IN DEFENCE OF MAI KALTUNGO: OUR DISUNITY OUR DOING
The recent vilification of the Mai Kaltungo, HRH Engr Saleh Muhammed Umar OON, is a reflection the ignorance of a select few who are carried away by the euphoria of self determination towards a Chiefdom seem to be blinded by the desperate need to finger an enemy to blame for the continuous frustration in ensuring unity.
Accusing the Mai Kaltungo as the single and sole cause of disunity in Pero-Chonge is not only laughable but sad, since severally, the Mai Kaltungo has been at the forefront in the promotion and development of the Pero culture.
Several times, he has sponsored Pero dance troupe to go for several programmes within and outside the state. He has always ensured that he attends the famed Dambang with his whole entourage. He was instrumental to the commemoration of the Pebë festival, which is now an annual commemoration.
Just recently he donated significant sum of money during the Pero literacy day celebration, he welcomed the idea and also supported it heavily.
So when it comes to the question of promoting culture, no one is a better advocate than the Mai Kaltungo. So it begs more questions, is it simply because of the Mai’s refusal to allow the launching of the proposed ‘pero attire’ that has made him a butt for insults by many? Why the did the committee approach him for his consent if they know he wouldn’t have the option of disagreeing with the proposed event? Is this about just an attire or is the more to it?
If really the committee wanted the Mai to consent, could they not consult the District Heads (Hakimai) to plead on their behalf? Why was the committee very eager to run to the press following the Mai’s decline from the said event? Was it a trap that was set for him to refuse so that he could be vilified and painted black by the media?
The publishers of a news report ( https://sahelreporters.com/2022/09/24/pero-community-laments-antics-of-divide-and-rule-by-mai-of-kaltungo/ ) were anything but professional.
Without prior notice or consent, they decided to forge responses attributed to the District Head of Gwandum HH Yahaya Haruna Ayuba only, in another desperate attempt to smear the District Head of Gwandum -succintly calling him out for choosing to uphold the Mai’s order, while downplaying his advise that the committee go back, review and present the issues clearly before the Mai Kaltungo.
These biased submissions has now led to a now emerging trend of self proclaimed historians, seeking to up the balance of power on who are the rightful ‘rulers’ of the Pero tribe.
If the committee wanted popular support for the adoption of the cloth (for which I think is a beautiful idea, and will even be willing to purchase one), they could have done so without necessarily dragging the Mai’s reputation to the mud.
Sadly, HRH the Mai Kaltungo has been made to face the brunt of our own doing. The differences we are all trying to escalate through desperate attempts at power struggle, political relevance and hegemony.
We must tell ourselves the truth, the an attire will be the single unifying factor, or that the Mai Kaltungo is a disuniting factor is a delusion.
I really hope the strength used in pointing fingers at the Mai Kaltungo was used at pointing the real issues confronting us as a people, or at least the very people seeking to sow discord among us for pecuniary gains.
Humbly,
Dairus Samson.
