WE HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED BY GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS," ADAMAWA COMMUNITY SAYS

"WE HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED BY GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS," ADAMAWA COMMUNITY SAYS

By Billy Graham Abel Yola

Some prominent sons of Michika community in Adamawa state have lamented that both the federal and state government have neglected the community leaving most of the residents to their fate after boko haram insurgency ravaged the area and left the community with massive infrastructural deficits and gaping humanitarians crisis.

The community members took turns to tell Daily Sun that there has been a dearth of basic amenities and infrastructure in the area as result of the devastation caused by the boko haram insurgency that has not been addressed by either the federal or the state government  leading to massive poverty and humanitarian crisis.

They made the remarksmade over the weekend at the annual Kamwe Cultural Festival in Michika local government area of Adamawa state.

Members of the community lamented that schools in the area have remained in a state of disrepair, bridges broken by the insurgents are yet to be fixed and the community have remained perpetually cut off from electricity since the insurgency, although most of the residents of the community have returned home.

Hon. Bitrus Jabu Sohi, a native of Michika told Daily Sun that, "The people of Michika are naturally enterprising and hardworking and most of the people have been able to rebuild their destroyed homes and resuscitate their collapsed businesses without government's help.

“But I will like to call on the federal to intervene in areas where the people can’t help themselves like massive destruction done to schools, hospitals and electricity that is yet to be restored, even though the state government have done a lot for the hospital here but more can be done..”

Hon. Bitrus also commended the efforts of Iliya Kwache for beginning what is turning out to be a cultural revival in the area and for putting together an event that has become a meeting point for all sons of Kamwe extraction.

Another native of Michika, Mr Alex Yaga said, “For the past four years there has not been electricity in the town, it is like we are back into the 1970s and at 8 to 9 pm, residents are forced to retreat into their homes.

“I think it is important that government works towards restoring electricity in this area as a matter of urgency. 

“But we cannot forget to commend President Buhari for bringing insurgency to its knees but without mincing words Michika have been completely neglected by government at all levels.

"And I will also like to call on our representatives to put more pressure on government at all levels to place Michika as one of frontline areas in need of urgent humanitarian and infrastructural intervention.   

Mr Alex speaking on the cultural festival said, "The cultural festival has become one of the biggest uniting factor in the area. 

"It has become crucial in strengthening the peace enjoyed in the area after insurgency."

Dr.Leo Behora, also a native of Michika while speaking on the effect of insurgency on the area said, “Our people here have lost everything and government has done nothing to assist them. 

"I don’t need to tell you that these people are suffering. They are looking hungry, tattered and in dire need of help.

Behora said, “Coming into this town, you must have noticed that the two bridges connecting here and the rest of the state are in bad shape and there has not been electricity here since the insurgency, so the government need to do something fast.”  

Speaking on the Kamwe cultural festival he said, "The cultural festival means life to me as most of the people here have not returned home since the insurgency, so it offers us opportunity to meet and talk about matters of common interest.”

The guest speaker and convener of the event, Barr. Ilya Kwache, who was represented by Musa Mangoro, used the occasion to challenged members of the Kamwe community to embark on a cultural renaissance saying the legendary resilience of the Kamwe people in business, education, defense and other aspects of life should be replicated in the promotion and safeguarding of their culture.

Kwache charged the people not to take politics lightly as the survival of their culture can be determined by political decisions.

He asked the Kamwe people to be active in the political sphere and to persist in their efforts to acquire voters card in the on-going voter registration in the country saying they are aware of, “Effort being made to frustrate voter registration in Michika local government from certain quarters.

He said, “Don’t shy away from joining politics. Join the political party of your choice and make the difference.”

Speaking at the occasion, the chairman of the cultural festival, Mr. Abel Behora, represented by Dr. Leo Behora decried the gradual erosion of culture among most local communities in Nigeria. 

He cautions that, “Our dressing, way of speaking, cuisines, among many other aspects of life have been invaded by other cultures and so-called civilization.”

Behora notes that every culture which came to us through religion and education has invaded our way of life depriving most Nigerian children the benefit of the riches of their ancient culture and the humanity of their heritage.

He lamented that so many Nigerian languages are on the verge of extinction and that, “When languages die, so does the world’s tapestry of cultural diversity.” 

He called on the federal, state and local governments, to facilitate teaching and learning in indigenous languages in schools in the country and to facilitate the translation of the national anthem into all indigenous languages in the country.

 That the Kamwe (Higgi) people of Michika local government in Adamawa state' have celebrated the second Kamwe cultural festival is a huge leap forward for the community that is considered one of the worst hit by boko haram insurgency in 2014.

The captivating glamour of the cultural attires of the Kamwe people and the colourful displays of the about 18 cultural troupes of the Kamwe (Higgi) people of Michika is a huge statement about the resilience and determination of the people to defying the odds of insurgency.

The festival is a moment a rare ocassion singing and dancing besides the monumental lost the community incurred in the insurgency.

The event has also sparked off life among local residents who hitherto have been living in fear of a possible boko haram attack and has also provided a good ground for launching this years farming season.

The event which began in 2017 by a London based Barr. Iliya Kwache has become the rallying point for all Kamwe (Higgi) people from across the world and is fast becoming a platform  for cultural renaissance among the Kwame people worldwide and for showcasing the true identity and rich cultural heritage of the Kwame people.