Newspointer August 19, 2024
By Our Reporter
The Kingmakers as well as traditional council members of Ichen Chiefdom of Kurmi Local Government Area in Taraba have rejected the appointment of Justice Emmanuel Dodo (Rtd) as their traditional ruler and asked him to respect court order.
Chief Titus Nwunuji Tukura, one of the kingmakers and council member of the Ichen Chiefdom made the declaration on Monday at a Media briefing in Jalingo.
Tukura described the appointment of Dodo as illegal, adding that his actions and decisions as the traditional ruler of the Ichen people in the area was equally null and void.
Further speaking on behalf of the Ichen community of Kurmi, Tukura called on the government to give the kingmakers the opportunity to select their monarch inline with the customs and tradition of the people.
He recalled that the tussle began after the death of the late Tii’echa of Ichen of Kurmi Local Government, HRH Mr. Samuila Maiwuya passed onto glory where he joined his ancestors on the 2nd day of July, 2020.
“Few days later, after the burial ceremony, members of the Ichen Traditional council, the Kingmakers and prominent Ichen elders and Stakeholders converged in the office of the then Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Architect Darius Dickson Ishaku to thank him for his assistance during the burial ceremony of his Royal Highness and to request for permission to commence the traditional process of electing a new chief by the Kingmakers.
“At the meeting, the spoke person of the Ichen people Hon. Justice Paul Adamu Galumje assured the Governor of a free and transparent process that would lead to the emergence of the new chief.
“After this meeting, the Ichen community of Kurmi Local Government Area waited for His Excellency’s consent to commence the process.
“However, after a long wait, the Permanent Secretary Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs informed the Traditional Council that the election of the new chief would be conducted on the 17th December, 2020 and that the Attorney General will be present at Baissa to monitor the exercise.
“The Attorney General was in Baissa for the exercise and all the Kingmakers and those persons connected with the election were present at the eve of the election.
” In the morning of the election day, news went round that the Governor had directed that the election be postponed due to security reason to a date to be communicated to the parties.
“The Kingmakers had no alternative than to go home and wait for a new date. While they were waiting, information got to them that those aspiring to contest for the throne of the Tii Ichen in Kurmi were invited to come to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for interview.
“The Kingmakers and some of the Aspirants who frowned at this procedure because it was contrary to the traditional process of selection of Ichen chiefs and also in violation of the law requiring the Kingmakers to elect and forward the name of the person elected for appointment.
“The action of imposition of justice Dodo on the people heightened tension but the stakeholders had to approach the court to seek redress and to douse the tension occasioned by the action by the state government.
“After all legal tussles, we were able to secure an order restraining the state government from appointing a Tii of Ichen.
“When we tried to find out why the judgement we obtained has not been enforced by the government despite our correspondences with the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in which we forwarded a copy of the judgement and a name of a person to be appointed to carry out such duties incidental to the chieftaincy pending the election and appointment of the substantive Tii in line with the requisite procedure permitted by law, we were unequivocally told there is interest in the case of Ichen Chiefdom of Kurmi Local Government, an interest that was neither within our chiefdom or Kurmi Local Government but from those who have the notion that the destiny of the Ichen Chiefdom of Kurmi Local Government lies in theirs hands.
” The question that is begging for answer is, can an interest of individual or group override the decision of a legally constituted court?
“while we leave the question for the objective minds to pounder on, we want to restate that the Ichen people in Kurmi Local Government Area are law abiding and peaceful people.
“However, where unconstitutional means are put in place to suffocate them in the name of interest of the few, they will resist such interest with all the means at their disposal.
“We are therefore aware that His Excellency Dr. Agbu Kefas the amiable governor of Taraba State with his military background as well as a religious leader is a disciplined and purposeful governor who will ensure that the right thing is done.
“We strongly believe that what is happening has not been brought to his attention.
” The issue at Stake has nothing to do with political or religious affiliation rather, it is about enforcement of the traditional and fundamental right of the people in accordance with relevant statutes.
“Finally, the Ichen Traditional council and the Kingmakers as well as the Ichen people are still waiting for the permission to commence the process for the selection of Tii Ichen.
“We have nothing against Hon. Justice Emmanuel Dodo Audu who is also an Aspirant to the throne of Tii Ichen Kurmi but insist on adherence to the rule of law.
“Hence, we totally reject his appointment and the subsequent appointments of the village and Districts Heads by him because, he was appointed through illegal process.
“We therefore urge the relevant government machineries to call His Lordship Justice Emmanuel Dodo Audu (Rtd) to order by asking him to stop creating situations that will give rise to crisis amongst the Ichen people of Kurmi Local Government Area of the State,” he said.
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