His Royal Highness gives listeners of Ndarason FM 88.5 Maiduguri a brief history of Borno and speaks about key issues ranging from insecurity to unemployment, poverty and the revitalisation of the Lake Chad Basin region.

Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba Al-Amin El-Kanemi, the Shehu of Borno State, was the first guest to speak to the nation from the studio of the newly launched Ndarason FM 88.5 Maiduguri in Borno State.

In an interview with RNI’s head of news, Mamman Mahmood, His Royal Highness gave a brief history of Borno and spoke about other key issues ranging from insecurity to unemployment, poverty and the revitalisation of agricultural activities and businesses in the Lake Chad Basin region.

YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS, AS THE SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR WHO COMMISSIONED THE STATION, WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE LAUNCH OF NDARASON FM RADIO 88.5 MAIDUGURI?

In the name of Allah, the most gracious and the most merciful. Almighty Allah has given us Radio Ndarason Internationale [RNI] that will be fully broadcast in our Kanuri language. Therefore, I called on all the Kanuri community across the world to support Ndarason FM so that it achieves its set objectives and mandates of promoting Kanuri traditions, norms and cultures. I also urge the entire Kanuri people to always listen to RNI programmes, world news, as well as local news that happens around Borno State in the northeast of Nigeria.

The people should also cooperate with RNI by providing them with all the necessary relevant information about matters of development as well as the challenges faced within society.
The special event organised for the launch of Ndarason FM radio here in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, attracted many top dignitaries and great personalities from near and far, including several district heads and traditional rulers, as well as people from Chad and other parts of the Lake Chad Basin region. Therefore, it is imperative for us to thank Almighty Allah for witnessing the launch of Ndarason FM radio in Maiduguri.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BORNO STATE?

In a nutshell, history clearly indicates that Kanem Borno has been in existence for the past 1,500 years. This accentuates the fact that no other nation in Nigeria or in the Lake Chad region has a greater or even equal history to Kanem Borno in terms of leadership, religious scholars, Islamic education, upholding the values of cultural heritage, as well as customs and traditions. Also some of the nations [in Nigeria and in countries and regions in the Lake Chad Basin region] have existed for only 100 or 200 years – nowhere near the length of time of Kanem Borno.

Historically, the inhabitants of ancient Kanem Borno were well known for their strong resilience and hard work, particularly in terms of farming and business activities. They were also known for their peaceful attitude, hospitality and excellent education.
It is for this reason that I urge the good people of Borno State to enrol their children into schools so that they acquire both Islamic and Western education for fruitful development in the future.

I advise parents to always teach their children about good morality, behaviour, societal norms and values. I also urge the people of Borno to continue with agribusiness activities which provide a sustainable means of livelihood and that will help to eradicate poverty.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE ISSUES OF INSECURITY IN BORNO STATE IN NIGERIA’S NORTHEAST AND IN THE LAKE CHAD BASIN REGION?

It is understandable that the issues of insecurity triggered by the insurgency have created so many challenges, not only in Borno State but also throughout Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region as a whole.

Insecurity, armed conflict and political instability happen all over the world, hence the need for our people to always seek divine intervention through constant supplications to Almighty Allah. They must also support the military and other security operatives by providing credible information about any suspicious people, movements or objects.

This is the only way to end the war against the insurgency across the country and the only way sustainable peace and stability can be achieved.
I earnestly urge the good people of Borno State to always pray for government authorities, such as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, as well as the traditional rulers, religious leaders, business moguls and media stations, such as RNI, so that they complement efforts in the counterinsurgency operations to achieve the desired peace and development.

WHEN PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU PAID YOU A COURTESY VISIT AT YOUR PALACE, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE REVIVAL OF THE LAKE CHAD BASIN. WHAT CAN YOU TELL THE PEOPLE ABOUT THAT?

Of course, I talked about many issues that were broadcast on several radio and television stations. First of all, I urged the federal government to consider improved security and safety in the Lake Chad Basin area as part of the steps and measures to revive the region. This would give our unemployed youth more job opportunities through revitalised agricultural activities that will bring about sustainable food security which will benefit not only the inhabitants of Borno State, but also in the whole of Africa.

Some of the challenges I talked about included the lack of good road networks in border towns between Nigeria, the Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon which hinder transborder trading and business activities. There is lack of adequate power supply or electricity in the 10 local government areas (LGAs) in northern Borno State, namely Abadam, Gudumbali, Gubio, Mobbar, Marte, Monguno, Magumeri, Nganzai, Kukawa and Kaga.

So, I told President Tinubu about the series of challenges confronting the people of Borno State, ranging from poor road networks to electricity, healthcare services, job creation, insecurity and the social wellbeing of our people.

But my major concern is the issue of insecurity in – and the revival of – the Lake Chad Basin region. Thus I reiterate my plea to the federal government to take all the necessary measures to address the issues of insecurity and to revive the Lake Chad Basin to create more job opportunities for the youths and others.

DESPITE INSECURITY CHALLENGES, WHAT CAN YOU TELL THE PEOPLE ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF BORNO STATE AND THE LAKE CHAD REGION GOING FORWARD?

If this issue of insecurity is properly addressed and the lost glory of the Lake Chad Basin region is restored, I am certain that everything will be in order in terms of socioeconomic development, as well as prosperity not only in Borno but in the whole of the Lake Chad Basin region. I believe that, with help of Almighty Allah, we will overcome all these challenges.

This is not the first time we have experienced such issues of insecurity in Borno State. We have experienced many armed conflicts and insurgency in the past, such as the hostility created by Rabih as-Zubayr ibn Fadl Allah, a Sudanese warlord and slave trader who established a powerful empire east of Lake Chad, in today’s Chad, and who killed Shehu Ashimi, Shehu Kyari and Shehu Sanda Wuduroma between 1893 and 1894.

In fact, even my father, when he was a Shehu, escaped assassination when returning from the Friday congregational prayer. I also once escaped a bomb attack during the peak of the insurgency. The Emir of Gwoza was killed, the Shehu of Bama’s palace was destroyed and the Emir of Fika once escaped a bomb attack.

So, there have been many attacks on traditional rulers which forced them to take refuge here in Maiduguri. But now we are extremely grateful to Almighty Allah as we gradually witness relative peace across the state.

I believe that Borno State will be free from all these challenges, by the grace of God.

Thus, I urge the entire Kanuri community across the world not to relent from praying for the restoration of sustainable peace, security and stability – not only in Borno State but also in the whole of the Lake Chad Basin region.

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO