Government in 1944. I started my career in 1962, with the Nigeria Police. While in the Police,I was in “E” Department. That was a special arm of the Police Force which took me to serve in several places.

“E” Department in the Police was basically about gathering intelligence and sundry duties. When the NSO(Nigerian Security Organisation) was formed in 1973, I became one of  its pioneer officers. The NSO later metamorphosed into the State Security Service, SSS. I served in many places, before retiring in 1994 as an Assistant Director in the SSS. I got married in 1963 and the marriage is blessed with seven children and five grand-children who are all alive.

As a father and a grand-father who has served this country to this level, and is now so acknowledged by the traditional ruler of the Ham people, and now being awarded the title Magajin Rafin Jabba, Sir, what would you say is missing in the ways children are raised today compared to your days as a lad in the village?

*James Kura

Having children is a gift from God. No one has authority over that. So, I thank Him for deeming it fit to give me these children.

What has been of utmost concern to me about these children is how to give them good education, and to raise them in the fear of God. My wife and I have shown a lot of commitment towards that. And we have been blessed that God provided for us, and the children took our training very seriously. Today, all of them are doing very well in their fields of endeavour.

You are not the only retired person who has risen to the equivalent of the rank you retired from, or even above it. In your own estimation, what makes you so outstanding to be worthy of this title, Ma, gajin Rafin Jabba?

I want to appreciate his Royal Highness, Kpop Ham, Dr. Danladi Gyet Maude, for choosing me for this honour. You are right that there are many other persons equally qualified. But God in His infinite wisdom touched the heart of our ruler to choose me. I am grateful to him. But it also comes with a lot of responsibilities.

He may have gauged my commitment to the grassroots. And I really do have a passion to see that Ham land prospers more than what it is presently. I will now be saddled with the responsibility of advising the Kpopo Ham on how to bring development to our people.

The main job of the Magajin Rafin is to bring about development, in human resource, economic and physical development. And our paramount ruler is very serious about this aspect of his leadership. Farming is one of the mainstays of the Ham people. As it is, I’ve retired into farming too. So that is one area I am going to see how I can assist.

Are you saying that you are the one to now bring development to your area?

The Magajin Rafin is expected to create avenues, inspire people, and work towards attracting individuals and groups to come home and play their parts in developing our land. Youth development is one other critical area I have a role to play. But essentially, you should understand that the Ham people are agrarian by nature.

What that translates to is that the means and ways that we can improve on our agriculture will be of considerable interest to me. Our people should be exposed to modern farming techniques, get the right farming inputs and become self-sustaining in a profitable way.

Since independence,Ham areas have been noted for ginger production all over Africa,  but that reputation is on the wane. What effort will you make to reverse this trend?

You are correct. One of the major problems with the ginger farmer in Ham land is that he does not get any encouragement from government; no incentives and lack of the basic requirements for modern production of ginger. For example, a ginger farmer needs to have fertiliser, herbicides, insecticides; he needs tractors, the right pricing templates, etc.

Are you saying that they are winding up ginger cultivation  because of these problems?

No, we still cultivate ginger. What I am saying is that we can produce on a major commercial scale if we get the right assistance. Right now, ginger farming is at its lowest because foreign entrepreneurs who see Ham ginger as the best in Africa, have stopped coming. This is because of the perceived insecurity in Northern Nigeria.

The price has  discouraged production. The current low patronage by major foreign buyers calls for serious concern. Many of the buyers entertain fears because of insecurity in the North. A bag of ginger used to sell for N18,000 two years ago. But today that same bag sells for between N4000 and N5000.  Imagine the difference.

But Southern Kaduna does not have the kind of insecurity experienced in other parts of Northern Nigeria and •••

We thank God; we don’t have the kind of problem experienced in other areas. But remember that we have witnessed reported cases of bomb blasts in the past in Kaduna and Zaria. We have also had crisis after the last general elections. Though things are good now, it is not easy to convince foreigners that everything is alright for you to start seeing them in droves again.

What makes Ham ginger so special or outstanding compared with others?

To the best of my knowledge, this is where I know that ginger is being produced in Nigeria commercially. Maybe it is the soil, or climate, culture or a combination of others things. But, it is only in Ham or Jabba land that you see real ginger farms. I understand that it is cultivated in other parts of Africa.

I heard that research has placed our ginger as having very high quality compared to what is obtained in other parts of Africa. I once travelled to Melbourne, Australia, where ginger is produced. The way they produce their ginger is different from the way we farm here.

There, they produce ginger by irrigation. So you can afford to have fresh ginger round the year. But, here we cannot afford to do that because we do not have small irrigational dams and related facilities for that kind of intensive farming.

I’m sure you will love to see production of ginger by irrigation in Ham land one day

Yes, of course, I like to see that. I use this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government and especially the government of Kaduna State to help build small dams in Southern Kaduna so that we can have the production of these viable crops round the year. We have hundreds of perennial streams just flowing away unutilised.

If we have dams for irrigation, agricultural activities will get a big boost. Youths will be employed. It will lead to fishing, and even tourism. Southern Kaduna is very endowed with both human and natural resources, and the streams are just one of them. So, if government builds these dams, it will really boost economic activities here.

After the April 2011 skirmishes that enveloped most parts of Kaduna state, some non-natives fled Ham land and many are yet to return. As the Magajin Rafin Jabba, what are you going to do to ensure their return?

What you are asking falls within politics and I am not a politician. But, I want to say that it was unfortunate that what happened did happen. But find out from anybody, Ham or Jabba people are by nature peace-loving. Whether you find them in Kafanchan areas, Kachia, Kagarko areas or in Kaduna, or anywhere, we love people and we love peace. I know that the Kpop Ham has done a lot at ensuring that there is total peace in our land.

What advice do you have for the people of Ham both at home and in the Diaspora about helping to bring about development in Ham land?

I want to appeal to all my brothers and sisters, no matter where you are to know it that we owe our land a responsibility to come together and contribute to its development. I want to praise our people for some of the developments taking place now. It is very encouraging indeed.

I recently took a trip round some of our areas and I was amazed at the rapid development I saw. Most of these developments were from the proceeds of ginger. What is slowing this growth down is the low pricing of ginger. But our people need to come together to see how we can help each other and our communities in other economic activities, in youth development and infrastructure.