Hajia Maimuna Buhari (1934-2020): A tribute
When the news of her death began to trickle in, I felt I had lost someone I knew and liked personally. In fact, I initially doubted the veracity of the news. However, whenever I remember the fact that she has gone on a journey of no return to meet our Creator, I get comforted by the fact that she lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.
Hajia, as she was popularly known, was an Octogenarian who was an epitome of goodwill, love, togetherness and forgiveness. Even the people on the other side of the divide knew she lived a clean, peaceful and purposeful life – she was a clear definition of a mother. She hated no one and she perpetually preached against bad manners and bad intentions even if it would be assembled against a clear enemy. Hajia Maimuna believed people should always forgive and forget the ill orchestrated on them. In the extreme, even if someone must not forgive, he must allow God to be his Judge!
An absolute disciplinarian, Hajia was born in 1934 at Ungwan Sirdi in the ancient city of Zaria into the family of Mallam Buhari Ibrahim. Like all her contemporaries, Hajia Maimuna Buhari started her Islamic education at a young age and it continued even after she got married and throughout her old age. Just like her mother (Mallama Binta Buhari), Hajia was an ardent supporter of righteousness.
Within her reasonable income, she was able to buy a gigantic brothel at Maraban Jos district, Igabi Local Government area of Kaduna State and converted the structure into a palatable mosque and school. She cared for the well being of the society and she believed Government alone cannot do it all. Hajia had harbored so many destitute children. She had given food and settled so many bills regarding hospitals and schools for the downtrodden. She had a strong belief that people who enjoy relative plenty must give back to the society what God has blessed them with.
One of her virtues was her generous willingness to help the society. In fact, her eldest and only male child, Mallam Suraj Balarabe Yakubu, the Santuraki Babba of Zazzau, inherited only a tip of an iceberg of her good virtues.
Hajia Maimuna Buhari Ibrahim died on Monday 20th July 2020 at about 7.15pm after a protracted illness. She was survived by six children (Mallam Suraj B. Yakubu, Amina, Jummai, Lami, Suwaiba and Uwale) and many grandchildren. May God continue to bless her soul and reward her with the highest status of paradise. Amiin.
Titus Eleweke, Awka
The Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, and some traditional rulers in the state have been on a war path lately over local government elections, zoning of governorship and support for President Muhammadu Buhari.
Governor Obiano recently suspended 12 traditional rulers in the state for travelling to Abuja to see President Buhari without getting clearance from the state government.
Recall that billionaire businessman, Prince Arthur Eze, in July, assembled some traditional rulers in the state and told them that Obiano’s inability to conduct local government elections was robbing them of five per cent of local government funds due to them.
Prince Eze also told the traditional rulers that Anambra State did not need zoning in its forthcoming governorship election, saying the best should be elected on merit from any part of the state.
He also stated that he might sue the governor for non-conduct of local government elections because the government was denying some local communities their muchneeded development, and promised to take the traditional rulers on a thank you visit to President Buhari over what he had been doing in the state and the South East.
Gov. Obiano, who felt slighted by the action of Prince Eze and the traditional rulers, slammed a year’s suspension on each of the 12 monarchs, accusing them of not obtaining approval from government before travelling to Abuja as required by Anambra State laws.
According to government sources, the 12 traditional rulers were alleged to have travelled with Prince Eze to report Gov. Obiano to the president over his non-conduct of local government elections and other issues, but that they were turned back at the villa.
In Anambra, it is no longer news that Prince Eze has been at loggerheads with the governor, who he accused of not paying traditional rulers five per cent of money accruing to them as directed by the Federal Government with a threat to urge President Buhari to stop paying local government funds to the state government.
In suspending the monarchs, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr. Greg I. Obi, the state government listed the suspended traditional rulers as follows: Igwe Alex Edozieuno of Mkpunando, Igwe Mark Anthony Okonkwo of Alor, Igwe Chukuwma Bob Vincent Orji of Ezinifite and Igwe Engr. G.B.C Mbakwe of Abacha.
Others are Igwe Chijioke Nwankwo of Nawfia, Igwe Nkeli Nelly of Igbariam, Igwe Anthony Onyekwere of Owelle, Igwe A. N Onwuneme of Ikenga, Igwe Simon Ikechukwu Chidubem of Umumbo, Igwe S. O Uche of Ezira, Igwe Dr. Emeka Ilouno of Ifitedunu and Igwe Peter Ikegbunem Udoji of Eziagulu Otu.
In the suspension circular, the suspended traditional rulers were barred from parading themselves as traditional rulers and also to desist from discharging their functions as traditional rulers in their communities or anywhere within the state and beyond with immediate effect.
The state government claimed that the suspension followed the recommendation of their colleagues in the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council after their meeting at Awka. The council is led by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe.
Two days after handing down the suspension, the leadership and people of Alor community in Idemili South LGA, under the aegis of Alor People Assembly (A.P.A.), commended Gov. Obiano for suspending their traditional ruler, Igwe Elibe Mac-Anthony Chinedu Okonkwo.
The community described the visit of the traditional ruler to Abuja as “gross misconduct, an act of sabotage, disloyalty against the state and attempted desecration of the Office of the Governor of Anambra State.”
The community said Igwe Okonkwo had “been conducting himself to the disapproval of our people, culminating in the latest sabotage against the Government of Anambra State.
The community said this in a statement signed by Sir Uzoma Igbonwa, President General of A.P.A.
Sir Igbonwa said, “We hereby wish to state our unequivocal support for the governor and every step he has taken to restore sanity to our traditional institution; the suspension of erring traditional rulers, which includes the purported traditional ruler of Alor.
“We the good people of Alor are peace-loving, law-abiding and loyal to the Government of Anambra State and shall continue to do so.
“We hereby dissociate our entire community from the actions of Elibe Mac-Anthony Chinedu Okonkwo who was imposed on our community and has strangely been conducting himself to the disapproval of our people, culminating in the latest sabotage against the Government of Anambra State.”
A day later, Igwe Mac-Anthony Elibe Okonkwo, at a press briefing in his palace, admitted his wrongdoing and tendered an “unreserved apology” to the state government, the traditional rulers council, members of his cabinet and his subjects.
He said it was a serious slip on his part not to have informed the government about the trip to Abuja.
On the trending video where he was seen alongside some of his colleagues counting money, Igwe Okonkwo dispelled the rumour that he was induced with money and gifts before agreeing to accompany Prince Eze to see President Buhari.
He said the money he was seen counting was meant for his driver and other aides for their upkeep, and wondered how somebody of his status who had made money before becoming king would be accused of taking bribe.
Similarly, on Monday, five communities that make up Aguleri in Anambra East LGA, during a peaceful protest, demanded for the removal of two traditional rulers for being part of the trip to Abuja. The two traditional rulers are from Gov. Obiano’s community.
The protesters asked for the removal from office of Igwe Alex Edozieuno of Ukpunangbo and Igwe Udoji Iloegbune of Eziagulu Otu from the Aguleri clan for undertaking the Abuja trip.
They blocked the popular Otuocha roundabout, accusing the two royal fathers of committing sacrilege by joining others to undermine the government headed by their brother, Chief Obiano.
Speaking at the protest, the President General of Aguleri, Chief Chidi Onwuegbune, said their decision to embark on the peaceful protest was to let the world know that the traditional rulers went to Abuja without the consent of the people in their domains.
Chief Onwuegbune said, “Our people were taken aback at the unbecoming conduct of the two Igwes. They embarked on a journey to Abuja with Prince Arthur Eze without telling our people and the state government. Although they have already been suspended by the traditional rulers council and government, we know that the whole world is watching to see what our position on the matter is.
“We want to inform the state government that we are not part and parcel of the action they took. We absolutely condemn their action which portrayed our community in bad light, especially as the governor is our son.”
However, the people of Ezuagulu Otu in Anambra East LGA whose traditional ruler, Igwe Peter Udorji Ikegbunam, was among the monarchs suspended, have vowed to resist any attempt by another community to instigate the removal of their traditional ruler.
The Chairman of Igwe-inCouncil, Chief Chidi Nnamekwe, said they were happy with their monarch and therefore had no reason to protest against his leadership.
He said, “We have five communities that make up Aguleri Clan, and these communities have their own kings and presidents general.
“Whatever they have in Aguleri Uno, we have it also in EziaguluOtu. So how can Aguleri’s president general be doing protest with his people on our behalf and in their own town demanding that our traditional ruler be removed from office?
“Our President General, Chief Anthony Onwuteaka, was not even aware of the protest in Aguleri. Our people were not involved and we were not consulted. We have no reason to move against our traditional ruler. His Abuja visit was just a private visit and he is entitled to freedom of movement as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
“Our traditional ruler is a good man, a man of integrity and a man of impeccable character who has done so much for the community. He brought peace to the community and the youths of Eziagulu-Otu are in total support of his leadership.
“What Aguleri people are trying to do is to annex EziaguluOtu to their own community, and we will not allow it. Aguleri people have no mandate from us to do such kangaroo protest. We will defend our king and our community. They should mind their own community.”
Addressing reporters at his palace, Igwe Ikeegbunam said those who took part in the protest at Aguleri did not have the mandate of Eziagulu-Otu people because they were not from the community, adding that the purported protest took place at Amaeze Aguleri, which was the domain of another traditional ruler.
The traditional ruler maintained that the Abuja trip was neither against Gov. Obiano nor his government, adding that they were in Abuja to thank President Buhari for his developmental strides in Anambra State and the South East.
He added that, “I wonder how Abuja can sack a governor with the visit. The power to sack a governor lies with the House of Assembly which can impeach if there is gross misconduct or the people during election.
“Traditional rulers have no right or power to sack a governor. Also, there was no fair hearing on the part of Anambra State Government; to hear from the traditional rulers before taking the decision to suspend them.
“I want it to be on record, no Eziagulu-Otu indigene, the Eziagulu-Otu President General or Ndi Iche was involved in the so-called protest in Aguleri.”
The state Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Damian Okeke-Okeke, has since advised the traditional rulers to avoid a confrontational stance against the state government to avoid wrong signals to the outside world.