Bashar traditional title: Rekna’s suspension by Plateau government raises questions

The recent suspension of the Rekna of Bashar, His Royal Highness, Alh. Abdullahi Idris Isah, the highest traditional title holder in Bashar District of Plateau State, by the state government has generated uproar in various quarters in the state, especially from the Bashar community, soon after the announcement on October 2. Daily Trust reports that […]

The recent suspension of the Rekna of Bashar, His Royal Highness, Alh. Abdullahi Idris Isah, the highest traditional title holder in Bashar District of Plateau State, by the state government has generated uproar in various quarters in the state, especially from the Bashar community, soon after the announcement on October 2.

Daily Trust reports that tension is running high among members of the community following the suspension with many questioning the rationale behind the government’s action.

In a letter dated October 2, 2024, the Permanent Secretary of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Yakubu Ishaya Mallo, directed the traditional ruler to step aside pending the outcome of an investigation into complaints arising from the selection of Rekna of Bashar.

The letter reads: “I am directed to convey government’s approval of the committee’s observations and recommendations that any officer under investigation of such should step aside to enable an unhindered investigation. Therefore you are hereby directed to step aside to enable the committee to carry out its investigation without any interference.

• Tinubu vows to protect women against violence, discrimination
• NDLEA arrests cocaine trafficker in Katsina, intercepts exhibit

“His excellency requires fair and transparent process to be carried out essentially for the well-being and prosperity of our community and the state as a whole. You are by this letter directed to handover appropriately to the most senior chief within the chiefdom immediately, pending the outcome of the investigation,“ the letter added.

Worried by the development, the Bashar Chiefdom Development Association (BACODA) at a press conference in Jos on Friday, said the suspension of their traditional ruler was unjustified.

They also faulted the government’s claim that the selection of Alhaji Abdullahi Idris Isa as Rekna did not follow due process.

Led by its chairman, Zakari Dallatu, the group urged the government to reconsider its decision, adding that the selection process was transparent and had not been challenged since it was done in 2022.

Prior to BACODA’s protest against the suspension of the Rekna, some residents of the community, led by Shehu Abubakar, had written to the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang, claiming that the process that led to the selection of Alhaji Abdullahi was flawed.

At a press conference in Jos, Abubakar who was the spokesman, alleged that “In September 2022, the Rekna of Bashar stool became vacant. Following tradition, a new Rekna should have been chosen from the ruling family through a proper selection process involving the kingmakers.

“Due to the interference, of the former LG chairman of Wase, Alhaji Ado Abubakar Buba, the selection process was postponed from December 2 to December 13, 2022. Four out of the five kingmakers were abducted on December 16, 2022, by the former chairman and his associates, presumably to influence the selection outcome.

“Despite the abduction, a selection process was held on December 23, 2022. This selection violated our right to a fair hearing because the kingmakers were not present. Additionally, the former chairman unlawfully participated in the process, exerting undue political influence.

“A formal complaint outlining these irregularities was submitted to the former governor, Barr. Simon Bako Lalong. However, due to his alleged political affiliation with the former chairman and the preferred candidate, the complaint was ignored.

“We call on Governor Caleb Mutfwang, commissioner, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the review committee to, as a matter of urgency, investigate these complaints arising from the irregularities that occurred during the selection process for equity, justice and fairness to the people of Bashar Chiefdom, Wase LGA and Plateau State in general.’’

Daily Trust correspondent learnt that after the suspension of the traditional ruler, a committee was set up by the state government to review the selection process and all the concerned ruling houses – including Argadon, Albature, Argyem, Bagara, Bagidgid, and Babitan —have submitted their individual memorandum to the committee for investigation.

It was gathered that the process of appointment was captured in the Plateau State of Nigeria Gazette-Legal Notice 11 of 1991.

The gazette gave the power to the executive governor to first constitute a committee for the selection of Rekna of Bashar through the Ministry of the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

A letter obtained by Daily Trust, addressed to the then governor Simon Bako Lalong and dated December 28, 2022, written by S.D. Tapgun, the then Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, named the committee members as Mr Richard Tokma (Presiding Officer), Alh. Sani Mudi (member), Barr Nanfa Delleng (member), Mr Dafung Johnson (observer), and Mr Philip Nanyak (Secretary).

On December 30, 2022, the commissioner wrote another letter to the former governor informing him of the recommendation of the Alhaji Abdullahi Idris Isah as Rekna by the State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, chaired by the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba, after the conduct of the selection process, for his approval.

Soon after the recommendation by the Council of Chiefs and Emirs, Lalong appointed Alhaji Abdullahi as Rekna of Bashar, and was given a letter of appointment on January 5, 2023.

He was formally installed and presented with second-class staff of office on February 23, 2023.

Before Lalong approved the selection of the traditional ruler, the presiding officer for the selection, Mr Richard Tokma, earlier submitted a 25-page report on December 23, 2023, through the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, on how the selection was carried out.

In the report, a copy of which was obtained by Daily Trust, the presiding officer, detailed the selection process, which began with the committee’s inauguration on November 22, 2022. The process, according to the presiding officer, followed methodologies outlined in the gazette—Plateau State Legal Notice No.11 of 1991—including briefing traditional selectors and ruling houses, nomination of candidates and voting patterns.

He stated that the selection took place at the palace of Rekna of Bashar, with five kingmakers present—Alh. Ali Nuhu Madaki (Madakin Bashar), Abdullahi I Yusuf (Sarkin Yanma), Abdullahi Yakubu (Ma’azu), Adamu Ibrahim (Kuyanbana), and Malam Yahaya Aliyu—and each selector received a nomination card to secretly choose a candidate from the contestants. The selectors subsequently nominated two individuals: Alhaji Haruna and Abdullahi Idris Isah for the contest.

According to the presiding officer’s report, Abdullahi Idris Isah, the suspended Rekna, received four votes, while Alh. Haruna secured one. The votes were recorded on an attestation sheet signed by all the participated kingmakers, security agencies, representatives of the Wase LG traditional council, the Wase LG council chairman’s representatives and the presiding officer.

The kingmakers also submitted a memorandum on September 29, 2024, to the committee investigating the selection.

In the memorandum, signed by all the kingmakers and obtained by our correspondent, they explained to the committee that the selection process followed due process.

“We submit unequivocally that the selection exercise was in full compliance and observation of the guidelines and customary procedures in line with the applicable law of the Gazette No. PLSLN No. 11 of 1991, which clearly defines the selection procedures for the Rekna of Bashir’s  throne, and kingmakers of the Rekna of Bashar.

“We respectfully submit that the selection and appointment of the current Rekna was done in both procedural and administrative compliance in the spirit of justice and fair play. Consequently, we submit that the process was conducted in line with the gazette and due process was followed,“ the kingmakers added in their submitted memorandum.

Ministry mum

Our correspondent could not reach Ephraim Usman, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, for the government’s reason behind the suspension as his phone line was not going through and he also did not respond to a WhatsApp message sent to him.

However, a ministry source, who wished to remain anonymous, said the ministry won’t comment on the matter since a committee had been established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the traditional ruler’s appointment.