By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
The Bauchi State government has selected 40-Wisemen to review the recommendations for the creation of new emirates, chiefdoms, and districts in the state, and draft a White-Paper for its adoptation
The 40-member committee comprised of people from diverse backgrounds, including traditional rulers, technocrats, academics, civil society representatives, legal practitioners, security agencies, and faith-based organisations.
Swearing-in the committee members at the Bauchi Government House, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed said that his administration is poised to create the long-agitated Sayawa chiefdom in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state.
He told the committee members “This initiative seeks to address the long standing demands underpinned by historical legitimacy, social equity and grassroots consensus. Government had therefore found it expedient and timely to revisit the issue”.
Governor Bala explained that the need to create new emirates, chiefdoms and districts is necessitated by the commitment his administration has made during it’s electioneering campaigns, and in response to widespread agitations across various communities in the state.
Specifically, he stated, government’s intention is not only in fulfilment of the political promises made but to deepen local governance, enhance cultural identity and strengthen the invaluable role of traditional institutions as key promoters and custodians of peace, unity and development.
He recalled that historically traditional institutions in Bauchi state have served as pillars of communal cohesion and as catalysts for progress, hence the
expansion of such institution through new administrative units will consolidate peace building efforts, foster inclusivity and empower communities to participate meaningfully in governance.
“The rationale for the creation of additional Chiefdoms, Emirate and Districts is grounded in the need for the promotion of peace, progress, stability and development, and to serve as catalysts for mobilization towards communal and social development programmes and fostering social understanding amongst them”.
Senator Bala Mohammed noted that the existing traditional institutions have been effective in strengthening unity and mutual understanding, and as rallying point for communities to freely express themselves and pursue their common objectives;
“The increasing consciousness by communities of the need to preserve and project their identities and historical linkages as groups and communities. The right for self-determination and actualization as enshrined in the Constitution in order to provide socio political balance”.
He said that the committee is also to provide proactive conflict prevention mechanisms to eliminate mutual suspicion and discontent often expressed by way of recurring ethnic or communal clashes that had left indelible scars in history.
“It is similarly to address our diversity and satisfactorily manage our identity justice system, and to
ensure transparency, credibility and inclusiveness, following a structured framework anchored on due diligence and wide stakeholder consultation”.
“The Committee shall call for Memoranda for the creation of Chiefdoms/Districts from interested communities in line with criteria for which public advertisements had been made and to which various communities are responding, and review and appraise such Memoranda received in line with clearly defined criteria”.
“The Committee shall review the composition of existing chiefdoms/districts vis-à-vis the requests for the creation of new ones in order to resolve overlaps and disputes; Equity and fairness shall guide all recommendations while ensuring sociopolitical inclusiveness and financial sustainability”
Governor Bala described the
committee as broad-based consisting of eminent sons and daughters of the state selected from each of the 20 Local Government Areas; persons knowledgeable in the underlying legal frameworks guiding the traditional institutions and in the history of traditional institutions, among others.
He gave the composition of the committee as Alh. Hamza Koshe Akuyam – Chairman; and Justice Habibu Idris Shall as -Deputy Chairman, while Engr. Salmanu Muhammed, Alh. Garba Mohammed Noma, Mr. Elisha S. Gwamis, Alh. Aliyu Jibo, Hon. Yakubu Ibrahim Hamza, Hon. Maryam Garba Bagel, Sen. Bala Adamu Kariya, and Prof. Muhammad Babangida are members
Others are, Hon. Adamu Bello, Alh. Imam Itas; Alh. Abubakar Muhammad; Alh. Aminu Ahmed Yapeco; Hon. Hajara Yakubu Wanka; Alh. Umar Barau Ningi; Rt. Hon. Abubakar A. Faggo; Hon. Khalifa Sanusi Rishi; Hon. Abdulrazaq Nuhu Zak; Hon. Haruna Shitu Zaki; Prof. Ibrahim Garba;
Hassan Usman El-Yakub, SAN; and Hon. Isa Babayo Tilde.
Also included in the committee membership are Hon. Abdul Hassan; Alh. Hashimu Yakubu;
Alh. Yahuza Adamu Haruna; Alh. Abbakar Mohammed Wabi; Surv. Abdullahi Haruna; Alh. Abdulkadir Ibrahim; Rep. of State Commissioner of Police; Rep of DSS in Bauchi; Rep of Commandant NSCDC; Secretary -JNI; State Chairman, CAN; Rep.Chairman, NUJ; Rep. CSOs; while Ahmed Ali Ranga is to serve as committee Secretary; with Shehu Yahaya Jalam, Auwal Shehu Jalo, and Mohammed Ali Manti as Co-Secretaries.
The Bauchi Chief Executive expressed confidence that the committee would be guided in all its recommendations by equity and fairness while ensuring socio-political inclusiveness and financial sustainability for the emirates, chiefdoms or districts to be created, as he gave it eight weeks to submit report, from the date of inauguration.
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