THE NEED FOR BETTE LANGUAGE TO BE THOUGHT IN OBUDU SCHOOLS

 Language is an integral and prestigious part of any society because it gives easier identity to members in any part of the world they find themselves hence developing unity cum love.
 One of The reason why we lack unity in this part of the world is because we don't understand ourselves i:e language variation.

 Bette language is indigenous to Obudu Community of Cross River State in Nigeria where i hail from and proudly speak it anywhere at anytime with enough confidence and boldness. 

 
We were born into this language, our home which is the first agent of socialization properly indoctrinated Bette in every child. Bette language was spoken freely at home unlike Now that parents tend to punish or abuse their children for speaking Bette. "Oh my prestigious language". In a recent event i witness in Ohong village of Obudu, I saw a mother beating her daughter with lot of aggression, i went to rescue the situation,refrained her and asked what is wrong. She shamelessly told me,"my daughter is too stubborn,i have warn her not to speak Bette in this house again but she won't hear". I was shocked but i spoke sense into her that day and i could see shame on her face. This is how obviously dying Bette language has gone far in most homes. There's mentality of its uncivilized families that still speaks Bette at home and speaking English Language earns one respect. You will even greet a child now " Na wou yi"(how are you) she will reply in English "Am very fine" And i kept wondering what makes them feel they are really very fine.  If the home fails only Education can safe.

 

Peer group is the reflection of the home and since the home now focus on speaking English language hence most peers prefer to struggle with speaking it among themselves than Bette they are fluently with. In my encounter with two youths of about 35years in Igwu village of obudu,they told me "we just wanna to feel amongst if nonted our paddi go the yab yab us death".  I couldn't hold the laughter ,they asked why i laughed, i said nothing ,this how i behave when exposed to crucified English Language.  The mentality of "feeling among" as they claimed has resulted to meetings held often by most peer groups in the area presided over in terrible English Language. In one of the peer group meeting in Bedia village,there was almost exchange of blows because the secretary asked one of them struggling with English Language to speak Bette he is so familiar with and stop provoking the custodian of Bette language like him(secretary). The young man got angry "Mr secretary how dare you abuse me with provoking."  Provoke meaning to him an English language lover is abuse,you can imagine the misunderstanding arising from not speaking the language you know. When the peers fail,Education can still assist.

School is a societal saviour or a "jack baur" to lives. Education is a bedrock of things that goes on in the society with a focus of changing or improving it to approved or required standard. The curriculum of any school is drawn from learner and society sources,it is the reflection of what goes on in the society that's why children now are thought Ebola,HIV, Anti Corruption etc . A well planned curriculum should reflect the yearning of the society. Obudu community yearns for the inclusion of Bette language back to it schools curriculum. I recall being thought how to read,speak and write in Bette during my primary school education,there was a text book well amplified for teachers and learners captioned "ma li bou kushia ". Even the bible was translated in Bette,i can't find it anywhere now. How these studies and heritage disappeared is still strange.
Nigerians that seek better education in Developed countries like France or Russia are subject to compulsory learning of French or Russia language for almost a year. It is necessary over there. that's what am agitating for in Obudu and other interested area. Language is unifying,it builds taller wall than that of Jericho.  Education is indeed innovation hence it has become necessary for Obudu local government council through the ministry of Education,Cross River State to initiate Bette language back to the syllabus of schools in the area,if a borrowed English Language or french is thought all over the country in each level of Education then Bette shouldn't be an exception to this very part of Nigeria because it will go a long way to expose students & pupils to the history of Obudu, norms and values,cultural leadership structure,mode of trade and effective communication through speaking and writing.  Everything can be learned and determination makes success possible.

Bette Language is unity, Obudu need to grow stronger in unity.
Bette Language gives identity, let's grow our identity.
Bette language may safe in moment of being stranded or danger.
Bette Language should be preserve because its dignifying .
Bette language just like other languages civilizes .... BETTE BLE YAH? BLE!!! LONG LIVE BETTE LANGUAGE!!!.

MY NAME IS ZEDICUS PIRO AND YOU KNOW SAY WORDS NO BE PROBLEM