A Passionate appeal to Gov. Umaru Bago to Wade into Muye/Lapai Royal tussle.
By Yahaya Zakka Minna.
An appeal has been made to the Farmer Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago by the concerned Muye Sons and Daughters (CMSD) to as a matter of urgency Wade into the lingering royal tussle between the Amana Kakanda Muye and the Lapai Emirate Council in Niger State.
Addressing Journalists during a news briefings in Minna at the weekend the spokesperson of the Muye Chiefdom Comrade Abdulkareem Mustapha disclosed that the peaceful co-existence been enjoyed over the years in Muye and its environs has been eroded as a result of the ongoing crisis in the community.
The group equally backed up the news briefings with a petition against the current Commissioner of Police in Niger State Cp. Ebenezer Shawulu Danmaman and the Commissioner of Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Niger State , Hamidu Jantabo the Emir of Lapai Engr Umar Bago Tafida and the Executive Chairman Lapai local government, Mohammed Musa Kirikpo.
Mustapha highlighted key figures mentioned in the petition, including State Commissioner of Police, CP Ebenezer Shawulu, and Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy, Jantabo Mu’azu, whom they accuse of escalating the situation leading to the arrest of Amana of Kakanda/Village head Alhaji Abdulkadir Maigari.
The petitioners alleged that the crisis stemmed from the Village head’s decision to mark his five-year tenure and use a trumpet during festivals that generates tension between the Amana Kakanda / Village head and the Lapai Emirates council.
Mustapha further stated that it resulted in police intervention where he was asked to come to the Police Headquarters in Minna to write an undertaking, and subsequently detained despite his compliance with the directives.
The Petitioner, therefore, called upon the governor to as a matter of urgency intervene to resolve the dispute amicably.
According to Him, the ongoing legal battle between Amana Kakanda/ Village head and Lapai Emirates was initiated during Mu’azu Jantabo’s tenure as the Chairman Lapai local government council.
Mustapha pleaded with the Bago-led administration to assist in dausing tensions, particularly now that the Village head is been remanded in the Prison,describing his condition as pathetic.
All efforts to reach the Niger state Commissioner of Police through the Commands PPRO, Wasiu Abiodun as he refused to pick neither returned calls put to him.
In 2021, the Lapai Emirates issued a sacking letter to the Village head of Muye, Abdulkadir Maigari, stating that the village head had breached Lapai Emirates’ traditional despite several warnings.
The Secretary of the emirate, Ibrahim Sheikh, said the emirate had written to the Niger State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on May 28, 2021, seeking the approval of the then Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, to remove Maigari as the village Head of Muye.
The village Head, alongside some traditional title holders from Muye, then filed a suit at the High court through his Counsel, N. A Tanko and A. N Musu, challenging his removal while praying for the court to declare his dismissal illegal.
After losing in the High Court,He appealed the judgment to seek justice in Appeal Court in Abuja.
In the appeal, the court directed the 2nd defendant to pay to the 1st plaintiff all his arrears of salaries as the village Head of Muye on grade level 07/06 from 15th April 2020 when he was appointed till 20th May 2021 when he was dismissed.
The complainants sought eight reliefs from the court to reinstates the embattled village head and effect payment of his withheld salary arrears.
They also prayed for the court to declare that the traditional ruler is the Amana of Kakanda/village head of Muye and therefore, cannot be punished or sanctioned for acts not provided in the law while claiming that he was not given fare hearing before his dismissal.
In other to ascertained the role the State Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy Affairs Alhaji Mua’azu Hamidu Jantabo played in the removal of Amana Kakanda,in an interview with Journalists in Minna,explained that all the necessary procedures where followed in the removal of the village head of Muye.
He stressed that the dethroned Amana Kakanda had challenged his removal in High court Minna in Niger State,the court delivered Judgement against him in all the prayers he requested from the High court with only one that was not granted by the court.
The court in the Judgement ordered the Lapai Local Government to pay Amana Kakanda his salary arrears for five years in which Lapai local government council had complied and issued him a Cheque in accordance with the court judgment.
For him to write a Petition claiming Security Threat is out of place. For me due process was followed of his removal as the village head of Muye was followed and he remain removed” he told Journalists.
