When the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) dashed to Maiduguri recently, it had two major assignments at hand. The forum under the leadership of the Elder statesman Alhaji Maitama Sule, the Dan Mansani Kano and the former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations came to commiserate with the people on the unfortunate Baga bloody incident that claimed lives and property; it also came to charge them to arise in unison and restore Borno back to its glorious era.
At two separate meetings with the Borno State Elders forum (BSEF) under the leadership of elder statesman Shettima Ali Monguno and with Governor Kashim Shettima, the NEF reminded the governor and the elders of the leadership role Borno has played especially in the north and the landmarks, glories and honour it has brought to the sub region in the past that still subsists today. The NEF charged both the governor and the elders of Borno to belt up notwithstanding the prevailing security challenges to restore Borno back to its enviable status.
Even, before the coming of NEF to Borno, Governor Kashim Shettima has been consistent in making the case for the unity of Borno people to fight the monster of insurgency threatening the foundation of the state in particular and indeed, the north and Nigeria in general.
Now the great question: What is that Borno past glory and leadership role that continue to agitate, reverberate, and prick the mind?
The Saifawa, (descendants of the Arabian hero Saif Bin Dhi Yazan) established a dynasty in Borno’s Kanem region around the eighth century and their rule lasted for nearly a thousand years. The Saifawa introduced Islam and consolidated it by the 11th century during the reign of Mai Uma Jilmi. Borno’s glorious history began in its Kanem region and this glory reached its peak in Borno region of the Great Caliphate of Borno that was a united entity comprising the two major provinces. The summit of Borno’s civilization was celebrated in Birnin Gazargamo, the famous Borno capital that became a centre of learning, an international melting pot.
Gazargamo’s establishment in the late 14th century by Mai Ali Gaji marked a historical place in Borno’s international status as a Muslim Caliphate that resisted all efforts to displace it. In the ninth century, an international change of dynasty took place when El-Kanemi dynasty in Kukawa was established by Sheikh Mohammed Al-Amin-El-Kanemi (better known as Laminu), a scholar of vast learning and military skills who successfully defended Borno Caliphate from foreign invasion. His descendants who remained the rulers of El-Kanemi dynasty are called Shehus and their traditional status of ceremonial kings is still maintained.
Borno in course of history has witnessed the reign of several world famous rulers like Mai Uma Jilmi, Ali Gaji, Mai Idris Alooma and many others who have made historical landmarks in the course of Borno’s over a millennium of existence. They were kings who were the pride of their followers, leaders who ere honest, learned and loved by their followers.
Throughout its history, Borno has fostered international contacts and attracted scholars and diplomats to its cities like Gazargamo, Kukawa and others. Borno has established contacts with several important states in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere. It established the first West African Foundation in Egypt, the Ibn Tashid School, where Borno students went to study.
Historical records indicate that there had existed relationship between Spain and Kanem-Borno in the 14th century and that there was an ambassador of the Emir in Spain at the time. Some of the common Hispano-Borno heritages include the establishment of Islam in both Borno and Spain in the middle Ages and subsequent cultural development like Aljamiado tradition in Spain whose equivalent in Borno is still an important basis of scholarship.
A significant Borno-Spanish intellectual bond is fostered by poetry of the Spanish scholar Abdurrahman Alfazazi whose Al-Wasial-al-mutagbala is literally revered in Borno State. This masterpiece panegyric forms the basis of the annual celebration that is performed in hundreds of places in Borno in the month of Rubiul-Awal marking the birth of Prophet Mohammed (S.A.S). Indeed it is very common to see many Borno scholars who have committed the text to memory in the recitation sessions of the Wasa’il popularly known as Ishirinva or Madhu. This is a monumental credit to Borno-Spanish relationship and above all to the bond of the course of history.
The visit to Borno by the Spanish Monarch Juan Carlos Victor Maria de Robon and Queen Sophia in mid December 1986 was a golden opportunity to recall and commemorate the hundreds of years of Hispano-Borno relationship through the intellectual exchange and the common heritages since the Middle Ages lasting to the present.
The first official visit outside Nigeria of the current Shehu of Borno Abubakar Garbai to Turkey is a reminder of Borno historical and diplomatic exploits.
Geidam had an ancient history having inherited the glories of the great Saifawa city of Birnin Gazargamo. It was a centre of scholarship where scholars from the Maghrib al-Aqsa, the Nile valley and central Bilad al-Sudan converged in search of knowledge. They brought with them the ancient literature of classic Arabic, the history of Islam and the Muslim civilization. To this city, many scholars have brought with them the knowledge of Al-Azhar and the Kushite civilization. Education, scholarship and learning have therefore been a very long history in this city.
Right from the emergence of Birni to the present day Yerwa, Borno’s position had been very outstanding in the field of Qur’anic or Islamic learning. There were names like Shehu Tar Geroma of Birni, or Shettima Ngalloma of Kukawa or M. Modu Njokkomami of Yerwa, all of whom were reputed to be so well learned that they were believed to be genies in their times. There were also the houses of the famous Imams of Borno whose descendants are among the most respected today. Moving close to our time, we have had people like Goni Zarami of Mafoni, Alhaji Baba of Hausari, Alhaji Mustapha Shehu Ajabe of Limanti, Alhaji Mohammed Abba Aji and Alhaji Idrisa Khadi all of blessed memory. This is not to mention Shehu Laminu himself. Among the living Malams who still hold the forts are Sheikh Ibrahim Saleh of Gwange, Sayinna Bukar El-Meskeen of Shehuri North, Alhaji Bashir of Fezzan, Sayinna Goni Umar Kaltummi of Budum, who makes very significant contributions to public enlightenment in the field of Islamic education.
It was the commendable efforts of traders in Borno that enabled the province to occupy an enviable place in Northern Nigeria, indeed in Nigeria, in the 1950s and the 1960s. By the late 1950s and early 1960s many (about 50%) of the Permanent Secretaries, Residents/Provisional secretaries and other senior civil servants and professionals throughout Northern Nigeria were of Borno origin. It was the good leadership quality demonstrated by the Shehus, Emirs, Councillors, Districts heads and Heads of Department that produced the famous Mohammed Lawans, the Ahmed Talibs, the Bukar Shuaibs, the Umaru Shehus, the Damchides, the Dagashes, the Liman Ciromas, the Gujubawus, the Al-Ghazalis, the Ghaji Ghaltimaris, the Ma’aji Shettimas, the Kukawas, the Kyari Sandabes, Mahmud Ahmads and a host of them, all men of outstanding qualities, for the Federal, Regional, Provincial and Native Authority Civil Service.
Some of the pioneers and best-trained Nigerian military officers came from Borno. These were the Zakariya Marimalaris, the Kur Mohammeds, the Largemas, the Mohammed Shuwas, etc. Also, the first best-trained police officers came from Borno. These include the Kam Salems the Mamman Maiduguris etc. There were also top Veterinary and Agricultural officers such as the Zarma Gogorams. There were top class, indeed world-class broadcasters like the Dunguses and the Abba Zorus. There were good lawyers such as the Shettima Liberties, as well as judges such as Mohammed Kaumi Kolos and of cause the Kyari Gadzamas.
In the political arena, Borno produced top class, dedicated and single-minded politicians at federal, regional and provincial/divisional levels. These include Sir Kashim Ibrahim, the first and only indigenous Governor of Northern Nigeria, the Shettima Ali Mongunos, the Zanna Bukar Dipcharimas, the Waziri Ibrahims, the Ibrahim Imams, the Abba Habibs, the Ibrahim Bius, the Abdullahi Ndagaras and later, the Gonis, the Babagana Kingibes, the Shettima Mustaphas, and the Hassan Yusufs, etc.
There were also famous educationalists such as the Hayatu Jeres, the Shettima Pindars, the Idrisa Khadis, the Mailafiya Shanis, the Slaihu Warkes, the Abba Rahas, the Captain Mahmuds, the Waziri Dikwas, the Ibrahim Geidams, the Sanda Dikwas, the Buba Chekenes, etc. Side-by-side are also top-level intellectuals like the Nur Alkalis, the Kyari Tijjanis, Njidas Gadzamas, Mahdi Bukars, etc. These people devoted their entire lives to serving people.
Apart from the top administrators, politicians, intellectuals, educationalists, agriculturalists and health officers produced by Borno, there were also numerous middle level officials in many fields of human endeavour who worked in various parts of Nigeria. Most of them served with distinction.
