Twist and turns in search for new Hama Bachama

In  Voti Palace, the Hamma Bachama’s palaces in Lamurde, which is the ancestral town of Bachamas, the rayal courtiers and advisors could be seen keeping  mute as no one is allowed to talk to a stranger. So,also at the monarch’s palace in Numan where  few councilors will be met, all efforts to draw words out […]

In  Voti Palace, the Hamma Bachama’s palaces in Lamurde, which is the ancestral town of Bachamas, the rayal courtiers and advisors could be seen keeping  mute as no one is allowed to talk to a stranger. So,also at the monarch’s palace in Numan where  few councilors will be met, all efforts to draw words out of the courtiers proved abortive as they declined to uttering a word on who will be Asaph Zadok’s successor.

Probably to douse tension, the Bachama traditional council resolved to announce the appointment of Nhome Kpara Zakka Luku as  the acting paramount ruler of the Bachama kingdom,pending the final selection of a new chief,Hamma Bachama.That was the first time an acting paramount ruler has been appointment in northern Nigeria.

The raging battle for the Hamma Bachama stool is being nurtured by high stake political interests within and outside the Dougirei Government House, Yola. This has not only prolonged the battle but has also made it more complicated.

Though, governor Murtala Nyako who was recently accused  and berated by Bwate leaders of “ethnic jingoism’’ decided to tactically down play on the whole process.

While presenting the acting monarch to district heads, ward and village heads of the kingdom at the palace in Numan, secretary  to the traditional council,Chief, Alli George said the appointment was preparatory to the resolution of the council to sustain peace bequeathed by the late monarch,Asaph Zadok,before the final selection of a successor to the throne.

It was during the reign of Homun Asaph Zadok, spanning eight years that Bachama Kingdom was brought into limelight with many innovations. This included writing a Bachama encyclopedia which gave a remarkable insight into the past of Bachama people in the book titled.”  The Journey of Matiyavune. His other book’s, titled “The Pen of Fury.”

No wonder, therefore even before his demise, there was apprehension in the land with the Bachama-speaking community living in an atmosphere of despair and agony over rumour that their paramount ruler was dead and the crucial successor debacle.

The unending Battle

While governor Nyako kept silent and withdrew support,competition for the vacant stool of Hama Bachama heated up among the Royal Clans as the Bwatiye Community gathered to bury one of their leading figures, the late Comrade Pascal Bafyau of the Nigeria Labour Congress, in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State, the seat of the Stool. The position of Hama Bachama became vacant following the death of Hama Asaph Zadok, buried a fortnight ago.

Inside sources say kingmakers are taking their time to select a prince among the  six  clans vying for the exalted stool to enable them perform all rights due to the late Hama, who they acknowledge brought a reign of peace in the land, that broke down as soon as he took ill and was absent from the Kingdom.

The issue of which royal clan should produce Zadok’s successor  believe will be a straight fight between the six dominant royal clans in the Bachama chiefdom. The six royal clans to vie for the stool of the Hama Bachama are Kowo, Magbularon, Impang, Waduku, Nomupo, and Nokodomun.

A  palace  source also hinted that the Kingmakers, desiring to find a choice that could continue with the policies of the late monarch who revived all rights and traditions, were taking their time. The source indicating that there did not appear any hint that the Government or Governor Murtala Nyako has special interest in who emerges as the new leader.

“The Governor who returned to the State midweek, is reported to have officially given ascent to the request of the Bachama Kingmakers to proceed with the rites of selecting a new Hama Bachama, without fear, favour or pressure from any of the name droppers,’’ another reliable source in government circle told Sunday Trust on Friday.

A dependable source also revealed that top contenders include a senior retired civil servant and former secretary to the state government (SSG)Moses Ngballe,  ‘’however the Kingmakers appear tied but not committed to passing the Stool to the Nomupo Clan, which had not been favoured with the stool for over 125 years since Hama Kpafrato,’’ said source.

Sunday Trust also gathered that  the seemingly favoured candidate is a retired soldier and PDP stalwart Col. Irmiya Stephen . There are other considerations as the Kingmakers said to be favourably disposed to the Kowo Clan which offered Asaph Zadok are unable to get support for one of the visible contenders from the Kowo Clan.

Similarly, there is contention from associates of the deposed Monarch Freddy Soditi Bongo, whose deposition is however a decided case at the Supreme Court. Bwatiye Monarchs never repeat the traditional oath, and thus in view of the decided case, only another candidate of his clan the Impang, may vie.

As the battle rages on a kingmaker who doesn’t want his names be mentioned told Sunday Trust, that Princehood in Bachama land is by birth into any of these clans, and not necessarily by being fathered by a monarch.

The kingmaker maintained that “Eligibility is by birth and maturity from age 18. It is open to males only who feel personally convinced to contest. Ascension is not from father to son. As a matter of fact, there is no record that a direct descendant of Hama Bachama inherited the stool.’’

“It is not possible for the Hama Bachama to be appointed without following this process. Even as the state government has the final say, government can only reject a selected bidder, but cannot play a role in the selection,’’ another kingmaker has volunteered.

The selection process might be over by next weekend and for now only time shall tell who will succeed Asaph Zadok.

In the meantime ,the new acting paramount ruler has since assumed throne with a call on district heads and other traditional leaders in his domain to moblise their subjects towards promoting peace and unity in the land.

He said he was not unmindful of the loss of the former traditional ruler and the confusion that ensued in the land and the insinuation that the absence of the substantive ruler could throw the land into chaos,citing the recent clash at Nbalang market as one of such  unfortunate incidents.