Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has approved the siting of Sayawa Chiefdom headquarters in Tafawa Balewa town despite protest from the indigenous Muslim communities from the area.
Governor Mohammed disclosed this in Bauchi on Monday while addressing the stakeholders from the area at the Government House.
Recall that Prof. Salisu Shehu, in an article published in WikkiTimes recently, reiterated that indigenous Muslims from Tafawa Balewa protested against siting the headquarters of the Chiefdom in the town.
Prof. Shehu reminded Gov. Mohammed that the decision was an insult to the Muslim community who had lost their lives and property in series of upheavals in Tafawa Balewa town.
However, Gov. Mohammed said the decision was taken after a careful consideration of the recommendations of the report of the committee set up to come up with means of creating the Chiefdom for Sayawa community.
According to him, the decision was part of the efforts of his administration to find lasting solution to the perennial problems around the creation Sayawa Chiefdom which previous administrations could not resolve for over three decades.
The governor expressed sadness over the loss of innocent lives as a result of a series of ethno-religious crisis that had been recurring in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro local government areas of the state.
“Upon the receipt of the committee’s reports, a white paper drafting committee was appointed to produce the government’s position on its various findings and recommendations.
“Another committee was appointed to go to three states, namely Plateau, Kaduna and Nasarawa to study how their Chiefdoms were created. Their structures, mode of successions among others.
“The decision of the government is as follows; a Chiefdom to be referred to as Sayawa Chiefdom shall be created out of the present Bauchi Emirate.
“The Sayawa Chiefdom shall be headed by a Chief to be designated as Gun Zaar.
“In the event of the stool of the Sayawa Chiefdom becoming vacant, appointment of the successive team shall be made from the two historical clans namely, San Gami and San Gishi,” he said.
He explained that vacancy would only occur in the event of death, removal by government or resignation of the serving Chief.
