The Union, which
made its position on the issue known in a press statement today, also rejected
further moves to take away the autonomy of the people of the state by the state
government. According to the Union,” Our people do not want this retrogressive
review. Only government does. Government should consult the people and not
impose its will on the people”.
READ
THE FULL TEXT BELOW:
SOUTHERN KADUNA PEOPLES’ UNION (SOKAPU)
OUR POSITION ON THE PROPOSED REVIEW OF EXISTING CHIEFTAINCY
SYSTEM IN KADUNA STATE
Our attention
was drawn on 28/7/2017 to two documents circulating in the social media on
review of existing chieftaincy system in Kaduna State. The first is titled
“Appointment of Committee to Review the Existing Chieftaincy System in the
State” and the second emanated from a body called the “Committee to Review the
Existing Chieftaincy System in the State Sub-Committee on the Nomenclature”.
The mandate or Terms of (TOR) Reference of the main Committee are:
“(i). To
examine the existing nomenclature of the graded chiefs which emphasizes ethnic
identity and propose new ones based on town/location of the Chiefdom taking due
cognizance of the historical antecedents of the Chiefdom;
(ii). To
study the cultural affinities, long standing historical antecedents and other
peculiarities of the people within a Chiefdom/Emirate and advise on possible
regrouping;
(iii). To
propose alternative system of boundary delineation between Emirate/ Chiefdom in
the State to mitigate the incidence of incessant boundary disputes;
(iv). To
advise on the possibility of placing the staff of District and Village
Administration under the control and supervision of the Local Government
Service Commission (LGSC) to guarantee their career progression in the service,
and
(v). To
advise generally on ways to improve the operations of the Traditional
institutions in the State to restore its glory and esteem amongst the people.”
The second
document which emanated from the “Sub-Committee on the Nomenclature” was
addressed to paramount rulers dated 24th July, 2017 with the following
contents:
1.
“Your Highness may wish to respectfully be informed that as part of the
continuing effort of the present Administration to restore the esteem of the
Traditional institutions in the State, it appointed and inaugurated the above
named Sub-Committee to make recommendations, amongst other things, for a change
of Nomenclature of your Chiefdom from the existing one that emphasizes on
ethnic affiliation to the one which would be based on town/location.
2. In
deciding to effect the change to reflect the town/location of the Chiefdom,
Government hopes that the much needed unity and harmonious co-existence amongst
your diverse communities would better be achieved.
3. The Sub-Committee
would rely on your input which is expected to be guided by the historical
antecedent of the Chiefdom before making its recommendation to Government. In
this regards, you are kindly requested to propose a most suitable title/name.
4. Your submission
is expected to reach the Secretariat of the Sub-Committee on Nomenclature at
Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Kaduna on or before Monday, 31st July,
2017”.
It is necessary
to state that the creation and composition of the chiefdoms were done by the
Kaduna State Government under the leadership of Brigadier General Ja’afaru Isa
(rtd) in 1995 and Governor Ahmed Makarfi in 2000 after several months of
painstaking consultations, interaction, engagement, hearings, submissions,
research and evaluation which the government conducted. Account was taken of
the yearnings and aspirations of the people, expressed by various communities,
Community Development Associations, ethnic nationalities, religious leaders and
stakeholders, for rulers of those chiefdoms as eventually constituted. The role
of traditional rulers in the area of stabilizing the polity, peace building and
uniting the people for community development was taken account of.
It is apposite
to point out that the people were satisfied with the traditional institutions
as composed. None of the 53 ethnic nationalities registered with SOKAPU has
complained about the institutions as composed. None has asked for a review of
the existing chieftaincy system. None has had any major boundary dispute or
issue with the other.
What
Southern Kaduna has suffered has been attacks from terrorists and the State
Government has identified the attackers as terrorists from 14 African
countries. We believe, therefore, that it is better to concentrate on the task
of containing the terrorists from 14 African countries than to restructure or
review the existing chieftaincy system in Kaduna State.
Where a review
of the existing chieftaincy system becomes necessary, we believe that the call
for a review should come from the people. However, since Government has
identified the need for a review, it is only right and exigent for Government
to set up machinery for consultation and even public hearing with the relevant
Stakeholders, Community Development Associations, religious leaders and the
general public rather than going about the exercise in a very clandestine
manner.
No Community
Development Association or stakeholder was invited to make a submission to
either the main or subcommittee to review the chieftaincy system. Yet, the
demand for the institution of the chiefdoms came from the people. The
aforementioned documents were not placed within the public domain. The
Committee never reached out to relevant stakeholders for their inputs. The
letter from the Subcommittee was dated 24th July, 2017, chiefs were served
with letters on 27th or 28th July and they were expected to make
their input on or before Monday 31st July, 2017 on a matter of such great
importance! There appears to be a pre-determined outcome for this assignment.
The committees’ work is certainly, not to “restore the esteem of the
traditional institutions in the State” but to further denigrate, humiliate and
downgrade the traditional institution which manifestation has already started
with the rationalization of the district heads.
The intention of
the entire review is suspicious and seriously insinuates bad faith. For
example, the Subcommittee is asking chiefs to make “recommendations amongst
others things, for a change of Nomenclature of your chiefdom from the existing
one that emphasizes on ethnic affiliation to the one which would be based on
town/location”. The Atyaps, the Bajjus, the Kaninkons for example sought for
chiefdoms based on their cultural affinity; the Ham people and the Moroa people
had their institutions in place based on their cultural affinity; the Zazzau
people had their Emirate system based on their religious affinity; the Atyaps
have in their chiefdom Atyap people, Bajjus, Hausas, Fulanis, Igbos etc. in the
same manner, the Zazzau Emirate, the Birnin Gwari Emirate have Muslims,
Christians and others in their Emirates.
The Agwam Bajju
people are in Zangon Kataf, Kachia and Jema’a Local Government Areas; the Agom
Adara in Kachia, Kajuru, part of Chikun and part of Niger state; the Kpop Ham
in Jaba and Kachia Local Governments. Where these chiefs become Agwam Zonkwa;
Agom Kachia; Kpop Kwoi-what happens to their people in the remaining local
governments? Even the Gbagyi people are spread across five LGs!
This move is
deeply suspicious and not in good faith. Why is there emphasis only on ethnic
affiliation? Why is there no emphasis on religious or ethnic identity? This
move we believe would undoubtedly create more divisions in Kaduna State.
Moreover, people of different chiefdoms are not only spread across other LGs
but are autochthonous to such places with strong cultural ties.
We call on the
state Government to immediately halt the assignment of this Committee; to
restore the district heads back to their positions and rather than reviewing
the traditional institutions, to grant autonomy to as many communities as
desire.
On SOKAPU’s
part, we reject in totality this autocratic move to tamper with our revered
traditional institutions or to take away the autonomy of our people. Our people
do not want this retrogressive review. Only government does. Government should
consult the people and not impose its will on the
people.
Thank You.
Signed:Mr
Yakubu Kuzamani
National
Public Relation Officer
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