Is a moment of joy, celebrations, chanting, jubilation and reflections on the Zaar nation as their struggles for chiefdom for many decades ago has come to reality after the Bauchi State House Assembly pass a bill for the creation of Zaar Chiefdom subsequent election of a new Gung Zaar, the Paramount ruler of the Zaar Nation.
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This follows the quest of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi) to bring peace to the area, especially Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro and the entire Bauchi state. During his campaign to the people of Zaar worldwide, he promised to work for the peace and actualization of the chiefdom of the Zaar people. Now, a New Era has set in as Brigadier General Marcus Koko Yake (Rtd) has become Gung Zaar 1, the Paramount Ruler of Zaar Nation in Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro and worldwide. The process witnessed 7 applications. Three candidates withdrew before the election while four candidates contested and Brig. Gen. Yake emerged the winner of the election which make the first Gung Zaar and the paramount ruler of the Sayawa kingdom.
Officially Assumed Office As Gung Zaar 1
The long anticipated and clamour of the Zaar (Sayawa) people for self-identity and traditional recognition has finally become a reality. In a grand and historic ceremony held in Tafawa Balewa, the ancestral home of the Zaar Nation, Brigadier General Marcus Koko Yake (Rtd) officially assumed office as the First Gung-Zaar (Gung Zaar 1) of Zaar Chiefdom, marking the dawn of a new era of peace, unity, and progress in Bauchi and the Zaar people.
The event, filled with colour, culture, and deep emotion, drew dignitaries, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and thousands of jubilant sons and daughters of Zaarland from within and outside Bauchi State. The Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Alhaji Aminu Hammayo, led a high-powered government delegation on behalf of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON, Kauran Bauchi, to present the official letter of appointment to the newly enthroned monarch. During the occasion and while presenting the appointment letter, Hammayo reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Bauchi State Government to peace, equity, and inclusive governance. He emphasized that the establishment of the Zaar Chiefdom fulfills Governor Bala Mohammed’s campaign promise to the people of Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Areas, noting that the governor’s decision was born out of justice, fairness, and the desire to promote lasting peace and development in the area.
Hammayo’s Speech During the Presentation
“The establishment of the Zaar Chiefdom is not just a political fulfillment, it is a moral and historical obligation to a people who have yearned for recognition for decades,” Hammayo stated. Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration remains committed to building bridges of unity, healing old wounds, and fostering an environment where all ethnic and religious groups coexist in peace and harmony.”
In his acceptance speech, His Royal Majesty, Gung Zaar 1, Brigadier General Marcus Koko Yake (Rtd), described the day as a dream fulfilled and history rewritten. With gratitude and humility, he expressed profound appreciation to Governor Bala Mohammed for his vision, courage, and leadership, which brought the long struggle for the creation of the Zaar Chiefdom to fruition. In recognition of the governor’s instrumental role, the Gung-Zaar conferred upon him the traditional title of “Ghbzh Zaar”, meaning “The Ladder or Liberator of the Zaar Nation.”
“Today, we stand at the threshold of a new beginning,” the Gung-Zaar declared.
“What our forefathers dreamed of, prayed for, and worked towards has finally come to pass. We shall honour their sacrifices by building a future of peace, reconciliation, and sustainable progress for our children and generations to come.”
This is a dream come true for the Zaar nation as in the past, many committees have submitted white papers and nothing has been done about it while the crisis in the area continue to linger and many lives loss. We pray that, with the now existence of a Zaar Chiefdom, peace will return to the areas if not permanently return. There’s a big task for the new paramount ruler which we believed he is capable to unite the Zaar nation in the midst of division as some were of the opinion that Air Commodore Ishaku Komo, the former Gung Zaar elect could have been the right person for the job. But since what Zaar (Sayawa) have been clamouring for has come to stay, they have to support the new leadership of Brig. Gen. Yake (Rtd) and forget the pass and forged ahead for a better Zaar (Sayawa) nation. Since the process that brought the monarch was thrown open and was contested and a winner emerged.
The New Paramount Ruler’s Speech
The new monarch pledged to uphold justice, wisdom, and inclusivity as the core principles of his reign. He assured his people of his readiness to work hand in hand with the government, community leaders, and all stakeholders to ensure that Zaarland experiences peace, infrastructural development, and socio-economic transformation.
“Under my leadership,” he said, “Zaar Chiefdom shall be known for peace, discipline, innovation, and productivity. We will invest in education, youth empowerment, agriculture, and social harmony. Our vision is to build a community where unity prevails above division, and progress becomes the heritage of every Zaar son and daughter.”
The ceremony was graced by top government functionaries, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community elders, youth groups, well-wishers and cultural troupes who added splendour to the occasion with colorful traditional displays and heartfelt tributes. Emotions ran high as many elders who has been in the struggles for the actualization of the chiefdom wept tears of joy, witnessing the reality of a dream they had nurtured for decades happens while they were alive.
The appointment of Brigadier General Marcus Koko Yake (Rtd) as the First Gung-Zaar of Zaar Chiefdom represents the culmination of over half a century of advocacy, patience, and resilience by the Zaar (Sayawa) people. Despite historical to and fro, setbacks and controversies surrounding the creation of the chiefdom, the event stands today as a monument of unity, hope, and divine fulfillment for the Zaar Nation.
As the First Gung-Zaar ascends the throne, the Zaar Nation looks forward to a new dispensation defined by peace, inclusion, prosperity, and cultural renaissance under his visionary leadership. The people believe that his reign will not only strengthen internal cohesion but also project the dignity, heritage, and potential of the Zaar Nation to the wider world.
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Indeed, history has been written, and a new dawn has begun. The Zaar Nation rises united, proud, and hopeful under the leadership of His Royal Majesty, Brigadier General Marcus Koko Yake (Rtd), Gung Zaar I of Zaar Chiefdom and Nation worldwide.
Conclusion
As promoter of cultural heritage, we hope and pray that with the Gung Zaar now in Zaar nations cultural celebrations will be fully celebrated year-in-year out with the Gung Zaar taking charge as the paramount ruler, the chief celebrant and arrow head of the celebration on ground to grace the occasion. We also hope that cultures hoping for Chiefdom, they will one day, experience their Chiefdom come to stay for their culture to be fully observed.