I’ve never been so flattered, Lafia emir tells Al-Bishak

Recently, during a presentation of a poem written in his honour at his palace, in Lafia, the Emir, HRH Justice Sidi Muhammad Bage, JSC (rtd), said: “I’m flattered, I’ve never been so flattered like this before.”

The visibly elated emir said that he felt honoured by the presentation of the poem written about his rulership, saying: “Thank you very much for this wonderful poem.”

The poem, written by Professor Malam Al-Bishak, a lecturer in the English Department of Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), contained the genealogy of the emir, names of the Lafia Emirate kingmakers, prominent traditional titles in the city and countries visited by the emir.

While speaking, Al-Bishak said that the idea of writing the poem was informed by the recent action taken by the emir to rescue the grave of the first emir of Lafia, Dunama, from further dilapidation.

It would be recalled that the emir of Lafia, last month, paid a visit to the grave of Dunama, in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, after a poem written by Al-Bishak, titled: “Save Dunama,” went viral on the social media.

In fact, soon after the poem was written, plans were revealed by the authorities of Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) to make the graveside of the late Muhammad Dunama tourists site.

The vice-chancellor of FULafia, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, revealed that plan when he led the topmost level staff of the University to the graveside of Dunama in Awe town.

Dunama, a Kanuri from what is today known as Borno State, along with his co-travelers, established the Lafia Emirate more than 250 years ago.

After settling in the present day Lafia, Dunama was made the first emir of the town by his contemporaries.

Dunama was said to have gone to Awe with the intention to be wedded there and he was hosted in Awe by the then ma’adaki of the town.

Unfortunately, while Dunama was at Awe and before his wedding could take place, he became seriously ill and died in Awe.

History had it, too, that before his death, the first emir of Lafia, Dunama, willed that in the event he failed to make it back to his newly established Lafia Emirate, he should be buried at Awe.

He was buried at the house of his host, the then ma’adaki of Awe, when the illness he suffered from claimed his life.

Recently, praying for the late emir at the place he was buried in Awe, the FULafia vice-chancellor stated that the history of Lafia cannot be completed without the mention of it’s founder, Muhammadu Dunama.

“Dunama founded Lafia in late 17th century and, therefore, the need to immortalise the first emir of Lafia, the host town of our University, cannot be overemphasised,” the vice-chancellor said.

He said that FULafia would “construct monument to commemorate the late Dunama, adding: “That’s part of our plans to ensure that the role he played in the process of establishing the town of Lafia is appreciated.”

Professor Abdul Rahman, who solicited the cooperation and support of all and sundry towards the actualisation of the remembrance project, said that if completed, the graveside of the late Dunama would become a tourists site, provide employment to the youths and improve the economy of Awe and its environs.

Similarly speaking, the emir of Lafia said that a committee was established by the emirate to advise and execute plans on how to realise the ambition of making the grave of Dunama attract tourists from within and outside Nigeria.

The emir lauded Al-Bishak for his “efforts in making sure that Dunama is not forgotten.”

Al-Bishak, accompanied to the palace by some students, thanked the emir, too, for the role he is playing in the process of making the graveside of Dunama a historical and tourists centre.

The highlight of the visit to the emir was the presentation of kola nuts to the professor and his students by the 17th emir of Lafia, Sidi Dauda Bage.