By Paul Okah, Abuja
A group known as Egbura Cultural Development Association (ECDA) in Nasarawa state has pleaded with the Nasarawa state governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, to disregard demands on him to create chiefdom for an ethnic group in Toto local government area of the state.
In a statement made available to the media yesterday, members of the group said that the creation of a chiefdom in Toto council will “lead to balkanization and annexation of our ancestral land, especially at a time that the governor was recording laudable strides in the administration of the state.”
According to the statement jointly signed by the Vice Chairman of the group, Alhaji Suleiman Zubairu,and Public Relations Officer, Musa Ohikwo Usman, Governor Tanko should instead focus his concerns on arresting the spate of the crisis and acrimonious relationship between Egbura and Bassa people of Nasarawa state.
The group pointed out that acceding to the demand of Bassa ethnic group for the chiefdom would be tantamount to “robbing Peter to pay Paul”, because the Bassa group has demonstrated that they are good at getting attention only through violence, but that it will tarnish the image of the governor especially towards the end of his administration.
“We urge the government to properly examine all the variables required for founding chiefdom in the traditional and conventional sense of the institution and resist any urge to resort to Executive fiat in creating chiefdom for Bassa ethnic group. Chiefdom does not emerge from the blues. It is not created but founded and rooted in history and tradition.
“Therefore, His Excellency, Gov Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, should not soil his immense contribution to the peace and development of Nasarawa state by acceding to this strange demand from people who believe might is always right. He should see through their evil machinations, because they avoided him in 2011 and 2015, respectively when he sought for their votes. But they are now back to hoodwink him into smirching his sterling performance as Governor at the taillight of his administration
“We are always available for talks and to avail him with all that he needs to know about our land and about our disagreement with our guests who are now bent on repaying our benevolence with annihilation. We also appeal to him to be circumspect on this matter and avoid any act that would make history remember him harshly. To discourage the leadership of Bassas from seeking to achieve their aims through carnage and campaign of terror in future, the government must prosecute the arrested militia, mercenaries and their sponsors connected thereto,” the statement read in part.
