In philosophical discourse, philosophy is known as the science of the first principles of being or realities. These principles are called first because they are at the very beginning of thinking about being or reality.
One of such principle is called principle of identity. This principle states that everything is determined in itself, is one with itself and is consistent in itself. For example, you cannot at the same time be Pius and someone else who is not Pius. An orange cannot be a mango. It is in the light of this principle that we discuss the Zing chiefdom, which has been plunged into succession crisis.
The seed of this crisis was sown by the plan to overthrow the traditional institution and replace it with a religious one. It would be difficult to fault my assertion because Mumuye interest was not on top of the plan. It was done with a hidden agenda. This crisis materialised as a result of the demise of Alhaji Abbas Ibrahim Sambo, the late Kpanti Zing.
It is a known fact that the right to Zing throne is hereditary. This hereditary right has no affiliation to any religion. Any person of whatsoever religion insomuch he is from the royal line can become the Kpanti if the reigning Kpanti is no longer in power or passes away.
Chiefdom controversy and fallacies
H.G. Gadamer once said: “Nobody speaks from nowhere.” To speak, therefore, is to express one’s point of view. Any time we write about our chiefdom or we are fighting for Mumuye dignity, others think we are fighting against their religion. I hope I will not be misinterpreted for this my views on the happenings Zing Chiefdom. Religion (Christianity and Islam) has no role within the Zing Traditional Council. It was by chance that the royal family accepted Islamic religion while on throne.
Islam and Christianity were not part of the chiefdom making from the beginning. The conversion of persons on the throne did not imply the conversion of the throne itself. This also means if these persons had accepted Christianity, the throne still wouldn’t have been a Christian throne. The throne is not and was not a religious throne. It is a traditional and cultural throne, which has nothing to do with religion (Christian or Islamic). It has been like that until recently when some steps were taken by the palace and it was advised to turn it to a religious throne.
These steps taken included:
. Removal of the Mumuye symbol, that is the Lion statutes in front of the Kpanti’s palace. It was said it is against a particular religious teaching or belief to place statute in front of the palace.
. Religion became a criteria for giving a traditional title. And such titles are given within some religious celebration or feast instead of belle festival or Mumuye festivities.
. Selling of traditional titles, especially if an individual does not belong to the liked religion.
. Displacement of Kuru Kpanti with 22 kingmakers that included Sarkin Hausawan Monkin and Sarkin Hausawan Zing. For God’s sake what have Hausas got to do with the Zing chiefdom that they have to be a constituent part of its kingmakers? Can that be done in Kano that strangers are part of kingmakers? Or in Sokoto?
. Change of names: (1) from Zing Traditional Council to Zing Emirate Council and (ii) from Kpanti Zing to Zing Emir.
To fully grasp the fallacies, let us explicate some key words.
Who is an Emir? An Emir is a prince, commander or other leader or ruler in an Islamic nation (emirate).
What is an Emirate? An Emirate refers to country, state ruled by an Emir.
Who is a Kpanti? Kpanti is a king, ruler of Zing Mumuye people (Zingan of zing).
Kpanti is not a religious title, but emir, emirate are religious concepts and these concepts are written in the Zing palace cars and some official document. By those write, up it simply means Zing is an emirate and traditional council. Zing cannot be traditional council and at the same time Emirate council. It is fallacious to hold the idea, which goes against the principle of identity, because it is even a contradiction for a single throne to have dual identity.
What are the requirements for a place to be called an Emirate? It is either it is dominated by Muslims or it has been conquered by Islamic jihadists. It is a known fact that throughout Mumuye history, Zing has never been conquered by any tribe or religion, either in war or by whatever means and there is no proven record of census where it was stated that Muslims are more than other religious worshipers in Zing. Therefore, it is a contradiction to call the Kpanti Zing an emir because he is not and Zing is not an Emirate.
Finally, this struggle means different things to various interest groups. To the Mumuyes, it is a struggle to keep Mumuye culture and tradition pure and relevant without Christian and Islamic influences. It is also to ensure the survival and independence of Mumuye tradition. To others, it is a struggle to eliminate their religion and the privileged comfort they enjoy in the community. To the politicians who want to thwart the real for fake, it is a struggle to render them powerless and the influence they exert at the palace.
Whatever side you belong, know that conflict, they say, is a fact of life, but when turned violent, it becomes something like a handshake that extends beyond the elbow and can no longer be tolerated. Please those in authority should do something about the people’s choice before it will be too late to manage the situation. My people know this: that this struggle and conflict has served as a strengthening agent of unity among us and is an eye opener to those who think they are gods in our land.
. Vogarempi writes from meetvogarempi@yahoo.com and can be reached on +2348068811632.