By: Joy Odor/Kaduna
The Gbagyi Youth Progressive Union in demonstration has condemned and rejected the appointment of Abdullahi Shittu by Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as Gwagwada District Head of Gbagyi Chiefdom, calling the selection as unjust, unfair and without due process.
The concerned youth, who demonstrated in Gonin Gora and Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government in Southern Kaduna against Alhaji Shittu through the Chairman and Secretary of the Union Ibrahim Wadason and Abashe David lamented that the process which led to the emergence of Abdullahi Shittu was a development which negated the principle of fairness and tradition of the Land.
The youths who also stormed the residence of the State Commissioner of Sports, Mr. Daniel Dan’Auta, a Member representing Chikun Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Mr. Markus Zarmai Yari was of the opinion that the issue of Royalty must be handled with utmost care, pointing out that they are not on the same page with the Governor and those involved in the selection process of Abdullahi Shittu.
According to them, they are pleased with the three other names submitted for screening by the Traditional Council which did not include Abudllahi Shittu and enjoined other Traditional Institutions in Gbagyi land and government officials to wade in and rescue Gwagwada District from imminent chieftain clash.
The concerned youths stressed that Gwagwada is an ancient community with historical relevance to the Gwagyi land, and not a mere settlement, saying they did not know Shittu nether did he come from Gwagyi land and asked why Government should distort history and bring someone from outside the Chiefdom to come and rule them.
“The issue of royalty must be handled with the utmost care. We are not on the same page with the governor and those involved in the selection process of Abdullahi Shittu but we are pleased with the three Names submitted for screening by our Traditional council.
“Our Traditional council does not submit the Name of Abdullahi Shittu, we do not know him, and he is not from Gwagyi land. He is just a settler, why should the Government distort history and bring someone from outside our chiefdom to come and rule us; we will resist it for the sake of History.
“We are concerned about the growth and development of our community, and obviously, we want somebody that will continue where our forefathers stopped, but not a person whose emergence to the throne is against customs and traditions of our land.
“Anything contrary to due process is a taboo and we don’t want it.
”We already know everyone who is eligible for the position and the one approved by the government is not one of them. So, where does the family of the imposed one by the government fit in for them to have produced a District Head in Gbagyi land.
The youths therefore urged the people of the community to remain calm and resolute in their bid to ensure that the rightful Son of the Soil emerges as the District Head of Gwagwada.
It would be recalled that Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai April last year unseat three thousand District and Village Heads in the state.
And recently, the Kaduna State Government announced the appointment of Heads of the 77 restructured districts in the state with Abdullahi Shittu as the District Head of Gwagwada.
According to the statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Kaduna Governor, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, the appointments followed the conclusion of checks and assessments of the 230 nominees forwarded by the 32 emirates and chiefdom’s in the state.
