Bauchi government, Assembly urged to consider creating more emirates, chiefdoms for fairness, justice

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By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi

Bauchi State Government and the State House of Assembly have been urged to consider other agitations for self-rule by creating additional emirates, chiefdoms, districts and village areas.

The call was made by a one-time gubernatorial candidate in the state under the African Liberation Party (ALP), Alhaji Umar Musa Gwaskwaram, while interacting with journalists in Bauchi on Wednesday.

Gwaskwaram appealed to State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed to liaise with the State House of Assembly in order to serve the collective interest of the people as well as to promote justice and fairness and bring more development in the State.

He said that the efforts of the Governor in creating additional Emirates, Chiefdoms and Districts has strengthened traditional institutions in the State, saying, “but some areas were shortchanged and the Governor and the legislators need to be more strong and create the new emirates in Katagum and more districts in Bauchi Emirate in the interest of justice and fairness.”

He said the proposed new Emirates are Zaki and Sakwa, Itas and Gadau, and Shira and Disina, from the present Katagum Emirate.

He stated that some of the oldest kingdoms in Bauchi State, such as Tashena, Shira and Mashema, emerged between 1,000 and 1,400 AD, are from this area.

In Bauchi Emirate, he suggested Munmunsal and Gwaskwaram areas which he said were neglected since colonial era, stressing that, “They have been left without self governance, they don’t have anything to boast of, they were marginalized. Districts, ward and village heads need to be created in the area as a strategic step towards grassroots development.”

Gwaskwaram however lauded the Governor’s recent creation of 14 Emirates and 144 additional districts across the State, stressing that the initiative would enhance the delivery of democratic dividends to the people.

He observed that, “Out of the 14 additional Emirates created, 8 are from Bauchi Emirate, they are Bununu, Lere, Darazo, Duguri, Toro, Lame, Jema’a and Sayawa Chiefdom, Three were created out of Ningi Emirate they are, Burra, Ari and Warji, one from Misau which is Dambam while only two were created out of Katagum.Emirate that has Seven Local Government Areas , it will be good if the government will look in to it in the interest justice and fairness.”

The politician who was a one time Special adviser to former Governor Isa Yuguda, appealed to Governor Mohammed to go further by creating additional Emirate Councils across the state to accelerate socio-economic growth and improve accessibility to traditional leadership.

He expressed optimism, that the Governor and the State Assembly would answer the call to fulfill the wishes of the people and to be fair to them stressing that there is the need for the Governor and the State Assembly to look into the merit of creation of additional districts even if some self centred stakeholders opposed it to achieve their selfishness

He reminded the Governor that in issues of governance, he should not entertain any interference of few individuals but rather do what will bring sustainable development to the people who elected him.

He also said that everybody knows that the Katagum Emirate is vast and difficult for the Emir of Katagum to regularly tour all Districts, making it necessary to establish the suggested three new Emirates that would “bridge the gap and enable traditional institutions to function more effectively at the grassroots and in order to be fair and just to the people of the State.

He said even the Sokoto Caliphate was balkanised in the interest of development so also states and local governments were created to replace regional government in the interest of development.

He then outlined the potential benefits of the move to include the promotion of socio-economic development, wider distribution of democratic dividends, fair sharing of political positions on a character-balanced formula, and healthy competition in implementing government policies and programmes.