Attat: A community where the traditional ruler leads from exile

This is as a result of the crisis that rocked the coronation of an unpopular candidate, Casimire Zamani Ango, as the district head of Attat. Sunday Trust gathered that the crisis began over who should be appointed the ruler of the newly created district. The people selected one Francis Midat, an uncle to Ango, after […]

This is as a result of the crisis that rocked the coronation of an unpopular candidate, Casimire Zamani Ango, as the district head of Attat.
Sunday Trust gathered that the crisis began over who should be appointed the ruler of the newly created district. The people selected one Francis Midat, an uncle to Ango, after he was considered to be better qualified and well suited for the position. But rather than making him the district head, Ango was taken in his place. This reportedly led to outbreak of violence that ended with the destruction of property.
Ango was Attat’s village head for about 13 years, before it got its district status. It was learnt that his initial disqualification as a candidate for the position was because of the conflicts that characterized the community during his reign as a village head. But in spite of his unpopularity among his people, Ango was said to be very popular among the kingmakers, who still regard him as the district head of Attat and support him ruling from exile.
Things took a different turn in 2010 when the Attat community alleged that bags of fertilizers meant for the farmers were diverted by Ango in connivance with the then councillor, Marshall Jacob, for personal gains. The community dragged the two to court and the case lingered until April 30, 2013, when the Kafanchan Magistrate’s Court found Ango and Jacob guilty of the allegations. They were convicted of conspiracy and misappropriation and sentenced to three months imprisonment or an option of fine of N30,000 each.
 “We have ever since disowned Casimire Zamani Ango as our leader even before the Magistrate’s Court convicted him… Ango was imposed on us against our wish. Out of the list of people brought for selection as the district head, he was the least qualified candidate.
“He is a primary school certificate holder and we wanted someone who has attained secondary school. Before his controversial appointment as the district head, he was the village head and we never wanted him because he has never shown exemplary leadership. He has done so many things against the people and he is never apologetic or remorseful. He drags his people to the police and court any time he wants to and he has never convened any reasonable meeting to unite the people and discuss how the land can progress,” Jerry Adams, a native of Attat said.
On Ango’s whereabouts, Adams said: “Right now he is in exile because the people chased him out. For six to seven years now he has not been to the community. But unfortunately, he has someone very powerful behind him and the government still recognizes him as our district head and pays him all the benefits attached to the office, including anything that is meant for the development of our community.
“That is why we have not seen progress or semblance of it in our land. The situation as it is right now is that our district head rules us from exile. I have never seen where a king or a leader will be ruling his people from exile and collecting everything that belongs to that community from his hideout or wherever he is staying.”
Another resident of the community, James Biging, 70, said the people had never had it so bad in the history of the community as they have experienced in the past few years.
“Attat, which is the name of the village, was the name of the first ruler who the people so much loved. After his tenure, he handed over to his son called Pama. Pama ruled the people for years and handed over to Adams Kazah. Kazah handed over to Musa, Musa to Sulei, Sulei to Dede Achi, until it got to Bitrus Swan Musa, who was under David Kantiok of Madakia. After we were upgraded to have a substantive village head, we came together and elected Casimire Zamani Ango because Bitrus Musa was a little too old to represent the people as expected and Ango was more qualified then. But when we finally got a district, the people came together to elect Francis Midat, who we felt was more qualified. But rather than peacefully agreeing with the people’s choice Ango refused and began all the troubles we are having today.”
“But he has forgotten that a similar thing happened in his favour when he was elected instead of Bitrus Musa because he was more qualified. Now that his qualification and knowledge are not sufficient, why is he making trouble about it, instead of allowing the people’s choice to be enthroned?” he asked.
Attat’s women leader, Mrs. Esther A. Katung, said the community was ready to accommodate Ango as an ordinary member, not a traditional ruler.
“We have already forgiven him; we have to deliberately do that because never in the history of Southern Kaduna has any leader done such to his people. But forgiving him doesn’t make him our district head. He is free to come back to the community but not as our district head. Perhaps the community that accommodated him should make him their district head if they so like him. Our demand now is that we are calling on Kaduna State government to come into this issue and rescue us from this injustice. In fact, the government has threatened to arrest the women several times for peacefully protesting over the issue,” she said.
The chairman of the community, Patrick Tanko, called on the people to be calm, saying that with the conviction of Casimire Ango by the court, the government will now see reason and allow them to elect a forthright district head who will represent them very well. He called on a committee that was set up to look into the matter during the tenure of Mohammed Namadi Sambo as governor of the state to complete their work and resolve the matter without further delay.
All efforts to reach the embattled traditional ruler for his comment did not succeed. When our correspondent called a telephone number that was said to be Ango’s, he got the following reaction: “I don’t know you and it is a wrong number given to you.”