Bauchi govt announces plan to establish Sayawa chiefdom

The Bauchi state government has announced its decision to establish the Sayawa chiefdom with its headquarters in Tafawa Balewa town, former headquarters of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area within the next six months.

The government during a stakeholders meeting held on Monday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House clarified that communities not under the Sayawa extraction are free to decide whether to remain in the proposed chiefdom or not.

It stated that such decisions will be determined through a referendum to be conducted by the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) within the stipulated period.

State Governor, Bala Mohammed disclosed this at the stakeholders’ meeting which he said was aimed at informing them about the government’s decision on the report submitted by the fact-finding committee on the establishment of the chiefdom.

Addressing Journalists after the meeting, Bala Mohammed said that the paramount ruler of the chiefdom, to be known as the “Gunn Zaar” will be appointed based on specific qualifications and health conditions as outlined in the report.

He urged leaders from the affected communities to inform their people about the Government’s decision and the processes involved.

The Governor, therefore, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to engaging all relevant stakeholders to ensure a peaceful and inclusive resolution.

He said that the decision was taken after carefully studying the reports of the committees set up to come up with detailed modalities of how the chiefdom could be made.

This, he said was part of the efforts of his administration to find lasting solutions to the lingering problems around the creation of Sayawa chiefdom which has defiled efforts by successive administrations for over three decades.

Bala Mohammed expressed sadness over the loss of innocent lives as a result of a series of ethno-religious violence that erupted in the Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro axis in the struggle for the realisation of the Sayawa chiefdom.

According to him, “Upon the receipt of the committee’s reports, a white paper drafting committee was appointed to produce the government’s position on its various findings and recommendations.

“Another committee was appointed to go to three states, namely Plateau, Kaduna and Nasarawa to study how their Chiefdoms were created. Their structures, and mode of succession among others.

“The decision of the government is as follows; a chiefdom to be referred to as Sayawa chiefdom shall be created out of the present Bauchi Emirate. The Sayawa chiefdom shall be headed by a Chief to be designated as Gunn Zaar.

“In the event of the stool of the Sayawa chiefdom becoming vacant, the appointment of the successive traditional ruler shall be made from the two historical clans, namely, San Gami and San Gishi.”

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