A university don, Dr Abdullateef Y. Bida, has uncovered historical misrepresentations in the latest book of Nigeria’s former military head of state, Rtd.General Ibrahim Babangida,’A Journey in Service’ which was launched in Abuja last week.
Dr.Bida claimed that Baro, Wushishi, and Badeggi were misrepresented in the book as Gwari towns
He said on page 23 of the book, it is stated that “Zungeru, Minna, Kontagora, Baro, Badeggi, and even Suleja belonged to the Gwari people before British rule.”
On page 37, Baro,Bida said, is referred to as a Nupe port town,highlighting a contradiction within the book itself.
According to him,historically, Baro, Wushishi, and Badeggi are Nupe towns. Baro, in particular, was a significant Nupe settlement long before British colonial intervention.
He explained that the British selected Baro as a river port because of its strategic location along the Niger River and its accessibility via the Baro-Kano railway, completed in 1911.
The British colonial records and reports from historians such as Sir Frederick Lugard confirm that Baro was an integral part of Nupe land and not originally a Gwari settlement,he said.
He also said Wushishi was historically a Nupe administrative hub, serving as an important town during the reign of the Etsu Nupes.
He added:”Similarly, Badeggi remains a core Nupe town, known for its role in agriculture and trade. To suggest these towns belong to the Gwari people is a distortion of history.
“Furthermore, it is also worth noting that even the Gwari people have Nupe origins. Linguistic and anthropological studies, including those by scholars such as Professor Mahmud Modibbo Tukur, indicate that the Gwari people historically originated from the Nupe kingdom before migrating to their present locations. This further contradicts the book’s claim that Nupe towns belonged to the Gwari”.
Dr.Bida also picked hole in the Babangida’s book claims that Minna has existed for over 30,000 years,saying the assertion is historically inaccurate.
Minna, as a modern town, owes its development primarily to the British colonial administration,he said,emphasizing that the British established Minna as a railway hub in the early 20th century, particularly around 1910, when it became a major transit point along the Lagos-Kano railway line.
Minna’s growth accelerated after it was chosen as the capital of Niger State in 1976. However, before colonial rule, it was a small settlement mainly inhabited by Gwari, Nupe and other indigenous groups like Kamuku, Kambari,he said.
He also said during the administration of Governor Abdullahi Kure, Minna officially celebrated its 100th anniversary, further confirming that the town is less than 150 years old in its current form.
Any claim suggesting Minna existed for over 30,000 years,according to him, is not supported by archaeological evidence or historical documentation.
He added:”It is crucial that historical accounts, especially those written by prominent figures, reflect accurate and well-researched facts. The contradictions and misrepresentations in A Journey in Service require clarification to ensure that the historical truth is not distorted. The historical records clearly show that:
“Baro, Wushishi, and Badeggi are Nupe towns, not Gwari towns.Even the Gwari people trace their origins to the Nupe kingdom.
“Minna is less than 150 years old as a modern settlement, and its colonial history dates back to the early 1900s, not 30,000 years ago.
“General Babangida and his editors should consider issuing corrections to avoid the spread of misinformation and ensure that future generations receive accurate historical knowledge’.
