Peacebuilding: Senator calls for deeper knowledge of history

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By Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

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Abuja, Nov. 1, 2020 Sen. Abbo Ishaku, representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, says for any nation to get its direction, it has to know where it is coming from.

Ishaku, therefore called for concerted efforts to make the study of history an important aspect of learning at all levels.

The lawmaker, who spoke at the launch of a book, Bwatiye Migrations, by Elliot Afiyo, on Sunday, in Abuja, said there would be a change of mindset if the present generation understood its rich cultural heritage and the relationships most ethnic groups shared through the study of history.

“We need to take the study of history seriously at this point; we as a nation can never understand where we are headed unless we know where we are coming from,’’ Ishaku said.

Speaking at the event, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi said the Bwatiye people were known to be gallant, knowledgeable and peaceful race.

Mohammed, represented by his Special Assistant, Mr Eric Anyamene, commended the author for the great piece which according to him, gives an insight into the history of the Bwatiye and a better understanding of the people and their way of life.

Also speaking, the book reviewer, Dr John Ngamsa, a senior lecturer with the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, described the book as “well written with the intention of uniting Bwatiye”.

According to him, the book is aimed at bringing Bwatiye history to the fore and making such history a source of oral unity of the people.

Ngamsa, who gave a vivid insight into the book, noted that it explored Bwatiye movement in the beginning from Egypt, towards the stretches of Nubia, into the larger parts of Sudan into Chad and the Cameroons.

He said the group moved to Gobir, then Sokoto, and eventually occupying the larger part of the River Benue in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.

He said the book, which tried to look at how the Bata and Bachama kingdoms came into existence, was an admix of both the narration and oral history of the people, with the prospect of inspiring further study of the literature towards examining issues that had to do with the development of Nigeria.

“It is a very verse history isolating and describing Bawtiye’s various inter-relationships with tribes like Njenyi, which are the earlier generation, the Bura, Kilba, Higgi, Fali and other tribes.

“Arguably, the Bwatiye as a group, at a point in history, were the largest settlers of the North Eastern Nigeria, but not without some problems here and there, which are normal,’’ Ngamsa said.

He therefore recommended an evaluation of the book by other scholars; as well as its popularisation, so that the younger generation could have access and insight into the entire history of the Bwatiye people.

In his vote of thanks, Afiyo appreciated all those who gathered to honour him with the launch of his book, which he said took him more than 10 years, and which was not without many challenges.

The author noted that if people could understand and follow history, nations would not be experiencing the intolerance that was culminating into wars and conflicts.

“We will be able to understand each other and will not be easily swayed by some individuals who use religion and ethnicity to divide us for their selfish motives,’’ he said.

Also speaking, Sen Grace Bent, of Yoruba decent married to a Bwatiye man, and one time representative of Adamawa South Senatorial District in the Upper Chamber, described the Bwatiye as a de-trabalised people.

Bent said the Bwatiye were a people who did not consider women they married from other tribes as outsiders, which was evident in her election to represent them at the Senate.

Naija247news reports that Bwatiye is a fusion of Bata and Bachama speaking people, mainly in Adamawa, but also found in other places across Nigeria’s borders such as Cameroun.

Naija247news also reports that 12 kings of Bwatiye were given post humours awards at the launch, for their various contributions to the development of the Bwatiye kingdom.

Naija247news
Naija247newshttps://www.naija247news.com/
Naija247news is an investigative news platform that tracks news on Nigerian Economy, Business, Politics, Financial and Africa and Global Economy.

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