Nasir Shuaibu, BAUCHI
The community of Yolan Bayara in Bauchi appealed to the Bauchi state government to replace the land it proposed to allocate for the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for cemetery at Yolan Bayara behind the General Hospital in the metropolitan city.
Spokesman of the community, Sani Sarki Yakubu made the appeal during a press conference at the NUJ secretariate in Bauchi.
Sarki Yakubu noted that bodies of their forefathers is still laying in the grave beneath the land years ago.
According to Sarki Yakubu, the land located at Yolan Bayara village was originally owned and occupied by members of the community from time immemorial, dating back to pre-Uthman Danfodio Jihad.
"Our people had been the occupants of the land carrying out their economic activities by way of arable farming, grazing and orchard for centuries not until when the government temporarily took over the land and utilized it for some time camping "lepers" who used to be treated by a hospital established by Christian mission namely; Sudan Interior Missionary (SIM)."
He added that, "During the then General Murtala-led Federal Government under its policy of taking over all missionary institutions for the overriding public interest, the federal government had paid adequate compensation to the ECWA land constituting the hospital because, that was the only property owned by the ECWA church."
The community however, appeals to the state government regarding the imminent danger of religious crises that is likely to erupt which may destabilize the peace that Bauchi state has enjoyed and to avert any crisis resulting from the land dispute.
He emphasised that the communities are not against the government over allocation of the land to Christina faithful regarding their cemetery, but rather seeking an amicable and formidable solution to the lingering problem on the controversial set land.
In his reaction to the development, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukthar Gidado said the State Government is yet to allocate the land for the Christian faithful to use as a cemetery.
He disclosed that the Governor had received a request from the Christian faithful to solicit a piece of land for the sole purpose of burial of Christians in the State, adding that the governor, then constitute a committee which was headed by the deputy governor, Baba Tela to search for the most suitable location for the proposed land and report back to the Governor for final approval.
The Media Aid to the governor however urged the group to be patient and not to take any actions as the State government in collaboration with all critical stakeholders including the Ministry of Lands and Survey and is working towards solving the issue.
Our correspondent reports that the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Abraham Damina had last two weeks revealed in some medium that the Bauchi State government has granted approval for Christina faithful 50/hecters of the land for the cemetery in the State.
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