Investigative Report on POTISKUM (A Town With Two King From Chadian Dynasty Of Kanem Borno Empire)
By Usman Ahmed
Kanempress
12th May 2023
The Potiskum Emirate was organized by the Ngizim people, who had subjugated the Kare-kare peole. The state was formed in 1809 by a Chief of the Ngizim named Mai Bauya or Buyan. In the 19th century people of the Misau emirate often raided the Kerikeri country. The Misau Emir Amadu (183448) captured the capital, Potiskum. Usuman (184861) and Sale (186185) also raided the Kerikeri. In 1901 the Potiskum Emirate became part of the British Northern Nigeria Protectorate.
Fika Emirate (northern Nigeria) forms part of the western marches of Borno, that buffer zone known as Borno Gudiri which in precolonial times separated the Kanuri Empire from the Sokoto Caliphate. It encompasses two precolonial chiefdoms: Fika and Potiskum. Four related Chadic-speaking peoples – the Bolewa, Ngamo, Ngizim and Karekare – form the ‘core’ peoples of the Emirate, which is also the home of smaller ethnic groups such as the Lere, the Abore Fulani and the Hausa, whose centres of power and population lie outside the Emirate. The heterogeneous character of the population is reflected in the Emirate’s recent history and the slow forging of a sense of identity. Significant changes in the ethnolinguistic situation have taken place in the twentieth century, notably the wider diffusion of Bole and Karekare to the detriment of Ngamo and Ngizim. Since the Second World War, Hausa, rather than Kanuri, has become the accepted lingua franca of Fika Emirate. The strength of the ethnic languages has not diminished.
WHY TWO KINGS?
Historical records revealed that Potiskum started out as a twindom of indigenous tribes such as the Kare-Kare, Ngizimawa and other locals. The Kare-Kare were more in number and in conjunction with the Ngizim and other tribes had a local but impact less chiefdom in the precolonial days.
A little kilometre away from Potiskum was Fika, which had a well-established emirate, history and lineage of kings traced from 940AD, made up of the Bolewa, Ngamawa and other locals. The Bolewa kingdom of Fika was so developed that their kings were listed in a royal tree of Mois, maintained strict genealogy of kings, ruling houses, and royalty functions such that no one served a Bolewa king cum emirate without a defined title.
These titles were jealously maintained by the title holders, forebears, successors, and the use of the title Moi was and still peculiar only to Bolewa kings. Then came the British colonial masters whose role was to unite, harmonize the peoples of the area for a cohesive, central, and united administration in furtherance of the British agenda and exigencies.
Upon a careful tour of the area, that is Potiskum and Fika, the British harnessed all the tribes to form a central administration in Potiskum known as Fika Emirate in 1924. The British had to move the 41st Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammadu Idrissa to lead the local chiefdoms of the Ngizim, Kare-kare, Ngamo, Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri and other natives in Potiskum for administrative convenience and socio-economic development of the area.
The British enthronement of Fika Emirate as well as Bolewa leadership was met with resistance by the natives especially the Ngizim and KareKare who were conquered by the Bolewa tribe. It is said that while the Kare-Kare tribe who are more in number had accepted the olive branch of the Bolewa for the peace and development of Fika Emirate and Potiskum community, the Ngizim tribe appeared unrepentant, un-bulged and resolute in their agitations at various dimension till date.
While the presence of Fika Emirate has resulted in the socio-economic development of the area and appreciated by all the tribes, the Ngizim tribe had always wanted to be independent, expressing bitterness to historical, colonial realities they consider too painful to accept. This led to heightened agitation for their self-actualization.
POLITICAL CONSIDERATION
Military regimes in Yobe State had managed the volatile agitation with tact, dexterity in view of the peculiarities of the Potiskum area, history, and socio-political and economic considerations; the Bukar Abba Ibrahim in order to score political points succumbed to the Ngizim agitations and created Pataskum emirate in Potiskum.
Efforts were made to advise the Governor Bukar Ibrahim government to handle the emirate creation issue with caution by moving the new emirate to a town at the outskirts of the Damaturu-Potiskum highway, called Mamudo to avoid the volatile situation of having two Emirates and two Emirs in the same city, a sacrilegious act, but refused to act wisely in order to get his pound of flesh from the 42nd Emir of Fika, the late Alhaji (Dr.) Abali Muhammadu Ibn Idrissa whom he accused of supporting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the then All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) now All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State.
The new Emirate of Pataskum honoured Governor Bukar Ibrahim with the title of Sarduanan Pataskum to appreciate the spin job of creating their long-desired emirate.
The 42nd Emir of Fika, the late Alhaji (Dr.) Abali Muhammadu Ibn Idrissa, CON, lived to fight and suppress serious ethnic oppositions fuelled by the Bukar Abba Ibrahim Government. For a man of peace and all inclusion he was noted for, he honoured Governor Bukar Ibrahim with a chieftaincy title known as Makaman Fika; a title the former Governor flaunted with relish as a prove of forgiveness from the 42nd Emir of Fika.
Yet the deep-seated bitterness of the Ngizim tribe over the 1924 movement of Fika Emirate to Potiskum by the British appears unassuaged despite the peaceful overtures of the late Emir of Fika.
It has been obvious that the greatest wish of most Ngizim cum Pataskum Emirate people is the annexation, annihilation and extermination of the Emir and Emirate of Fika.
While the late Governor Mamman Ali, a native of Ngizim tribe lived; reports had it that he had concluded plans to depose the 42nd Emir of Fika and send him on exile to Yola, Adamawa State. Indeed, the Kano-Emir Sanusi debacle would have kick started in Potiskum between 2008-2009 but for the death of Governor Mamman Ali.
The successor of the 42nd Emir of Fika, his first son, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa, CON, the 43rd Emir of Fika who is apathetic to the political manipulations, affiliations and schemings of the area was only to inherit the unfinished battle, hatred and animosities meted to his father by the Ngizims of Pataskum Emirate.
The Mai Pataskum , Alhaji Bubaram Ibn Wuriwa Bauya launched the initial salvo when he raised the ethnic question that the new Emir should not be installed in Potiskum which he claims as sole ruler in spite of the creation of districts for the Emirates of Fika and Pataskum by the Yobe State Government. The early animosity graduated into deeper tribal hostilities when the incumbent Emir of Fika was attacked by a suicide bomber within the precinct of Potiskum Central Mosque.
The suicide bomber who lost his target was discovered to be an Ngizim son. The current but final stroke which is intended for the manifestation of the age-long annexation plan against Fika Emirate is the issue surrounding the Potiskum Old Prison facility which situate in an area known as Angwuar Bolewa, an area allotted by Yobe State Government to Fika Emirate as Kara District.
For a people known for rich history and socioeconomic consciousness, the Emir of Fika had sought and obtained the approval of the Federal Government to transform the Old Potiskum Prison facility into a Museum for the preservation of the historical artefacts of the Emirate.
Unfortunately, upon the release of the formal approval to Fika Emirate, the Pataskum Emir and Emirate rose up to claim ownership of the area which the Bolewa tribe nay Fika Emirate had occupied for nearly a century. In fact, by 2024, the Bolewa tribe cum Fika Emirate would mark a century of the movement from Fika to Potiskum at the behest of the British colonial masters.
Around the area of the Potiskum Old Prison is the Old Potiskum well, one monument which none of the tribes in Potiskum could lay claim of ownership, thus proving the fact that every tribe migrated to the area; indeed, the city of Potiskum belongs to God! The evolution of Fika Emirate and movement to Potiskum is a reality of human existence factors of migration and conquest.
The Bolewa tribe nay Fika Emirate migrated to Potiskum like other tribes who migrated to the area earlier, but in their case at the invitation of the British. They had earlier fought and conquered the indigenous tribes who contested against their presence.
The senseless agitation for their ouster by the Ngizim of Pataskum Emirate is a clear manifestation of historical ignorance and realities of human migration, existence, akin to the Afonja cum Ilorin story of Kwara State and other places in Nigeria and the World. Indeed, the Ngizim cum Pataskum Emirate animosities against Fika Emirate and the Bolewa is not only archaic but devilish and inconsequential.
Most disturbing and confusing are the recent claims on the Old Potiskum Prison by the Pataskum Emirate as House of Dawi surrendered by their old tribal ruler, which appears as a brazen attempt at the reconstruction of history for their aggrandizement. Whereas similar approval was made by the former Minister of Interior, General Dambazau for the return of Wukari and Maiduguri Prisons to the Emirates where they are domiciled, the one in Potiskum of Fika Emirate has been circumvented by the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Custodial Service in consort with the Mai Pataskum to flout an order and approval of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The animosities generated by Pataskum Emirate to the award of Potiskum Old Prisons to Fika Emirate for a Museum project appears as the masterstroke to their ethnic cleansing programme.
This have resulted in the cancellation of the earlier approval to Fika Emirate by the former Minister of Interior, General Abdulraman Dambazau by the incumbent Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who now wants the Old Prisons to be used for the establishment of a Female Custodial Centre.
From the grave vine, the Mai Pataskum, Alhaji Bauya, a retired Prisons Controller with the tacit sponsorship of an Ngizim son and Minister of State, Works, Alhaji Abubakar Ali and the present Controller-General, Nigerian Custodial Service are said to have made overtures to mislead the incumbent Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to deprive and cancel the approval given to Fika Emirate to transform the Old Prisons into a Museum.
One could read between the lines that the motives behind custodial centre, undertaker moves of a former Prison Controller now the Mai Pataskum, the hidden support of the Minister of State, Works, Alhaji Abubakar Ali, whose late brother and Governor, Mamman Ali had planned to depose the 42nd Emir of Fika and sack the Emirate and its people from Potiskum as a manifestation of shrewd moves to annex Fika Emirate by subtle means.
In a release signed by the spokesperson of Fika Youth Movement, Abdullahi Barde, the group has alerted the world that should the proposed Female Custodial Centre project commence against the Museum Project which Fika Emirate had earlier gotten the approval of the Federal Government for, that the peace of Potiskum metropolis is not guaranteed!
They noted that the prison area is within the Kara District allotted Fika Emirate by Yobe State Government and a location the Bolewa people had lived for 97 years, thus, the planned incursion and occupation of the area by the Pataskum Emirate under the guise of a Female Custodial Centre would not be tolerated.
They also noted that Government should not site a project they do not need and advised the Minister of Interior to rather build the custodial centre within the Pataskum Emirate areas where their Emir could freely supervise as a retired Prisons Officer.
Fika Youth Movement has also called on the Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni to intervene in the matter as the Chief Security Officer of Yobe State, by advising the Federal Government to uphold the earlier approval for the transformation of the Potiskum Old Prisons Facility to Fika Emirate for a Museum Project to save the fragile peace of Potiskum metropolis.
The group has unanimously pledged their loyalty and support to the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni to seek a second term in office as Governor.
They have promised to mobilize the nooks and crannies of Yobe State to resist the alleged political manipulations of the Minister of State, Works, Alhaji Abubakar Ali to sow seeds of discord between the Governor and the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan in the 2023 Governorship elections which he plans to surreptitiously emerge as Governor to further an ethnic cleansing project in Potiskum against Fika Emirate.
METROPOLITAN POTISKUM AND THE FUTURE CHALLENGES
The British style of colonial rule was the popular indirect rule; a rule through direct communication with the Emirs of the different entities that formed Nigeria of today. The British were strategic in locating the headquarters of the Division in Potiskum that by 1924, a new town was completely built with magnificent houses and offices much in contrast to the few huts that clustered around the village well.
In order to facilitate effective communication with the Emir who was resident in remote Fika, the British decided that the Emir should relocate to Potiskum instead of coming often in a risky and rigorous journey on horseback or vice versa. Many Emirs such as Bade, Katagum, etc were affected by such important policy. And this proved to be the best as further developments took place, both in human and capital, administrative and socio-economic.
The judiciary was strengthened, Native Authority police were put in place, revenue generation was improved, the medical dispensary was also put in place, forestry, veterinary and agricultural services were all put in place and developed, social welfare and education were also improved. The first school in Potiskum was built in 1926 and many pupils from different parts of the Emirate were enrolled. Earlier on according to F. Redler in his book Lion and the Unicorn, he mentioned that with the opening of the Kano-Maiduguri Road via Potiskum and the use of river Gongola with barges to transport goods, economic activities were stepped up.
There were political developments throughout the 40s and 50s. The Emir of Fika had of course been a member of the House of Chiefs since the 1947 Richards constitution. The Fika Native Authority joined Borno, Biu, Bade, and Dikwa to elect Wali of Borno Muhammadu Ngileruma and Kashim Ibrahim as first and second members of the Regional Council in Kaduna in 1947. Fika Emirate all these years worked for the unity and progress of the people and never opposed changes and developments which will improve the quality of human life.
In 1956, Queen Elizabeth II visited Kaduna. All the Emirs and their people were there. Sir Ahmadu Bello wrote in his book – My Life. The most exciting incident was at the end of the Durbar when the old Moi of Fika led a wave of galloping horsemen who, the whole thing had been more spectacular than they had expected. The Durbars of 1959 Self-Government Celebration, 1977 FESTAC and the recent National Festival all featured the Fika Emirate contingent led by the Emir.
It was in the 1960s that plots of land and houses became a matter of buying and selling, otherwise it was the Emir’s responsibility to personally donate a house or a piece of land to a dweller and this gave rise to the sudden surge of people with various talents and skills to move to Potiskum and take residence.
Therefore, all the earlier settlements of Potiskum were there by the grace and hospitality of the Emir. This policy made Potiskum not only an administrative headquarters, but also a commercial centre, and it helped in providing a security watch over all the people.
1976 saw the demise of Moi Muhammadu and the installation of Moi Abali in a colourful ceremony, at the Potiskum stadium (present site of the Local Government Secretariat) by the Military Governor of Borno State, Group Captain Mustapha Amin.
1976 also saw the Obasanjo Local Government reforms which came with several changes and created the Local Governments in Nigeria as third tiers of Government. This brought Fika Local Government with headquarters in Potiskum, the seat of Fika Emirate.
Changes continued with subsequent changes in administration, but the Emirs and Chiefs were flexible enough to accommodate such changes and also to safeguard religion and cultural heritage. Ensuring peace and advising governments on what the people need in the society.
In 1989, Nangere Local Government was created with headquarters in Potiskum, while Fika L.G. with headquarters in Fika. Nangere L.G. was again divided in 1996 to create Nangere L.G. with headquarters in Sabon-Gari while Potiskum Local Government with headquarters in Potiskum.
In 1999 a new civilian dispensation was ushered in where General Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over power to President-Elect Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in Abuja. In Yobe State Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim was sworn in as the new Governor.
The following year in 2000, new Emirates were created in Yobe State vide Yobe State Gazette No. 2 Vol. 10 and Fika Emirate was divided where Gudi Emirate with headquarters in Gadaka, Pataskum Emirate with headquarters in Yerimaram and Tikau Emirate with headquarters in Sabon-Gari were created, to serve the democratic needs of the Ngamo, Kare-Kare and Ngizim respectively.
Fika Emirate still remains the entrepot and fulcrum of unity not only in Potiskum but Yobe State as a whole. The present Emir, Dr. Muhammadu Abali ibn Muhd Idrissa holds a vision for peaceful coexistence, educational and economic empowerment for women and youth, Medicare for infants and kids, wealth creation and aggressive farming activities for all his people- Bolewa, Ngamo Kare-Kare, Ngizim and Hausa/Fulani. Together we live and move Potiskum forward.
Potiskum has grown over the years. The foundation of development laid nearly a century ago has manifested to provide a huge landmark in various sectors of human endeavour. The people have made innovations in many of such areas which contributed to the successes recorded, and that is the result of hard work and diligence which Fika Emirate believed in.
Potiskum and indeed Fika Emirate, therefore, welcome all our visitors with open arms and wide smiles. The people’s rich culture and hospitality will always remain with you while you are in Potiskum, and definitely would be in your memory after departing the hub of culture, peace and hospitality.
CONCLUSION
Fika Emirate still remains the fulcrum of unity not only in Potiskum but Yobe State as a whole. The present Emir, Dr. Muhammadu Abali ibn Muhd Idrissa holds a vision for peaceful coexistence, educational and economic empowerment for women and youth, Medicare for infants and kids, wealth creation and aggressive farming activities for all his people- Bolewa, Ngamo Kare-Kare, Ngizim and Hausa/Fulani. Together we live and move Potiskum forward.
Potiskum has grown over the years. The foundation of development laid nearly a century ago has manifested to provide a huge landmark in various sectors of human endeavour. The people have made innovations in many of such areas which contributed to the successes recorded, and that is the result of hard work and diligence which Fika Emirate believed in.
Potiskum and indeed Fika Emirate, therefore, welcome all our visitors with open arms and wide smiles. The peoples rich culture and hospitality will always remain with you while you are in Potiskum, and definitely would be in your memory after departing the hub of culture, peace and hospitality.
