Brewing Trouble over Monarch’s Ouster 

In this piece, Seriki Adinoyi writes that Plateau State government may need to take a second look at the suspension of the Rekna of Bashar, a monarch whose stool is allegedly being politicised, to avoid needless rancor.

Plateau State has in recent years been troubled by hydra-headed crises ranging from ethno-religious, farmers-herders, political, banditry among others, which have in the aftermath resulted in violence that left lives and properties wasted.

It has therefore always been the priority of successive administrations in the state to deliberately work to avoid or de-escalate acts that tend to undermine the peace of any component of the state.

 This was what the current Governor of the state, Caleb Mutfwang has also done since he assumed office; deliberately holding consultations and working to restore peace to every troubled part of the state. He had said that development can only thrive where peace reigns.

However, recent developments in Bashar kingdom of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State in which the highest traditional title holder in Bashar District, the Rekna of Bashar, His Royal Highness, Alh. Abdullahi Idris Isah was suspended by the Governor despite outcry by the people, has been described as a recipe for trouble which if not properly managed can set the community and by extension, the state on fire.

It was gathered that the government’s position was drawn from a letter written to the Governor by some residents of the community led by Shehu Abubakar in which they had claimed that the process that led to the selection of Isah was flawed.

The suspension was conveyed in a letter dated October 2, 2024, where the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Yakubu Ishaya Mallo, directed the traditional ruler to step aside pending the outcome of an investigation into complaints arising from the selection of Rekna of Bashar.

The state government said that allegations were leveled over the process that brought the monarch to the throne two years ago, and that it has set up a committee to take a retrospective look into the process, but that the monarch would not be allowed to continue to sit there while he’s being investigated.

The letter read: “I am directed to convey government’s approval of the committee’s observations and recommendations that any officer under investigation of such should step aside to enable an unhindered investigation. Therefore you are hereby directed to step aside to enable the committee to carry out its investigation without any interference.

“His excellency requires fair and transparent process to be carried out essentially for the well-being and prosperity of our community and the state as a whole. You are by this letter directed to handover appropriately to the most senior chief within the chiefdom immediately, pending the outcome of the investigation.”

Worried that such is the usual rhetoric used by governments to cleverly edge out its victims, Bashar Chiefdom Development Association (BACODA) convened a press conference in Jos where they cried that the suspension was done in bad fate and was unjustifiable.

BACODA also faulted government’s claim that the selection of Isa as Rekna did not follow due process providing documents to back its position.

Led by its chairman, Zakari Dallatu, BACODA urged the government to take a second look at its decision, insisting that the selection process was transparent and had not been challenged since it was done in 2022.

At a press conference in Jos, Abubakar who was the spokesman, alleged that “In September 2022, the Rekna of Bashar stool became vacant. Following tradition, a new Rekna should have been chosen from the ruling family through a proper selection process involving the kingmakers.

“Due to the interference, of the former LG chairman of Wase, Alhaji Ado Abubakar Buba, the selection process was postponed from December 2 to December 13, 2022. Four out of the five kingmakers were abducted on December 16, 2022, by the former chairman and his associates, presumably to influence the selection outcome.

“Despite the abduction, a selection process was held on December 23, 2022. This selection violated our right to a fair hearing because the kingmakers were not present. Additionally, the former chairman unlawfully participated in the process, exerting undue political influence.

“A formal complaint outlining these irregularities was submitted to the former governor, Barr. Simon Lalong. However, due to his alleged political affiliation with the former chairman and the preferred candidate, the complaint was ignored.

“We call on Governor Caleb Mutfwang, commissioner, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the review committee to, as a matter of urgency, investigate these complaints arising from the irregularities that occurred during the selection process for equity, justice and fairness to the people of Bashar Chiefdom, Wase LGA and Plateau State in general.’’

It was gathered that after the suspension of the traditional ruler, a committee was set up by the state government to review the selection process and all the concerned ruling houses including Argadon, Albature, Argyem, Bagara, Bagidgid, and Babitan, and that they’ve all submitted their individual memorandum to the committee for investigation.

The process of appointment is captured in the Plateau State of Nigeria Gazette-Legal Notice 11 of 1991, which gave the power to the executive governor to first constitute a committee for the selection of Rekna of Bashar through the Ministry of the BACODA presented documents copiously capturing how this process was followed.  A letter addressed to the then governor Simon Bako Lalong and dated December 28, 2022, written by S.D. Tapgun, the then Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, named the committee members as Mr Richard Tokma (Presiding Officer), Alh. Sani Mudi (member), Barr Nanfa Delleng (member), Mr Dafung Johnson (observer), and Mr Philip Nanyak (Secretary).

On December 30, 2022, the commissioner wrote another letter to the former governor informing him of the recommendation of the Alhaji Abdullahi Idris Isah as Rekna by the State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, chaired by the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba, after the conduct of the selection process, for his approval.

Soon after the recommendation by the Council of Chiefs and Emirs, Lalong appointed Alhaji Abdullahi as Rekna of Bashar, and was given a letter of appointment on January 5, 2023.

He was formally installed and presented with second-class staff of office on February 23, 2023.

Before former Governor Lalong approved the selection of the traditional ruler, the presiding officer for the selection, Mr. Richard Tokma reportedly submitted a 25-page report on December 23, 2023, through the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, on how the selection was carried out.

In the report, the presiding officer detailed the selection process, which began with the committee’s inauguration on November 22, 2022. The process, according to the presiding officer, followed methodologies outlined in the gazette—Plateau State Legal Notice No.11 of 1991—including briefing traditional selectors and ruling houses, nomination of candidates and voting patterns.

He stated that the selection took place at the palace of Rekna of Bashar, with five kingmakers present—Alh. Ali Nuhu Madaki (Madakin Bashar), Abdullahi I Yusuf (Sarkin Yanma), Abdullahi Yakubu (Ma’azu), Adamu Ibrahim (Kuyanbana), and Malam Yahaya Aliyu—and each selector received a nomination card to secretly choose a candidate from the contestants. The selectors subsequently nominated two individuals: Alhaji Haruna and Abdullahi Idris Isah for the contest.

According to the presiding officer’s report, the suspended Rekna, received four votes, while Alh. Haruna secured one. The votes were recorded on an attestation sheet signed by all the participated kingmakers, security agencies, representatives of the Wase LG traditional council, the Wase LG council chairman’s representatives and the presiding officer.

The kingmakers also submitted a memorandum on September 29, 2024, to the committee investigating the selection.

In the memorandum, signed by all the kingmakers, they explained to the committee that the selection process followed due process.

The kingmakers said, “We submit unequivocally that the selection exercise was in full compliance and observation of the guidelines and customary procedures in line with the applicable law of the Gazette No. PLSLN No. 11 of 1991, which clearly defines the selection procedures for the Rekna of Bashir’s throne, and kingmakers of the Rekna of Bashar.

“We respectfully submit that the selection and appointment of the current Rekna was done in both procedural and administrative compliance in the spirit of justice and fair play. Consequently, we submit that the process was conducted in line with the gazette and due process was followed.”

THISDAY made several efforts to get government’s officials including those from the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to clear the air on reasons the government insisted on the suspension despite evidence showing that the process was transparent, but they all refused to respond perhaps because they have no defense.

Pundits have advised that, in the spirit of peace, which the current administration is known to assiduously pursue, the Rekna should be reinstated without undue political interference to avoid needless trouble.