Chief Jacob Buba Gyang, the Gbong Gwom Jos, and Chairman, Plateau
Council of Chiefs, has said that state governors do not have the
authority to redefine traditional boundaries.
Council of Chiefs, has said that state governors do not have the
authority to redefine traditional boundaries.
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| Gbong Gwom Jos |
“I am not aware of any authority by a governor to redefine
traditional boundaries. Government cannot redefine boundaries where
there is no problem,” Buba said on Friday in Jos.
traditional boundaries. Government cannot redefine boundaries where
there is no problem,” Buba said on Friday in Jos.
The monarch, who spoke at the “Nzem Berom 2019”, an annual cultural
festival of the Berom ethnic group of Plateau, was reacting to a
Thursday circular in which the state government created two traditional
councils out of the Jos Traditional Council.
festival of the Berom ethnic group of Plateau, was reacting to a
Thursday circular in which the state government created two traditional
councils out of the Jos Traditional Council.
The creation of the two traditional councils – Jos North and Riyom,
has effectively whittled down the powers of the paramount ruler who
superintends traditional rulers in the four local governments that make
up the Jos Joint Traditional Council.
has effectively whittled down the powers of the paramount ruler who
superintends traditional rulers in the four local governments that make
up the Jos Joint Traditional Council.
With the split, the Gbong Gwom is left with only two local governments – Jos South and Barkin-Ladi.
According to the circular, the Attah Aten of Ganawuri will chair the
Riyom Traditional Council, while the Chiefs of Anaguta and Afizere would
be in charge of the two traditional stools in Jos North.
Riyom Traditional Council, while the Chiefs of Anaguta and Afizere would
be in charge of the two traditional stools in Jos North.
“There has been government pronouncement and actions to do with the
traditional institution even when there was no problem. We have no
problem with our neighbours and we have been in peace with one another.
traditional institution even when there was no problem. We have no
problem with our neighbours and we have been in peace with one another.
“The traditional boundaries existed even before the existence of
Nigeria as a country and every tribe on the Plateau has a defined
territory.
Nigeria as a country and every tribe on the Plateau has a defined
territory.
“We want to appeal to politicians to respect these territories,” Buba stated.
The monarch further said that the country had a Land Use Act with the customary rights of land ownership embedded in it.
“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.
individuals. We want to appeal that government must not take actions
that will bring security challenges to Plateau.
“Yesterday 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.
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.
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,” he
added.
due process and we are absolutely sure that God will not forsake us,” he
added.
The monarch pointed out that people were craving for peace because there would be no development without it.
He said that he had had cause to write to the state government
reminding it of reports of three judicial commissions of inquiry between
1994 to 2009.
reminding it of reports of three judicial commissions of inquiry between
1994 to 2009.
“All the judicial commissions of inquiry agreed with the position that Jos belongs to the Afizere, Anaguta and the Berom.
“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.
requesting him to allow traditional rulers of these tribes to sit with
the state boundary commission to determine everybody’s boundary.
“I am still appealing to government to look into this.
“We don’t want a situation where government policy will bring chaos
between neighbors, brothers and sisters that have lived together in
peace over the ages,” he said.
between neighbors, brothers and sisters that have lived together in
peace over the ages,” he said.
Mr Jafaru Wuyep, Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, who
represented the governor, in his remarks, promised to convey the
message.
represented the governor, in his remarks, promised to convey the
message.
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