The Fulani community in Bauchi State has formally rejected the state government's proposal to establish new Emirates, Chiefdoms, and Districts, expressing concerns that the initiative appears driven by ethnic considerations rather than administrative necessity.
Under the umbrella of Daddo Pulāku and affiliated Fulani associations, community representatives announced their position during a press conference held on Thursday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Bauchi. Former Bauchi State House of Assembly member, Mohammed Aminu Tukur, presented the communiqué.
"As law-abiding citizens and stakeholders in the peace and development of Bauchi State, we categorically state that the Fulani people do not wish to be placed under any newly created Emirate or Chiefdom outside the six historically recognized Emirates," the group declared in their statement.
Loyalty to Existing Traditional Structures
The community reaffirmed their allegiance to the six established Emirates in the state—Bauchi, Katagum, Misau, Ningi, Jama'are, and Dass—which they described as "symbols of historical continuity and peaceful coexistence."
"Our allegiance remains with the traditional institutions under which we have coexisted in dignity and harmony for generations. Any attempt to impose new structures on us without consultation undermines our constitutional right to free association and risks creating avoidable tensions," they emphasized.
The group cautioned against following the path of states like Plateau, Kaduna, and Taraba, where similar restructuring of traditional institutions along ethnic lines has reportedly fostered divisions and intercommunal conflicts.
Integral Part of Bauchi Society
The Fulani representatives highlighted their community's significant contributions to Bauchi State, noting they are not marginal but integral to the state's social fabric. They described their community as comprising farmers, herders, traders, civil servants, security personnel, scholars, and traditional leaders.
"Our economic contributions—particularly in livestock, agriculture, and trade—are vital to Bauchi's economy. We have consistently supported peace building initiatives, vaccination campaigns, educational outreach, and democratic participation. We are not secessionists; we are stakeholders," the statement emphasized.
Call for Development Focus
The community urged the government to prioritize development initiatives over expanding traditional structures. They called for increased investment in rural education, maternal and child healthcare, livelihood support, agricultural extension services, and road infrastructure.
"The creation of new Chiefdoms or Emirates, especially without broad consultation, should not override the pressing needs of rural communities that lack basic services," they stated.
In conclusion, while expressing respect and loyalty to the state government, the Fulani community presented their concerns as a unified position derived from consultations with elders, youth, scholars, and leaders across all 20 Local Government Areas of the state.
"Our communiqué reflects the collective voice of the Fulani (Fulbe) people of Bauchi State, issued in the spirit of peace, justice, unity, and fidelity to the values of our constitution," the group concluded.
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