By Haruna Usman
Northerners are known for hospitality, brotherhood and magnanimity which over the years defined the culture and religion of northern people. Somehow, the all-important fabric that strengthened our unity in humility and brotherhood being nurtured by faith and trust went missing largely due so-called western civilisation.
Our cities are hubs for hatred fueled by get-rich syndrome which has become a yardstick to measure and garner respect from the public who threw away the virtues of friendship, brotherhood and assistance to one another.
My visit to Tilli town recently to condole my bosom friend Sahabi Muhammad Tilli a core philanthropist who happens to be the one championing the course of unity in his hometown convinced me indeed that brotherhood do still exists in his hometown. I saw what I have missed in decades which has been the practice of northerners. Before now, people enter into their neighbours’ houses without hindrance which has been blocked by the west, people now have to hide food and other essential things to close neighbours, but to my chagrin the practice is very much alive in Tilli town as people of different ages moves in out of neighbourhood relating in the most captivating manner.
Tilli town blended with mixed tribes and culture as it houses Fulani and Hausas with Zabarmawa in nearby villages of Tilli town remains a united town with a touch of brotherhood and absolute trust for one another.
To complement the ongoing efforts by the state government in curtailing insecurity, the Sarkin Tilli and his lieutenants with particular support from Mr. Sahabi who is also a village head in Tilli town liberated the Kanzanna village once troubled by armed bandits which indicated that brotherhood was instrumental to the success of traditional army of Tilli village.
Tilli town is home to famous education gurus who are still making waves in the country, the likes of Muhammadu Tilli now permanent secretary Ministry for Water Resources, Galadiman Magani Tilli and a host of many too numerous to mention have written the name of Tilli in the history of Kebbi State in human capacity building as they are nurses, doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs giving the town its deserving popularity.
As I missed, the brotherhood I saw in a small, but mighty Tilli town, I pray the town will continue to grow along with its great sons and daughters.
Usman, a journalist writes in from Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State.