Fombina, Sokoto Caliphate and Nigeria

Fombina (Adamawa Emirate) was the largest Emirate within the Sokoto Caliphate that encompassed most of Northern Nigeria? Fombina, stretched from Yola (North Eastern Nigeria) to the fringes of the Central African Republic, encompassing Northern Cameroon, Southern Tchad. The Emirate is still Headquartered in Yola, a town where I grew up and a town where 3 of my 4 kids were born. 

The Sokoto Caliphate's ( of which Fombina was a part off) had an administrative structure, that was left intact even after the British invasion, which helped to preserve the culture and norms of the Caliphate. However, this also meant that Western education didn't penetrate the North in time, creating a deficit in the sense that Northerners were an absolute minority in terms of being part of the administration of colonial Nigeria. 

Before the Caliphate succumbed to the British guns, it had Hausa and this was written in the Arabic script (Ajamai). This was the script used for administration, commerce, keep records and as mentioned, the Caliphate's administrative structure was so efficient that that the British saw NO point in doing away with a tested structure.

Today, more than 65% of Nigeria's landmass is considered the North, and its impact on the political terrain of Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. Politically astute, even a gateman or a trolley pusher of Northern origin has a better grasp of political discourse than many highly educated people from other parts of the country. This is because the Caliphate was largely able to Marshall the people's collective destiny with unity of purpose. This was embodied by Ahmadu Bello ( A descendant of the Founder of the Sokoto Caliphate) and the Northern Regional Government 

It's important to change the narrative and misconceptions of Northern Nigeria and its Caliphate and the impact it has had on other African nations who were hitherto, a part of Nigeria. The youth nowadays, know more about what's happening in Europe and the US, than what is happening in their backyard. They rather watch Big Brother than explore their own cultures. The inability to distinguish between fact and fake news has not helped either.

Nigeria today is an amalgamation of 3 regions, each with its different speed of development. It is a NATION that despite its challenges, is better UNITED. It therefore becomes imperative that Government promotes knowledge and understanding of the various empires, kingdoms, cultures, and peoples that have made and still make Nigeria a powerful political entity in Africa and the most populous black nation on Earth.

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