By Dr Zanna Hassan Boguma, FCIPDM, FWIP
(Zanna Boguma of Borno / Senior Special Adviser to His Excellency, the Governor of Borno State, on Culture and Regional Integration)
The recent meeting of the Council of Traditional Rulers held in Lagos has left a bitter mark of embarrassment and disappointment for those who understand and value Nigeria’s traditional order. It is with deep concern and firm conviction that I condemn the reckless breach of protocol that saw the Shehu of Borno, His Eminence Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, denied his rightful seat at the high table while rulers far below his historical and hierarchical standing were positioned above him.
Even more disturbing was that this grave oversight was not corrected by the Sultan of Sokoto nor by any other ruler present until His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, in an exemplary show of respect, left his own seat and personally invited the Shehu to the high table. That singular gesture by Governor Buni deserves commendation, yet it does not erase the insult to an institution of over a thousand years.
BORNO’S HISTORICAL STANDING CANNOT BE DIMINISHED.
In both historical and cultural terms, the position of Borno is unassailable. It is the oldest continuous political entity in Nigeria and among the oldest in Africa. When most of today’s emirates were yet to exist, especially those that emerged from the 19th-century Fulani Jihad, Borno had already stood for over a millennium as a sovereign empire, commanding diplomatic, military, and spiritual influence across the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.
The Kanem-Bornu Empire was contemporaneous with global powers like the Ottoman, Persian, Benin, Oyo, British, and early German empires. Its influence stretched from the Mediterranean through the Fezzan and Lake Chad Basin, westwards to the Hausa states, and southwards to the Kwararafa lands. Such a civilisation cannot, and must not, be treated with casual disregard.
The Shehu of Borno is not just a traditional ruler; he is the spiritual and temporal head of all Kanuris, a custodian of centuries of Islamic scholarship, governance, and heritage. To treat his throne as secondary is to attempt to rewrite Nigerian history itself.
A RECURRING PATTERN OF DISRESPECT
This is not the first time such a slight has occurred. During the reign of the late Shehu of Borno, a similar breach happened in Kaduna to the present Shehu when the seat reserved for him was usurped by the Emir of Gwandu, in full view of the Sultan and other dignitaries. On that occasion, Ambassador Hamza Yirima (of blessed memory) had to walk up to the Sultan to remind him of the established order of precedence in the Northern Traditional Council, and the matter was promptly corrected.
For the same mistake to be repeated decades later in Lagos is unacceptable. It points to either deliberate disregard or ignorance of historical hierarchy, both of which are intolerable.
A CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESTORATION OF ORDER
Traditional institutions derive their strength from order, respect, and historical consciousness. Any attempt to politicise or distort that order undermines not just Borno, but the very foundation of traditional governance in Nigeria.
We therefore demand an explanation and an immediate reaffirmation of the Shehu of Borno’s rightful position as number two in the Northern Traditional Rulers hierarchy, a recognition that has stood the test of centuries.
The Borno Emirate will never accept any act, deliberate or otherwise, that diminishes its place in history or the dignity of its throne.
The Shehu’s seat represents continuity, a legacy of kings, scholars, and warriors who defined the character of this region long before colonial or modern administrative boundaries existed.
CONCLUSION
The Lagos incident was more than an oversight; it was an affront to history, culture, and decorum.
We urge the Council of Traditional Rulers, the Sultanate Council, and all relevant authorities to ensure that never again shall such an act of disrespect occur against the throne of the Shehu of Borno or any ancient institution that predates the modern Nigerian state.
Respect for tradition is the foundation of unity.
And in respecting the Shehu of Borno, we honour not just Borno but the enduring soul of Nigeria itself.
Dr Zanna Hassan Boguma, FCIPDM, FWIP
(Zanna Boguma of Borno)
Senior Special Adviser to His Excellency,
the Governor of Borno State on Culture and Regional Integration.