The ‘Oegwam Oegworok’, popularly called the Chief of Kagoro, His Royal Majesty Ufuwai Bonet, turned 90 on Wednesday. Standing erect and unbent by the vicissitudes of life that trailed his childhood, the monarch embodies resilient charisma and is a believer in divine powers that make impossibilities possible.
Confronted with incessant sicknesses that nearly snuffed out his life as a child, the young prince, who rose to become the paramount ruler of the Kagoro Kingdom, engaged himself in a battle to acquire education despite failing health.
Childhood Challenges
Born prematurely, a condition many thought wouldn’t allow him to survive, the young prince would prove prognosticators wrong when he enrolled in the Native Authority Primary School established in 1943. Under a mango tree near the palace, young Ufuwai used sand to learn the alphabet. Despite constant health issues causing him to lose a year in school, he remained determined.
His parents relocated him to his grandmother’s place in Kukum Daji to escape perceived dark forces affecting his health. However, healing eluded him. Undeterred, his parents took him to Kafanchan for treatment, which proved futile.
He recalls his father visiting him and discussing something with family members, the details of which he never learned. While escorting his father out, he pointed to the rail lines, giving directions to the Chief of Kagoro’s palace and mango trees beyond the railway line.
Determined to pursue education, the young prince packed and left Kafanchan for home, defying the challenges. Having lost a year due to health issues, he joined the 1944 second set.
Healing at Last
In 1948, the prince sat for the Middle School exam and was fortunate enough to be among the four pupils who passed. After being admitted, he notably experienced no further sickness, except for an incident while playing football that required hospital attention. Following his Middle School completion, he was employed by the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC). The young boy, who would later become the Chief of Kagoro, was selected for overseas training in the United Kingdom. After four years in the UK, he resigned from the NRC and joined the United African Company (UAC), working there until his retirement.
After trying various businesses, he finally returned home post-retirement. Following the death of Mallam Danladi Gwamna Awan, the longest-serving traditional ruler in Nigeria and previous Chief of Kagoro, in 2008, Chief Ufuwai applied for the vacant stool of Oegwam Oegworok and was turbaned as the new Chief of Kagoro in October 2018.
Royalty for Peace
Like his predecessor, Mallam Awan, His Royal Majesty Bonet prioritizes his people’s welfare and peaceful coexistence with neighbors. Under his leadership, the Kagoro Chiefdom has experienced relative peace compared to other areas in Southern Kaduna, with only a few incidents of attacks and kidnappings. The monarch attributes the peace to the absence of greed and hatred that plague modern society. To address current challenges like brigandage and lawlessness, he suggests constitutional roles for monarchs to restore traditional control.
Supporting state police and localized deployment to combat crime, he urges politicians to engage with the people and avoid greed. He also encourages President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue improving citizens’ living conditions, appreciating his efforts in establishing the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia and the Federal Medical Centre in Kafanchan for enhanced healthcare in Southern Kaduna. Additionally, he commends Governor Uba Sani for inclusive governance and securing lives and property.
As Deputy Chairman of the Kaduna State Traditional Council, His Majesty Bonet praises the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, for promoting unity and peaceful coexistence among Kaduna citizens and Nigerians.
Bonet’s Wish @ 90
Though disturbed by the current level of bad politics, he called on politicians to stand by the people under democratic dispensation. The traditional ruler added that it’s not enough for people to simply blame the government and do nothing; instead, they must help and support it. His Majesty Bonet wishes for peace and unity for development in his chiefdom and Nigeria as he celebrates his 90th birthday.
I congratulate His Majesty on attaining this nonagenarian milestone. May his dreams for Nigeria be realized in his lifetime. Happy 90th Birthday, Your Majesty!
