Your Claims Against Proposed Sayawa Chiefdom H/Quarters Rooted In Religious Bias – Group tackle BSMP

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

A group under the platform of International Network of Christian Organizations for Protection and Defense of Christian Rights has objected the excuses given by a group called Bauchi State Muslim Parliament (BSMP) opposing the siting of Sayawa Chiefdom in Tafawa Balewa town.

A press release signed and issued to newsmen by Bishop O.T Daniel
General Marshal of the faith-based Rights group said BSMP’s claims is rooted in historical and religious bias which undermine the fundamental principles of equality and justice that Nigeria as a nation upholds.

According to Bishop O.T Daniel, the right group is the Assembly of Jesus Army Guard, an international network dedicated for protecting and defending Christian rights worldwide.

“This press release is to counter the recent statements made by the Bauchi State Muslim Parliament (BSMP) regarding the siting of the Sayawa Chiefdom headquarters in Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi State”, they said.

The Christian group said”it is imperative to address and refute the misconceptions and falsehoods presented in their briefing, and to call upon Christians globally to stand in solidarity with the Zaar (Sayawa) people in Bauchi State, Nigeria”.

According to the General Marshall,
Nigeria is a secular nation, with no religion holding supremacy over another, and as such, the assertion by the BSMP that Tafawa Balewa (Pusji) belongs exclusively to the Fulani community based on historical claims is both divisive and unconstitutional.

The press statement argued that every Nigerian citizen, regardless of religious or ethnic background, has the right to reside and establish their institutions anywhere in the country.

“The Zaar people, predominantly Christians, are Nigerian citizens and taxpayers. Their contributions to the nation’s development warrant equal recognition and rights”, the group pointed out.

It added that the siting of Zaar/Sayawa Chiefdom in Pusji (Tafawa Balewa) is a legitimate exercise of their rights to self-determination and cultural identity.

“For years, funds collected from Christian taxpayers have been used to support Emirate Councils, predominantly benefiting the Muslim community. This practice highlights the systemic inequality that the Zaar people and other Christian communities have faced”, the group said.

It stressed that it is now time for equitable distribution and utilization of resources to reflect the diverse religious setting that made up Nigeria as a country.

The group called on Christians worldwide to monitor the situation in Nigeria, saying, religious freedom is a fundamental human right, and any attempt to suppress it must be met with unified resistance.

It stated that the Zaar community’s right to establish their Chiefdom in Pusji (Tafawa Balewa) their ancestral capital is a matter of justice and equality, not religious dominance.

The group expressed its resolve to stand firmly with the Zaar people in their rightful claim to site their Chiefdom in Pusji (Tafawa Balewa) town.

“We reject the BSMP’s attempts to distort historical facts and manipulate the narrative for religious and ethnic superiority”, the faith-based group stated.

It further explained that Nigeria’s governance and territories belong to all citizens, not to any specific religious or ethnic group.

“The world must recognize that Nigeria, while home to diverse religions, is not an Islamic state. The rights of Christian communities to live and establish their cultural institutions must be upheld”, the group concluded.