Some of the representatives of the Concerned Mwari Youth Forum, during a press conference held in Bauchi.
ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi-
A group of youths, Concerned Mwari Youth Forum, has dismissed as untrue, a letter allegedly written by Yakubu Dogara, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, that there was security threats in the area.
The Youths said that the claim by Dogara, who represents Dass/Bogoro/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, that there was a security threat in Mwari in respect of a forthcoming event to honour, the late famous leader of the Sayawa people, Baba Peter Gonto, was false.
According to a text of a press conference they addressed on Monday at the NUJ Secretariat, Bauchi, which was read by Pastor Isuwa Samaila, and signed by 48 others, the youths kicked against the petition to the IGP that the reception be put on hold.
“We, the concerned youths in Mwari, Bogoro LGA of Bauchi state, feel duty bound to refute the complaint written to the Inspector General of police purportedly signed by Rt Hon. Dogara Yakubu, the Honourable member representing Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of the House of Representatives, which is also making rounds in the social media in the complaint.
“It is alleged that unless the planned reception in honour of the Zaar sage, Baba Peter Gonto is put on hold, there may be a very serious breach of peace. The author further argued that he has worked hard to restore peace to the area, that he is so concerned about any activity that will reverse the peace enjoyed in the area.
“We are here to address you the press and to inform you clearly that, as youths of Mwari, the claims in the complaint are not true. We, on behalf of the people of Mwari, completely support the reception in honour of our grandfather, late Baba Peter Gonto. We interacted closely with youths within our neighborhood, there is unanimity that the reception should go on,” they said.
Furthermore, they added that: “Our Late Sage Baba Peter Gonto was a political leader, a devoted religious leader, a pacesetter in Sayawa land, whose ideals were to propagate the message of peace and unity amongst his people, so no amount of honour that would be given to him will be too much.
“Moreover, the Late Baba Gonto was a father to every Zaar man who was an architect of unity among the Zaar people and our neighbors, he was further the beacon of hope and light.
“We are surprised that any Zaar man would have the courage and audacity to oppose a reception in honour of this legend; we are much more surprised that Rt. Hon. Dogara Yakubu who is an In-law to Mwari would want to oppose a reception in honour of this great man.
“The intention of the convener of this event is primarily to foster unity in and around the Zaar nation, to show case the past achievement of late Baba Gonto to the upcoming youth for them to emulate. It is not meant to pursue selfish interest as certain group of persons would want the world to believe.”
They said the planned project is not only meant to sensitize the youths on the need for peaceful and harmonious coexistence but also to institute a foundation in the late Sage’s name which would be meant to assist indigent sayawa sons and daughters in pursuit of their various callings.
“We would like to state in a clear and loud voice that we the youths in Mwari are in support of the event, and we are actively involved in all the events, no one should deceive the world that we are not in support of the event,” they asserted.
