By; BUHARI B. BELLO, Jos
The people of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State has decried the inability of the state government to comply with the decision of the Supreme Court on the throne of the paramount chieftaincy seat of Sum Pyem of Pyem Chiefdom.
Addressing a press conference in Jos, the spokesperson of the people, Auwalu Haruna Ma’aji demanded that the state government should comply with the judgement of the Supreme Court, rather than recognizing another Sum Pyem, by conducting another “kangaroo selection” .
Speaking to journalists, the people wondered why the Plateau State Government neglected such a court order, stopping it from conducting another selection exercise.
According to them, the government chose to recognise the existence of another traditional ruler, instead of the existing judgment of the Supreme Court, describing it as miscarriage of justice.
“Having been duly elected as the Sum Pyem of Pyem Chiefdom on 17th May 2004, Arc.Hudu Ibrahim Manomi has since acquired accrued and vested rights as affirmed by the court (both trial High Court of Plateau State and Supreme Court of Nigeria).
“Therefore, he ought to have been installed into this exulted throne and be paid all accrued entitlement/renumeration without any contemplation by the Plateau State Government.” They said.
They argued that the Supreme Court on the 3rd of June, directed that Plateau State High Court should implement its judgement which had earlier ordered for the enforcement and enthronement of the Sum Pyem.
He said, “we equally believe that ministers in Temple of Justice and court of law will not allow this to continue but confer executing powers to correct the anomalies and better our society with justice”.
The people of the community also urged the Plateau State Government to appreciate the process of rule of law as a basis of civilization and democracy, insisting that, they should respect the judgement of the Supreme Court.
“We hereby, humbly call on the Plateau State Government to implement the verdict of the court (particularly the supreme Court of Nigeria -1st February 2019) and install arc. Hudu Ibrahim Manomi as the substantive and legitimately elected as the Sum Pyem of Pyem Chiefdom in Gindiri of Mangu LGA.
“The people of the community also want a legitimate leader whom they can rally round for development and end increasing security challenges within the locality, but regret that this has eluded them for more than 18 years.
“We urge/imploy and appeal to the good sense of wisdom and reason in our governor, Simon Bako Lalong and other agencies of government to be more ethical and stand by the oath of office they all undertook to discharge their duties without fear or favor and in the interest of justice peace and progress of the society.”
