After 33 years, Amb. Yahaya Kwande emerges Longkwo

After a 33-year pursuit, Ambassador Miskoom Yahaya Kwande has emerged as the Longkwo of Kwo Chiefdom in Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State. According to a statement from the Chairman of the Media and Protocol Committee, Philip Eplong, Kwande will be officially sworn in this Friday at Kwande town, Qua’an-Pan LGA. A former Nigerian […]

After a 33-year pursuit, Ambassador Miskoom Yahaya Kwande has emerged as the Longkwo of Kwo Chiefdom in Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.

According to a statement from the Chairman of the Media and Protocol Committee, Philip Eplong, Kwande will be officially sworn in this Friday at Kwande town, Qua’an-Pan LGA.

A former Nigerian ambassador to Switzerland, Kwande secured three out of five votes from the kingmakers, while his only rival, Herbert Isa, received two votes in a selection process conducted by the Plateau State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on March 12, 2025.

The process was described as free and fair.

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However, much like his decades-long struggle for the throne, official silence has followed the selection process, leaving uncertainty over its final ratification.

The selection process was initiated following the death of the immediate past Longkwo, His Royal Highness Miskoom Fidelis Longtoe Attahiru I, in March 2024.

Attahiru I, a retired colonel in the Nigerian Army, ascended the throne in March 2021, ending a 33-year vacancy following the death of his predecessor.

For Kwande, the struggle to ascend the throne began in 1988 after the passing of Longkwo Miskoom Hoomkwap Sule II.

Selected as Longkwo in 1989, he was set to be installed on March 3, 1990, but a court injunction halted the process following a lawsuit from some ruling family members.

The court later nullified his selection, citing procedural flaws.

 

In 2013, Kwande was once again selected and enthroned as Longkwo, only to be dethroned after eight months following another legal challenge by Alexander Jibrin and 13 other princes, who argued he was ineligible.

However, a Court of Appeal ruling, presided over by Justice Peter Igbeh, later affirmed his eligibility, citing both oral and documentary evidence proving his lineage to one of the four ruling houses of Kwo Chiefdom.

“Oral and documentary evidence revealed that Yahaya Kwande is a descendant of one of the four ruling houses eligible to produce candidates,” Justice Igbeh ruled.

The ruling also highlighted that his father once held the prestigious title of Galadima, the second-highest-ranking position in the ruling house. As a former Ciroma (Crown Prince), Kwande was deemed fully qualified to contest for the throne.

Despite these legal victories, his 1989 selection was deemed faulty due to a lack of written documentation from the five kingmakers, all of whom had passed away by 2013.

The stool remained vacant until Governor Simon Bako Lalong appointed Miskoom Attahiru I in 2021, with reports suggesting that Kwande was the preferred candidate but was sidelined due to political and other extraneous factors.

Born on April 7, 1929, the 95-year-old Kwande has served as a teacher, civil servant, administrator, and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Switzerland (1981-1984).

 

It’s historic moment – Committee

The chairman media and protocol committee, who described the traditional installation of the Longkwo as a significant event that showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Kwo people, said the ancient ceremony has been a cornerstone of Kwo tradition for centuries, symbolising the continuity of leadership and the community’s resilience.

He said the event promises to be a spectacular display of Kwo culture, featuring traditional music, dance, and attire, and that guests will be treated to a rare glimpse into the customs and traditions of the Kwo people, including the symbolic coronation ceremony.

The committee also noted that the ceremony will feature a grand procession from Jos to Kwande town, marking the Longkwo’s triumphant return to his ancestral home; a traditional coronation ceremony, featuring the presentation of sacred symbols and regalia; cultural exhibition showcasing the art, craft, and traditions of the Kwo people and festive celebration with traditional music, dance and cuisine.