Yakubu Busari, Jos
The Chairman of Plateau State Traditional Council, HRM, Gbong Gwom Jos , Da Jacob Gyang Buba has called on Governor Simon Bako Lalong to read the outcome of all the three judicial commissions of inquiry which placed the position Jos as belonging to the Afizere, Anaguta and the Berom and do the needful.
Against the backdrop of the recent administrative restructuring that led to the creation of some traditional councils, Jos North and Riyon out of Jos under the royal father’s authority, he appealed to the governor to rescind the order and avert breakdown of law and order.
During the 2019 celebration of the annual Berom Cultural festival tagged; “Nzem Berom”, held at the Rwang Pam Township stadium in Jos North Local Government Area, recently the issue had featured prominently, with the royal father stating that the governor had no such powers to do what he has done.
“The country had a Land Use Act with the customary rights of land ownership embedded in it.”, he had said. “All over Nigeria, land belongs to communities, families and individuals. We want to appeal that government must not take actions that will bring security challenges to Plateau.
With the new creations, the Gbong Gwom Jos being left with only two local governments – Jos South and Barkin-Ladi.
Reacting, he said: “I wrote a letter last year reminding the governor of this and requesting him to allow traditional rulers of these tribes to sit with the state boundary commission to determine everybody’s boundary,” said the royal father.
According to him; “I am still appealing to government to look into this.
“We don’t want a situation where government policy will bring chaos between neighbours, brothers and sisters that have lived together in peace over the ages,” he said.
He urged the governor to stop intruding into the affairs of the traditional institutions in the state to avoid plunging it into another round of unwarranted crises.
The Royal father maintained that, “for some time now, I have been devoting his time calming down the fray nerves of vibrant youths of the Berom Nation to avoid the state going on flame.
According to him ,” I have never heard both in my experience and history where the government redefine traditional boundaries that have hitherto coexist peacefully and without misunderstanding between two ethics groups”.
“You would recalled that Governor Simon Lalong creation of the two traditional councils – Jos North and Riyom – had whittled down the powers of the paramount ruler who superintends over traditional rulers in the four local governments that make up Jos Joint traditional Council”.
Recent letter from the Gov Lalong, left, to the monarch showing he still regards the royal father as head of the traditional council in the state, while the letter from the Ministry of Local Govt and Chieftaincy Affairs, right, conveys the governments’ administration decision to excise two councils from the monarch’s domain.
The monarch, Da Jacob Gyang Buba call on Governor Simon Bako Lalong to direct his energy to address the state land use Act that had been begging for government attention.
“On Thursday night, I had to appeal to the Berom nation and its vibrant youths to please calm down.
“I told them that as sensitive as the issue is perceived, it has not gone beyond the Berom traditional institution, the elders and the Berom organisations.
“We will sit with government and educate government about what it is; we hope we will have the listening ear of the governor to make amends where they have made errors.
“There is no human being that is perfect, we all make mistakes.
“We appeal to the Berom nation to please calm down. We will follow due process and we are absolutely sure that God will not forsake us,” the monarch maintained.
He further add that the had write a well worded letter to governor Lalong led government, to as matter of urgency to revisit all hitherto Commission of enquiry results with a view of implementation.
The explosive incident has generated a huge social media reaction with subjects and citizens taking sides for or against the government. Some say the government has done no wrong as the governor in a a letter congratulating the royal father for the cultural celebration, addressed him as Gwom Gbong Jos, and head of Plateau State Traditional Council, meaning his entitlements and former documents remain valid, while others state that the administration excision of two councils from the royal father’s domain was an indication that the status quo has changed and with time, the true intention to whittle down his powers would become a faith accompli.
Not waiting for such a time to arrive with all its implications, the royal father has decided to call for the situation to be addressed before it causes another avoidable crisis in the crisis
