Enugu Hausa Leader Vows to End Herdsmen, Farmers’ Persistent Conflict

Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu

Amidst growing fears over the activities of suspected Fulani Herdsmen in Enugu State, the newly elected leader of the Hausa community in the state, Alhaji Idris Ardo, yesterday said the major thrust of his reign would be to ensure peaceful co-existence between the northerners living in the area and their host communities.

He also pledged to ensure that the recent invasion and killing of scores of people at Nimbo Community of Uzo-Uwani council of Enugu State by suspected herders did not repeat itself.

The Sarikin Hausawa also asked both the northern community and the entire people of Enugu State to give maximum support to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s government to enable it succeed and provide democratic dividends to the citizens.

Briefing journalists in Enugu monday on the main priority of his reign, Ardo, who is the son of the immediate past Sarikin Hausawa of Enugu and Chairman of Northern Traditional Council of Chiefs in South-east and South-south, the late Alhaji Haruna Sule, said no meaningful progress or development would be achieved except in an atmosphere of peace and harmony, and appealed to the people to always live in peace with their neighbours.
Born over 50 years ago in Enugu, the new Sarekin Hausawa said over the years Enugu, more than any other place in the defunct Eastern region has always been known as the most peaceful area in the region.

“I was born in Enugu over 50 years ago. We live in Coal camp. In East Central State, generally, there is no place as peaceful as Enugu State because we have been living with the Igbos for years. We don’t have problem with them,” he said, adding: “They crowned me as the Chief of Hausa community in Enugu State and I want to assure the whole people of Enugu State that we should join hands together and move Enugu State forward.”

He added: “We are praying to God that as far as I remain the leader of the northern community in Enugu, let God help us to continue living together in harmony with our Igbo brothers.”

Ardo was reportedly installed the new Sarekin Hausawa of Enugu State last Thursday during a ceremony in Enugu witnessed by many dignitaries such as the Sarekin Hausawa of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Umuahia, Abia State, Ebonyi State, Awka, Anambra State,Asaba, Delta State and that of Benin in Edo State.

Throwing more light on the significance of the Sarikin Hausawa of Enugu, one of the spokespersons of the northern community in Enugu, Alhaji Lawan explained that the former Sarikin Hausawa of Enugu was the chairman of northern traditional council of chiefs in South-east and South-south.

“He was elected. After him, they gave the position to his junior brother, Ardo as the second, the third Sarki Hausawa of Enugu and the chairman of the northern traditional council of chiefs of the northern community in Enugu State.

“He is Idris Ardo, the son of the late Sarekin. He is the overall leader of even the whole northern traditional council of chiefs in Enugu State and the chairman of the northern community. We have other tribes like Idoma, Igara, all of them are under the umbrella of Sarekin Hausawa of Enugu as northern community; even the Sarekin Fulani all of them are under the Sarekin Hausawa of Enugu State,” Lawan said.