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Community Wants Deposed Ruler Reinstated

This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
August 6, 2004
Posted to the web August 6, 2004

By Funmi Peter-Omale
Jos
The Bwatiye community of Adamawa state resident in Plateau state, has demanded
for the immediate restoration of the deposed paramount ruler of Bachama
kingdom, Mr. Freddy Soditi Bongo.
The community also called for the release of Bwatiye indigenes currently in
detention over the June 8 crisis in Numan.
The community in a statement signed by Godfrey Hanatufe and four others and
made available to THISDAY, described Bongo's deposition and banishment as
"despicable, reprehensible, provocative and condemnable."
According to the community, the people had waited this long to react because
they had thought Governor Boni Haruna would listen to counsel and pleas for the
re-instatement of the deposed ruler.
"It is not yet too late for the governor to retrace his unpopular steps to
avert the curse that trails his action and prove critics wrong that he was
acting the script drafted by influential forces in the state," the statement
added.
While deploring recent pronouncements by the governor on the issue, the
community pointed out that steps taken by Haruna so far portrayed him as one
deliberately out to cause disaffection among the people of the area.
"The steps taken by government are pointedly aimed at destroying the revered
stool and institution of the Bachama and the values they represent in the
social and political lives of the people which had over the years been a source
of envy for other tribes and communities in the state," the statement added.
The Bwatiye community also frowned at the unwholesome and conniving role being
played by some Bwatiye indigenes, who have decided to tow along the line of
detractors describing such people as "treacherous".
The group, however, commended youth of the area for not taking law into their
hands even in the face of provocation and public odium.
The statement warned that the governor should be held responsible for any
breakdown of law and order in Bachama land due to the fact that he has refused
to yield to good counsel concerning the Bachama stool.

   

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