Treat My People As Indigenes –Oba urges 19 northern governors, FCT minister

Editor

Alhaji Hassan Alao Yusuf is the Oba Yoruba of Borno State and Chairman Council of Obas and Leaders in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. In a recent interaction with journalists during the meeting of the council held in Bauchi, the Yoruba leader urged northern governors and the administration of the FCT against sideling Yoruba in their plans for indigenes of their various states.

Excerpts:

How is the council faring as far as the 19 northern states and the FCT is concern in terms of your relationship with the government?

Excellent. Our contacts with all the states government is good enough. We maintain a cordial relationship with the government in all the state

This no doubt of meeting of all the Obas in the 19 states and FCT held in Bauchi. We may want to know the essence of this meeting

Our meeting in some cases are moved around the states. This time is the turn of Bauchi. The Oba of Bauchi has been a committed member and supportive of the forum and we are happy to be in his state

What do you intend to achieve at the end of this meeting?

A very good question. We have been achieving a lot not only here in uniting our people. We speak with one voice as Yoruba in northern states. With this meeting I believe we are still going to Work further on how to benefit the welfare of our community members in the north, how to  become more united an remain focus.

As a council are worried that it takes time before an Oba is elected after the death of an Oba in Yoruba land

Well, it’s not a good development and it is becoming a traditional in Yoruba land. It is not supposed to be so. If you look at where we are in the north, within two, three days, at most a week another, Oba will be on the throne. It is disturbing and disheartening to know that in Yoruba land, in some cases it will even extend to one year. I don’t think it is a good one.

Sir with the current hardship in Nigeria today, as a council what is your advice to the government

I am not part of the government but I am part of the masses. Sincere speaking we know things are hard but the government on ground now it is early to say anything about the government. We only call on the government to intensify efforts in order ease the suffering of the masses.

What advice do you have for Yorubas residing in 19 northern states and FCT?

To remain law abiding. We have our host everywhere. Cooperate with host communities and remain focus. Yorubas are not trouble makers. Anywhere we are don’t claim ownership no matter how long we remain in that place. We consider ourselves settlers. We don’t indulge in crime and criminality in the north. I will call on every Yoruba to maintain this, make sure we live within our means and be a good law abiding citizens, focus on the type of our business that we do and God will be in control.

Are Yoruba displaced in Boko Haram and other crises being carried along in rebuilding process?

Well Borno State we are lucky to have a good governor, a listening Governor. Governor Zulum, as you all know, I was one of his special advisers. He is yet to appoint new aides but last tenure I was one of his advisers. I know him well. He has always been telling us that he does not believe in non-indigene in the state as long you are law abiding you are indigene of that state. I am sure even other states Other states apart from Borno our people are fairly treated well but like Oliver Twist we always want more. We are calling on the state governments to know that we are here by destiny, we left where we have to come here when God says that is where you will stay. We don’t have any other place apart from where we are today. Most of our children were all born and brought up in the north. Sincerely speaking most of our children don’t even know the next state to where they reside. I think the governments in the 19 northern states and FCT must always consider our people in whatever palliatives or whatever plans they have for the citizens in the state. We would call on every state to please treat us as indigenes of those states because we don’t have any other place apart from that states we reside