In a renewed effort to foster harmony among Nigerians, Chief Dr. James Ibe, the Cika Aikin Kasar Hausa of Daura Emirate, on Wednesday met with leaders of the Hausa community in Enugu, delivering a powerful message of peace, unity, and mutual support.
Speaking during the engagement in Enugu, Dr. Ibe urged the leaders to embrace togetherness and reject divisions that could hinder the progress of their communities.
“Come together, we are one. No separation. What is important is what we can do to help our community,” he said.
He described the meeting as the beginning of a broader engagement aimed at strengthening communal ties.
“This engagement is just starting. A day is not enough to achieve anything; it is just like someone going out to do something in the morning—it is too early to say, I’ve achieved something. Wait until afternoon, evening, and night. But we are just starting, and it is a positive start.
“My message is simple: keep on doing the right thing to bring us together. We should be one. If you die today, that’s it. The president is gone—will you ever see him again? A person who can die at any time should be able to give account of his stewardship in this life.”
He stressed that acts of kindness and assistance must transcend ethnic and religious boundaries.
“If you are in a position to help any person, go ahead. Don’t think, Oh, he’s from Hausa or from Yoruba or from… No, no, no, no, no. This is your neighbour. It’s in the Bible. Who is your neighbour? Your family. Your family is your neighbour. Whoever is living with you is your family. Help any person in your position. That’s all.”
In his remarks, Alhaji Haruna Suleiman, leader of the Hausa community in Enugu, expressed gratitude for the engagement and described it as historic.
“I have been saying it, and I will say it again: there has never been a time someone from any other ethnic group came to unite us and make peace between us. This is the first time, so I am very, very happy. I was born here in Enugu. I repeat again, even when my father was the Sarki, nobody—nobody—ever came. It was only the government that would come and say, Come together, let’s hear from you. But Cika Aikin Kasar Hausa is here now to listen to our problems and to take them back to Daura Emirate,” he said.
Alhaji Suleiman reaffirmed the significance of Daura to the Hausa identity:
“Daura Emirates is the head of the Hausa in the whole of Nigeria, in the whole world. Anyone you see originated from Daura Emirates.”
He further revealed plans to extend the peace message beyond the Hausa community:
“I have to call a meeting, not only of the Hausas. In the next meeting, I’ll come with inter‑community representatives—the Yoruba community, the Hausa community, the Fulani community—I’m the chairman here in Enugu. Next time that we have this meeting, I will come with them. But before then, I am going to take the message to them. I am going to explain to them, and we will come together. I strongly believe that this time we will have the peace that we are looking for.”
Other speakers at the event offered solutions on the best ways to tackle insecurity in the state, reduce farmer‑herder clashes, and curb kidnapping.
Some contributors also called on the government to prioritize education and youth empowerment, while urging the relevant security agencies to rise up to their responsibilities.
