By; ISAAC ODEH, Kaduna
The Gwantu Traditional Council has said that a malicious publication by an online news medium over a purported rejection of the traditional title of the “DANMASANIN GWANTU” by one Mr. Isa Waziri the erstwhile “Wazirin of GWANTU District under the present GWANTU Chiefdom in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as false.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary, Gwantu Traditional Council, Aliyu David Ajetu, made available on Saturday.
“Ordinarily, the GWANTU Traditional Council wouldn’t have joined issues over the fabricated lies printed and have been circulated to weep cheap popularity and public sympathy but it has become imperative to correct the wrong notions being created and set the records straight.
“Firstly, the prestigious traditional title of the Prime Minister (Wazirin-Gwantu) was bestowed on Dr. (Alhaji) Yahaya Abdullahi Mohammed by the Chief of the defunct Numana Chiefdom, late Malam Gambo Makama. Subsequently, the District Head of GWANTU under the then Numana Chiefdom, Alh Bashir Mohammed also bestowed a similar traditional title of “Wazirin-Gwantu” on Dr. Isa Waziri without recourse and adequate consultations with stakeholders.
“Consequently, following the dissolution and changes on the various traditional institutions in Kaduna State by former Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai two new Chiefdoms were created out of the defunct Numana Chiefdom namely GWANTU and Arak Chiefdoms,” the statement said.
It explained that on ascension to the throne in December, 2022, the present Chief of GWANTU (Etum GWANTU) Alh Balarabe Abdullahi Karma deemed it wise and pertinent to dissolve all traditional titles bestowed on individuals under the then Numana Chiefdom and provided a virile platform for the erstwhile title holders interested on maintaining their title to reapply for same under his leadership.
“To this end, therefore, the then “Wazirin Numana” Dr (Alh) Yahaya Abdullahi Mohammed did apply for reappointment as the “Waziri” under the present GWANTU traditional Council and was considered and approved by the Paramount Ruler, Alh Balarabe Abdullahi Karma.
“This position was duly acknowledged and recognised as well as gazetted in the archives of the present GWANTU Chiefdom. This confirmation is to lay to rest the purported claims by Mr Isa Waziri that he was unjustly removed and was been compensated through an offer by the District Head of GWANTU of the title of “Danmasani” a very arrangement that the District Head waived as a pigment of fabricated lies through a letter addressed to Mr Isa Waziri of Ahmadu Bello University Staff quaters, Zaria and dated 3rd November, 2023 in which the District Head even denied making him the offer for the title of the Danmasani GWANTU.
“Similarly, the GWANTU traditional Council wishes to state in unambiguous terms that it is the exclusive prerogative, privilege, right and preserves of His Royal Highness the “Etum Gwantu” to exercise the powers of bestowing such traditional titles and not even a District Head.
“Again, let it be on record that Dr (Alhaji) Yahaya Abdullahi Mohammed the Substantive “Wazirin-Gwantu” did not lobby for the position but was considered worthy to be reappointed and reaffirmed for the enviable position. On the final note, let the public be aware that the present “Wazirin-Gwantu”, Dr (Alhaji) Yahaya Abdullahi Mohammed was conferred with the Waziri title first by the late chief of Numana, Malam Gambo Makama long before Mr Isa Waziri was turbaned with a similar title by the District Head of Gwantu who was a lower level traditional leader under then Numana Chiefdom before the recent transition to Gwantu Chiefdom.
“The claim by Mr Isa Waziri that the District Head of Gwantu, Alh Bashir Mohammed deliberately removed him as the Wazirin-Gwantu with a view to replacing him with his younger brother, Dr (Alhaji) Yahaya Abdullahi Mohammed is a cheap blackmail and a well calculated attempt to ridicule the Gwantu Traditional Council before the eyes of the government and the general public which is regrettable and unfortunate.
“Lastly, the Gwantu traditional Council hereby reiterates that there is only one ” Waziri ” of Gwantu Chiefdom in person of Dr (Alhaji) Yahaya Abdullahi Mohammed and the general public is to take note and disregard in its entirety the slanderous claims by Mr Isa Waziri against the district Head of Gwantu of been shortchanged in favour of his younger brother.
“The Gwantu traditional Council finally enjoined all her illustrious sons and daughters to always respect constituted authorities in the interest of peace, unity and societal development”.
