By Khalid Imam
At Biu, I observed Eid Fitr
A land of dignified men
People who honoured guests
With hospitality and humility.
I prayed at the spacious Eid ground
Celebrating the Eid Fitr with the Emir
And the Deputy Governor of Borno
At home for the colourful festivities.
Biu people played good hosts
They flooded to pay homage
Jubilant women, men, and children
All rejoiced heartedly with their owns.
Everyone was looking so thrilled
The Emir and all his District Heads
Rode on horses through the city,
Voices of enchanting drums entertained all.
Biu is an awesome city blessed
A wonderful town on the hilltop
A mountain tree lives so long
So does the treasures in her.
I was astonished in Biu
With rich historical heritages
A culture so uniquely gorgeous
Great source of admiration and pride.
What a tradition explaining its history
Displaying its uniqueness
Biu’s greatness and endurance
Were in display during the Eid festival
I was in Biu to strengthen brotherhood
To greet Bukar Usmanu’s relatives
Bukar, a man with heart of gold
A true whetstone he is to me always.
A river is known for her generosity,
So does a tree is usually hospitable
Their kindness knows no bounds,
A river supplies us water and fish.
A tree freely offers us fruits
And smoothing shades for rest
Bukar is both a river and a tree
Hospitality is paramount to him.
Bukar has a generous heart
He built a community bank
For his town to transform
And the poor to financially thrive.
Loans for business and farming
Made available for all to benefit
Dozens of boreholes he sunk in Biu
To drive away thirst completely.
Making life a honey
Not hellish is his ways always
Only one who loves his kinsmen
Invest in their future and prosperity.
Genuine brotherhood l witnessed
No one is discriminated in the city
Unity is their bond and strength
Biu is truly a food basket.
To build a brighter future,
Bukar offers scholarship support
Good seeds and fertilizers
To dozens of kith and kins.
Bukar plants smile in many faces
Caring for countless patients
Offering free medical care
With love and affection.
I visited the great King
Emir of Biu, a fearless warrior
Lion that rules with humility
A King without a match.
Emir of Biu is well honoured
Always commanding warm respect
His trademark as Khalid witnessed
Is bestowing honour to the honoured
The King is an oasis in the desert
A very warm and hospitable
His friendly smile is uncommon
Like a wide field of briming cotton
I have enjoyed the warm friendship
Of elder Sale, Bukar’s childhood friend
He was an affable elder
So jovial and illuminating he was.
Sale welcomed every guest with love,
Emulating the noblest Prophet Aminu
His was a way of welcoming guests with red carpet
I praise the Prophet, loving hubby to Hafsa.
If wishes were horses
I will love to migrate to Biu
To join the group of farmers
Wealth is there in irrigation farming.
No doubt, if l have a choice,
To Biu l would move my family
To breed fatty cows and healthy goats
And to be coming serious chicken farmer.
In Biu l met a patriotic Nigerian
Mr. Nigeria loved our country dearly
He adorns all his belongings
Homes, cars in national colours.
Everything he wears
Are in green white green colours
His rich pairs of shoes
His remarkable cap too not excluded.
Biu town is a university
One learns so much there
Tilla Lake is a historic
And an amazing site to visit.
At the lake fascinating site
One is greeted with plentiful wonders
There, crocodiles merrily live
And fish enjoys the beauty of nature.
Biu becomes a thriving land,
A heart of industriousness,
Schools and universities
Are everywhere in Biu.
The Nigerian Army University
Is vigilantly housed in Biu
Biu is blessed with large virgin lands
And an ancient royalty so astonishing.
Biu citizens are truly patriotic
Developing their home land is first
I witnessed this firsthand
Crisscrossing its streets and alleys.
All roads are solar powered,
Biu is now a glowing sunbeam
No potholes in Biu roads
In leadership, they have stars.
They are electing good politicians,
Not thieving traitors to represent them
They are voting wisely
To elect their very best.
In every corner of Biu,
Development sprouts abundantly,
Thanks to Hon. Muktar Betara,
A worthy member at the House of Representatives
He dutifully serves Biu Emirate
Winning the respect of all
We want more like him
To free the North from underdevelopment.
Salute to all Biu citizens
I salute Burutai, the fearless General
Blessed is Biu with skilled men
Excelling in all professions.
My visit to Biu ended here
But a rewarding experience it was indeed
Khalid l was there in flesh and blood
Imam was indeed at home there.
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Khalid Imam, a poet, education administrator and a freelance researcher based in Kano, wrote this poem initially in Hausa and translated into English following his first visit to Biu, Borno State .