President Muhammadu Buhari as
Bayajidda of the 21st Century
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As written by Sesan Michael JOHNSON
History is not just what happened but
attempt towards understanding and interrogating what happened for proper
understanding of the present and future trajectories. The northern fridges of
this country have continued to be decimated with various disturbances such as
the unending Boko Haram onslaught, unchecked marauding of banditry, cankerous
cattle rustling, perennial farmer-herders classes, etc. Historically, while Napoleon
Bonaparte was becoming an Emperor in France in 1804, the Hausa-city states of
Nigeria were experiencing the Uthman Dan Fodio’s 1804 Revolution. Evidently,
this revolution upturned the socio- cultural, political and economic fabrics of
the Hausa city-states. The Habe rulers could not stop the revolution, hence the
demise of their forms of leadership. It should be recalled that the Habe rulers
acquired their authority from the dynasties established by Bayajidda and his
seven children.
Within the remix of the cacophonous
histories of the Hausa city-states, the myth of Bayajidda legend had remained
sacrosanct. Bayajidda, a prince of a Baghdad kingdom was said to have traversed
Kanem-Borno kingdom before reaching Daura, only for him to become a heroic
migrant after killing a notorious snake that was always tormenting the Daura
people by preventing them from fetching water from the main Daura’s Kusugu well six days
a week, except on a Friday. The Queen of Daura was said to have married Bayajidda
because of this historical feat. What a daring and courageous woman! In spite
of 1804 Uthman Dan Fodio Jihad or Revolution, this myth remains sacred and
generally acceptable. Fodio’s Caliphate with its intellectual and revolutionary
propensities did not overturn this legend. Evidently, this decision was very
unusual. As a matter of historical fact, the Caliphate adopted the Hausa
language as official language instead of Fula or Fulfulde. Consequently, this
resulted to a seemingly Hausa-Fulani amalgam, a political synthesis.
Fast forward to the 21st
century, the myth of Bayajidda legend still shines as ever before, especially
as ‘another larger than life personality,’ a son of Daura became the president
of Nigeria in 2015. On Jun 20, 2015, the
Emir of Daura, Umar Faruk appointed President Muhammadu Buhari as 'Bayajidda
Daura II' of Daura Emirate when the president was on a private visit to his
native Daura. The emir later presented a gold plated sword and horse to the
President to symbolise his appointment as Bayajidda II. Coincidentally, in
November 2020 when the president was on another private visit, he was gifted
another colourful sword by the Emir as he welcomed the President with an array
of horse riders and courtiers representing the glory and royalty of the Daura
Emirate. Methinks, the sword is a reminiscence of the sword legendary Bayajidda
used to kill the iniquitous snake at the Kusugu well.
The crux of today’s piece is to
interrogate the paradoxes and corollaries of two personalities, that is, the
legendary Bayajidda and Bayajidda II (Muhammadu Buhari). On the one hand, myth
has it that the local blacksmiths forged the sword used by Bayajidda to kill
the terrorizing snakes. You will agree with me that beyond the well serving as
source of water; the well was also an economic source. So, the snake was a
threat to life and the economy of the generality of the people of Daura at that
time of history. Notably, legendary Bayajidda was successful in removing the tormentor
of the people of Daura. On the other hand, Buhari as Bayajidda II was supplied
with a well decorated sword when he was appointed in 2015. One would have
concluded that as the Dauran Bayajidda II, safety of lives, properties and
businesses will be the hallmark of Buhari’s government. Remarkably, he was
gifted sword twice (2015 and 2020). Why? Someone deduced that perhaps the
2015’s sword was not effective, hence, the need for 2020’s sword. Maybe a sword
in use for five years needs to be replaced. By this symbolism, this shows that
Bayajidda still have a lot to do to improve the security architecture of
Katsina, the North and the country at large.
Strangely enough, on the evening of
December 11, 2020, the same day Buhari landed in Katsina state, over 300 boys
were kidnapped. There were reports of other abductions afterward.
Significantly, the return of the Kakanra boys was orchestrated by the FG, the
state government, the Army, and other non-state actors. Without gain saying, I
do not need to lay too much emphasis on the fragility of the security network
of the North and the whole nation. The vulnerability of the citizenry is
increasing every day.
Permit me to remind, Bayajidda II
(President Buhari) his words as captured in his 2020 Christmas message to the
nation: “For me, providing security for
all residents in the country remains an article of faith. It formed a vital
segment of this Administration’s three-point agenda right from inception, and
we must follow through with it. I cannot in good conscience shirk this cardinal
responsibility to secure lives and property. I feel pained each time a breach
of peace and security occurs in any part of the nation. I am even more
distressed when our youths, especially school children, are the targets and
victims of mindless and malevolent elements in society. As a parent, I share
the emotional torture and agony parents and guardians go through whenever their
children and wards fall into the cruel hands of these enemies of decency and
good society.”
As the Commander-in-Chief and the
President of Nigeria, President Buhari has all the constitutional (political
and military) powers to protect the citizens. Symbolically, he has been gifted
with swords twice (2015 and 2016) to kill all the ‘snakes’ threatening the
safety of lives, properties and economies of the people of this nation.
Howbeit, can President Muhammadu become Bayajidda of the 21st
century?
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Sesan Michael JOHNSON is an award winning historian/researcher
who presently serves as News Analyst at Impact Business Radio/IATV Ibadan.
