Mr. Martin Amidu, Interior Minister
A group calling itself the Buipe Development Youth Association (BDYA) in the Northern Region, has taken the Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Bore Essa Sulemana Jakpa I to the cleaners, describing him as ‘selfish and an egoist.’
According to the group, since the Yagbonwura Tuntumba ascended to the throne of the Gonjaland six months ago, the community has been engulfed in several ethnic clashes.
It would be recalled that on 13th May, 2010 the Yagbonwura Tuntumba and the Gonja Traditional Council dethroned the Buipewura Jinapor II for allegedly pulling a gun during a council meeting in Damongo.
Following his dethronement, the embattled Buipewura Jinapor II on May 26 filed an interim court injunction at the Tamale High Court to set aside the ruling of the national council.
It also sought to restrain the Yagbonwura Tuntumba II from nominating or enskinning a new Buipewura.
That notwithstanding, the Gonja Traditional Council reportedly defied the court injunction at the time and went ahead to enskin one Bawa Jewu Awushi Lebu II as new Buipewura.
The matter however attracted critical comments from some kingmakers and opinion leaders in the area, which compelled the central Gonja District Security Council (DISEC) to place a ban on all chieftaincy activities in the locality.
But reports say the ban has been scrapped off by DISEC, an indication that the Yagbonwura could go ahead with the enskinment of the new Buipewura, a directive which has also angered the group.
In a press statement issued in Buipe last Saturday, August 14, 2010 the irate youth riposted that the action of DISEC was a recipe for chaos and a grand plot for the former to go ahead with the enstoolment of his confidant.
“This is a calculated attempt by certain individuals to put their cronies and friends in positions of influence,” the statement said, stressing that the disposition of the Yagbonwura has the tendency to fuel the already stoking flame in the area.
Against that background, the group reiterated that the action and inactions of the Yagbonwura and some elders of the community could lead to ‘a total breakdown of peace and order in the area’ which will be an affront to the concept of rule of law.
“This is not only bringing embarrassment to the Yagbonwura as a person but also the entire Gonjaland,” the statement added.
The statement affirmed that the purported enskinment of Bawa Jewu Awoshie Lebu II as Buipewura by the Yagbonwura was unlawful and contemptuous to the principles of the Gonjaland which requires serious attention.
“The youth of the area from henceforth would no longer entertain nor countenance agents who come to the environs of Buipe to cause problems in the name of the Yagbonwura,” the group warned in the statement.
STORY FROM: HAMZA LANSAH LOLLY, TAMALE