INTERVIEW: How Bajju Diaspora can transform development back home — Agwam Bajju II

Since he emerged as the second paramount ruler of the Bajju Chiefdom in 2022, His Highness Luka Kogi Yabwat (Agwam Bajju II) has focused on strengthening the traditional institution, completing a permanent palace project, improving security and deepening the relationship between the chiefdom and its growing diaspora community.

During his recent visit to the United Kingdom, where he met members of the Bajju community and witnessed the launch of the Bajju UK and Europe Association, the monarch spoke exclusively to PREMIUM TIMES.

In this interview, the royal father discusses his priorities, the legacy of his predecessor, the proposed educational trust by the diaspora, security challenges, agriculture, investment, youth development, tourism and his vision for the Bajju people over the next decade.

PT: Since you came into power in 2022, looking back at your time on the throne so far, what would you describe as the defining priority of your reign?

Agwam Bajju II: Thank you for this opportunity. When I came in, my priority was securing permanent residence for the king.

When I came in, I had a lot of problems with accommodation. The late king was not able to secure a permanent palace because he was living in his own house, so he didn’t put much effort into it.

One good thing he did was secure the land and start something. The foundation was laid.

So, building on that foundation, I continued with the committee that the late king appointed for the palace project. I called them and set a time limit for them to secure a temporary residence for me while we worked on the permanent palace.

The timeline I gave them was not enough, so we had to extend it. Meanwhile, they had to find a temporary residence for me, which is where I am now.

From there, I continued working with the committee. It started in a simple form, but to the glory of God, both our sons and daughters are contributing to its completion.

As I am talking to you now, the building is at one stage. We are trusting God that in the next one or two years, we will have a permanent residence, which is my heart’s desire.

PT: Has the Kaduna State Government been part of the palace project?

Agwam Bajju II: We have never received any support from the state government. We have never received any support from the state government.

Even though we wrote to them about the project, we have not received any support to date. And I think it is not only the Bajju project. It is like that with most chiefdoms in the southern part of the state.

PT: Your predecessor played a significant role in establishing the identity and traditional institution of the Bajju Chiefdom. What lessons have you taken from his leadership, and what aspects of his legacy are you determined to preserve?

Agwam Bajju II: The late chief, whom I owe a lot of respect, actually worked hard to preserve the Bajju identity. He did a lot of things. He set the structure of the chiefdom.

So, by setting the structure of the chiefdom, I have not done anything different from what he had done because he had already set up everything that was needed. We are just trying to add one or two things.

He did a lot.

PT: The Bajju community has a large presence in the UK and across Europe. What role do you expect Bajju sons and daughters in the diaspora to play in developing Bajju communities in Nigeria?

Agwam Bajju II: To be sincere, that is why, when they invited me to come down, I was so happy that I was coming to meet my people, my subjects in Britain and Europe.

They have been very strong supporters of the chiefdom down there. They have contributed immensely to the position we are now in regarding the progress of the palace project.

We can say we are depending on them seriously. We are looking up to them.

The chairman is here. We are looking up to them. We are not just looking up to them; we are depending on them to lead.

My invitation to Europe, I think they have already taken the lead, and I am sure all the Bajju sons in the diaspora will follow suit.

PT: The Bajju UK and Europe Association has identified education as one of its priorities and plans to establish an educational trust for less privileged children. What is your vision for the fund, and what impact do you think it can have?

Agwam Bajju II: It will have a lot of impact. You see, any society that is not literate — I know that literacy could mean so many things — but any society that is not developed educationally is a backward society.

Their thought of establishing a fund for educational development is a welcome one. It will enable my people to rise. It will enable my people to meet the challenges of life.

So, I know that what they have done, the launch last week, was another welcome development that will impact my people, the Bajju and the Kajju, entirely.

PT: How can traditional institutions and modern democratic governments work better together to bring infrastructure and economic development to rural areas like Bajju?

Agwam Bajju II: The traditional institution plays a great role if only it is given the opportunity.

Traditionally, most of the things that promote the economy come from rural areas, and that is where traditional institutions are based.

So we encourage our people to engage in a lot of agricultural activities. It is farming and other activities that keep the economy going.

If only the government could support by providing fertiliser, herbicides and the rest, there would be a great change economically.

Secondly, at the grassroots, we are the ones being attacked. Insecurity is high at the grassroots.

If the government can come to the aid of the traditional institution, it will help us. If everyone can go to the farm freely, without fear of being attacked, it will boost the economy.

What we want is government support. What we want is for the government to enable us to stand on our own.

Because if there is no security, life is meaningless.

We are encouraging people, even with the insecurity going on, to get involved in farming, not only during the wet season but also during the dry season, so we can get food and other things that can sustain us.

We are working with the local government, the state and even the federal government. When they look for where to put one thing or another, they usually come to us. So we will do everything possible to ensure that they get what they are looking for.

PT: You mentioned security. Can you give an example of how traditional institutions and local security structures help protect communities?

Agwam Bajju II: It may amaze you to know that just this week, we had local hunters who were told that they saw some people in a certain location, unknown to the communities, and they were armed.

They passed the intelligence report to us. We passed it to the government, the police, the DSS, and the rest — and we mobilised local security.

When they attacked, we did not know that they had kidnapped three young girls and were hiding them in that location. But my own security, that is, the local hunters, were able to rescue them.

That is another aspect in which we worked with the government.

This has been the cry of everyone: that the federal government should work with local structures on security because local people know the terrain where the crisis is happening.

That is exactly what happened. They knew the terrain and knew where the people could be.

I was here when I coordinated the whole activity. It was a huge success. The people are jubilating. The people are happy with what we have done.

PT: What has been your most effective strategy for building and sustaining peace with neighbouring communities?

Agwam Bajju II: You know, I am from the correctional service, so I have experience in this area. I know what to do.

We organise meetings with the locals, district heads, village heads and ward heads. Even during security meetings, the security agents, the police, the DSS, and other relevant agencies are there.

We ask ourselves: what is happening in this or that district? They tell us, and then we start working on our intelligence system.

Sometimes it is not through meetings. Sometimes they just call us and say something is happening somewhere, and then we organise.

In the case I just told you, the police were there, but a large part of the operation was carried out by local vigilantes and hunters.

That is what we are doing, and God has helped us to achieve this success so far. I don’t joke with any security issue. Any security report, I take action because I know what it used to be.

PT: What specific role would you like the Bajju diaspora to play in security and community development?

Agwam Bajju II: They are here, and they are outside. Sometimes they tend to get information from home.

Since most of them are online, they may access information on security and other matters. What I want is that where they have information that we have not received, they should inform us.

That will enable us to do our homework and ensure that the people are secure.

PT: Apart from agriculture, what sectors would you like investors, particularly those in the diaspora, to explore in Bajju land?

Agwam Bajju II: There are so many areas where we want Bajju people in the diaspora to come in, especially those in the UK.

They can come in through cottage industries. All kinds of cottage industries can come in.

Even in agriculture, they can add value by processing some raw agricultural materials that are currently exported in raw form, especially ginger, soybeans, and others.

If they can come in through such small industries to add value to agricultural products, I think that would attract more investment.

PT: …And employment for the youth?

Agwam Bajju II: Yes, it would create employment for the youth. It would reduce crime. It would reduce crime. So that is what we actually want.

PT: Are there programmes in place to shield young people from radicalisation, drug abuse and crime?

Agwam Bajju II: Yes, that is why we are concerned. That is why the Bajju people are beautiful.

We sat down and agreed to control alcohol and these dangerous drugs that the youth are indulging in.

We formed committees. The district heads form committees that check those selling the drugs and those taking them.

It has been a remarkable success in that area.

Sometimes, when they go out to check where these drugs are sold, the police and DSS are there. We also work with other security agencies established by the government.

We work hand in hand with them to ensure that we bring the use of these dangerous drugs to the barest minimum.

Because it is from these dangerous drugs that they commit crimes.

PT: What cultural festivals or landmarks would you like the Bajju Kingdom to promote to the international community and researchers?

Agwam Bajju II: We have a Bajju Development Association that organises a festival every year. The one last year was very fantastic. We invited people from all walks of life.

That festival showcases all kinds of our traditional crafts and things that remind us of the past.

If the people in the diaspora could help, it would help make it more widely known.

We have a website with a lot of information about us and even the palace building. There are also many places that have been highlighted for tourism.

If you are travelling from Kaduna down south, you will notice that the air and vegetation are different. The land is very fertile for planting, especially during the rainy season, and there are certain crops that you can only find there.

There are also very beautiful granite rocks. They are still there. The place is very promising, and security is our main issue.

If we get security sorted, there is a lot of potential.

PT: Finally, what has been your feedback from this journey to the UK and your meetings with the Bajju diaspora?

Agwam Bajju II: I’ve seen unity. I’ve seen how they love the people back home, and that is why they invited the king to represent the entire kingdom.

What I saw here is something that hasn’t been done before. They showed us that they are with us, that we are together.

They showed us that even though they are far away, their hearts remain connected to the people back home.

This is one of the things, among so many others, that I saw. They took care of me. They have been so good.

PT: What do you hope to see in Bajju land in the next 10 years?

Agwam Bajju II: I hope to see much more than what I am seeing today because if they continue in this spirit, it is enough to change things back home.

When I came here, nobody was saying, ‘I’m from this village’ or ‘I’m from that village.’ That was not the issue.

They all came together from Britain, France, the Netherlands and Germany just to come and see the king.

I’m so proud of them. Honestly, it’s the first of its kind.

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That is what we encourage them to do, no matter how small. There are textbooks on the language. We all learnt English, so the language can also be taught to the children.

I encourage them to get the books they can buy from home because they will go a long way.

I met one child whose parents speak the language fluently and are teaching her. They have been here for a long time. Her intonation has changed to English, but we manage it like that.

When they get back home, they won’t feel like strangers because their parents teach them.

The Yorubas are good at maintaining their language and culture, and I encourage the Bajju people to do the same.