Celebrating 17 years of the 13th Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar

It will be 17 eventful years on September 11 2020 since the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji (Dr) Yahaya Abubakar CFR ascended the throne of his forebears in Bida, the headquarters of Nupe land in Niger State.

Etsu Yahaya succeeded his maternal uncle, Alhaji Umaru Sanda Ndayako, who died on September 1, 2003.

The throne rotates among the three ruling houses which includes Usman Zaki, Masaba and Umaru Majigi in an ordered sequence entrenched by the emirate’s founding fathers from time immemorial.

Etsu Yahaya would go down in history as the only one to have ruled longest from his Usman Zaki ruling house. He will not only be 17 years on the throne on September 11, but the 13th to rule the kingdom since its inception.

Expectedly, the kingdom has witnessed unprecedented developments since he took the reign through various innovations which have served as benchmark through which other emirates draw inspiration.

Key among the innovations was the formation of the Nupe Foundation (Ninibo Nupe), which is one of the 5-piont agenda contained in the grand document of the publicity sub committee of the movement for the actualisation of *Edu State.* Nupe Foundation is therefore a socio-cultural organization of Nupe-speaking people of Niger, Kwara, Kogi states and the FCT as well as the diaspora with its headquarters in Bida.

The foundation which came into being in 2009 has enjoyed the support of all the royal fathers of Nupe land particularly the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Dr Yahaya Abubakar CFR which is aimed to among other things, provide a platform to connect, unite and push to the global stage, the affairs of the Nupe people. It’s affairs are directed through various advisory, non-executive and executive structures made up of prominent sons and daughters of KinNupe.

One of the key activities of the foundation is the organization of annual Nupe Day celebration which commenced on June 26, 2009. On the 26th of June,1896, Nupe Calvary defeated the British Army at Ogidi in the present day Kogi State, thus the choice of that day. The annual event has gone a long way in fostering unity among the Nupes and providing catalyst for general development of the people.

The foundation through its activities has provided an enabling environment for huge investment in agriculture, arts and crafts which are the main stay of the people of the area as well as solid minerals.

However, more heartwarming was the revival of the lost Nupe culture and tradition through the annual Nupe Day initiative of the royal father.

Another grand achievement of this initiative is the reenactment and propagation of Nupe costume (Emigun Nupe) made up of 1. RED- Great warriors, agile, industrious and courageous people. 2. Green- Great farmers and 3. BLUE -Fishermen. These colours have since been adopted by the royal fathers of Nupe land hence its usage as Nupe means of identity.

Further benefits of the initiative is the rejuvenation of Nupe culture and resource centre which houses Nupe artifacts, contemporary literature materials and history for reference purposes in research and conferences.

Another milestone covered by this initiative is the composition and adoption of Nupe cultural anthem (Taki Nupe). The cultural anthem is usually sang at all the event venues of the Nupe people to remind them of who they are in order to be conscious of their goals and aspirations for an ideal Nupe land and Nigeria at large.

Through His royal Highness’s influence and moral persuasion, the River Niger through Baro Port was dredged and also to his credit, the port has been constructed and commissioned, even as he and other royal fathers are working tirelessly to ensure that the federal government accelerated the completion of the access road which had stalled the commencement of its operation.

Under his reign also, activities leading to the discovery of crude oil is ongoing in the Bida basin. The two most important projects and other federal government projects across Nupe land will no doubt spur economic activities in the area, the states and Nigeria in general.

The projects will also provide job opportunities to the teeming youths within the catchment areas and therefore reduce crime rate.

Still on youth empowerment, the royal father through Nupe foundation’s ambitious academic agenda launched an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to provide digital infrastructure across the Nupe land. Launched in 2016, the foundation’s intention is to provide ICT infrastructure for educational as well as research purposes in the land.

On a broader scale, the foundation also birthed the idea to create an educational fund from where it can be able to sponsor sons and daughters of Kin Nupe in science, technology and humanities courses in the near future.

It is also to his royal highness’ credit that many sons and daughters of the kingdom rose to prominence within the nation’s political and bureaurocratic spheres. For instance, Nupe land produced two top-most security chiefs, the Inspector General of Police and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well as the Deputy Governor of the Nation’s apex Bank among other high profile positions.

By and large, Etsu YAHAYA ABUBAKAR has also paid his dues adequately to the people of his immediate domain (Bida Emirate). This is through his various developmental initiatives at the home front.

Amongst them include the expansion of the district headquarters in the Emirate from barely 23 in 2003 to almost 42 at the moment to promote effective governance at the grass root level; there is also an aggressive agricultural program across the Emirate which he is personally championing to promote food sufficiency and security. Mention must also be made of the initiative of the royal father on security of lives and property of the people. A security committee semblance of the midwifed community police has been established in Bida town and adjoining communities for security and stability of the areas.

Furthermore, in order to encourage good moral and conduct among its people, the Bida Emirate has been recognising and honouring eminent sons and daughters within and outside the area with traditional titles so as to attract others to emulate them.

As the ancient headquarters of the kin-Nupe warms up for the all important anniversary celebration therefore, Baagandozhi has every reason to be proud for restoring Nupeland to its old glory of being one of the most important political entities in the West African sub-region.

Isah Isah Mohammed, Wakili Labarai Nupe wrote in from Bida, Niger State