When Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi assumed office on May 31, 2009 as the new Shehu of Borno in a colourful ceremony in the historical city of Maiduguri, one prayer on his lips was that Allah should make his reign a peaceful one that will bring prosperity to his subjects. But barely two months later the peace he craved for was shattered by Mohammed Yusuf and his extremist sect, Boko Haram, that unleashed terror, killing and maiming people.
It was a highly distraught Shehu that told IKECHUKWU AMAECHI in his palace in Maiduguri that the irreverent Yusuf embarrassed not only the state but the entire Muslim community.
You have been on the throne of your forefathers since May 31, how does it feel?
If I have to go by the history of Maiduguri or Borno, my grandfather Shehu Abubakar of the blessed memory was the first Shehu of Borno to be in Maiduguri. He founded the great city of Maiduguri in 1907 and he ruled up to 1937, then after his demise, his elder brother succeeded him. Thereafter, the father of the immediate past Shehu of Borno succeeded him, then the late Shehu ruled from 1937 up to 1967. After his demise my late father succeeded him. He ruled till 1974.
Then after his death, Shehu Mustapha Umar succeeded him. He ruled from 1974 up to 2009. Then by the grace of Almighty Allah, I was appointed as Shehu of Borno on March 2, 2009.
Is there anything that has happened since you assumed office that is beyond your estimation?
Well I took over office on March 2, 2009; my coronation was on May 31, 2009 where a large number of dignitaries within and outside the country attended the ceremony. It was very successful with the kind assistance of his Excellency, the executive governor of Borno State; the ceremony was performed colourfully and wonderfully.
Then, about two weeks back, there was a very serious disaster in Maiduguri, including other parts of the state because it affected not only Maiduguri. A religious sect called Yusuf Group or so just created a very serious problem in Maiduguri where many people, innocent people lost their lives. In fact, it has never happened in the history of Borno. The only event which I can compare to what has happened was in 1893 when Rabi came to Borno, a radical leader seized power for seven years, that is from 1893 to 1900, he conquered Borno, he took the control of the leadership and ruled for seven years. Otherwise, you cannot compare what has happened to another event because in my lifetime I have seen the political disturbances of early 1960s when so many people lost their lives. I have witnessed the Maitatsine religious crisis where people also lost their lives but you cannot compare it with what has happened recently. Honestly, the motive is still not clear because they will see somebody on the street and just assassinate the person whether he or she is a Christian, Moslem or any other religion. People in uniform were their number one targets but we thank God that with the quick intervention of the Executive Governor of Borno State by reporting the matter to Mr. President in good time and with the quick intervention of the President, normalcy was restored in a very good time. Otherwise, things could have gone very worst in the state.
As the traditional ruler in this place, how do you feel?
Well, I feel very bad because for complete one week, you cannot see anybody in the street. The whole state capital was taken over by the sect. People were indoors, no movement, no market, nothing. It has never happened in the history of Borno and we pray that nothing of this nature should happen again in Borno State. It was a very terrible situation at that time.
Did you know about this sect before this crisis?
Well, I was appointed recently, I have never had his crusade and I have never seen him. When that thing happened, the security guards attached to the palace came in and told me that there was a disturbance in the town and I said, what is happening, they said they have got a report that Maiduguri new prison was burnt, police stations were burnt, including public and private buildings, so at that point they asked me to request for more re-enforcement because there are few policeman attached to the palace. So I used all my lines to get to the police but it was difficult for me to get across to them. The only mobile service available was the MTN and even that could not do the job. So everything was left in the hands of God, we kept on praying, then later on with the intervention of the governor and with the deployment of security men, normalcy was restored, it was terrible.
Are you surprised at the level of ammunitions, bombs that this group was able to gather?
Honestly, I was very surprised because it was something which one could never expect. Because I don’t know, with the tight security in Nigeria, such dangerous weapons to be imported into the country down up to Maiduguri, honestly one has to be surprised because once something gets into the country, it is thoroughly checked by security agents but I don’t know how these people got their way to import such dangerous weapons and brought them down to the northern part of the country and to Maiduguri. It is that a miracle.
These people are saying that they are propagating the teachings of Prophet Mohammed and advancing the course of Islam. By virtue of your position, you ought to be the religious head of this community. Do you agree with their teachings?
Islam teaches us how to be tolerant, how to be law abiding citizens and how we can love each other, Islam never teaches violence. So what they are doing is completely different because their first target as I was made to understand was religious leaders, law enforcement agencies. So there is no where in the Quran which says you should fight with one another and create problems. I have never seen it and I have never heard it, so what they are doing is best known to them. It is entirely different nobody knows what their mission is. Because even if they have something in mind, they could have contacted the lawful authority, following the due process, let them go to court or let them report to the higher authority if they are aggrieved, But for them to take laws into their hands and fighting with each other in the name of religion honestly is only best known to them. We thank God for the quick intervention; otherwise anybody who is seen in Maiduguri would have been wiped off by this group who claim to be fighting in the name of religion. One thing I was made to understand is that these people are not indigenes of Borno State and one thing is that anytime a security problem arises, it is master-minded by a non-indigene of the state. Borno is home of peace and hospitality, we are very tolerant with people and we allow people to come in but they come and create problems for us.
But they are saying that western education is a sin. Don’t you agree with them?
Never! The Quran says that you can go to anywhere to seek knowledge. So the question of saying western is haram or sin is not embedded in the Quran. It is just their own making and that is why I said I don’t know their motive.
Every Islamic scholar or personality you talk to will tell you Islam is a religion of peace. Is it not contradictory that at every point in time there is this violence in Islam?
I have no idea of that. Islam teaches us how to respect each other, live with each other without crisis. Islam never teaches violence.
There is uproar in the international community that Yusuf should not have been killed. Do you agree with such sentiment that his death amounts to a violation of his human rights?
I don’t think you have seen the number of people killed by Yusuf in this state. I looked at one of the newspapers; it was up to 800. The reason why he was killed as far as I am concerned is best known to the security agents. But all I know is that he killed so many people, he killed not less than eight 800 people according to the newspaper reports I have seen. It is rather unfortunate, his intention was to take over every thing but by the will of the almighty Allah, he was overpowered.
Are you embarrassed that this is coming a few months into your tenure?
It is very embarrassing. No traditional ruler will like such a thing to happen in his domain because really, it is a disgrace. What he has done is a disgrace to the state, disgrace to our community, and the only thing is that Yusuf is not from this state and it is sad that people from other states come here to cause problems for us.
Now that you are here, what are you going to do with your position to ensure that there is religious harmony in the state?
We will keep on praying to the almighty Allah to guide us and assist us. At my level I invited the district heads in my domain, the village heads, the ulamas and instructed them to report any people of suspicious character to the law enforcement agents and at the same time, I told them to be very patient even if there is anything bad they have noticed, let them not take the laws into their hands, let them report it to the appropriate authority and the governor has also summoned all the traditional rulers, he has spoken to us, he has also invited all the religious leaders including the Muslims and the Christians, he has talked to them to be tolerant and if there is anything bad on their side let them report it to the police or security agents for appropriate action. And he advised every one of us not to take the laws into our hands no matter what happens. Our subjects are law abiding citizens, Borno is home of peace and hospitality and by the grace of the Almighty Allah, it shall remain like that.
