The Member of Parliament for Yendi in the Northern Region, Alhaji Mohammed Habib Tijani has emphatically stated that there can never be peace in Dagbon unless the funeral rites of the late two Dagbon overlords are performed.
[contextly_sidebar id=”eG69eIoMOAodoCxaGfjMlS1ruPhFqIAG”]He emphasized that the funerals of Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai and Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II should be performed without any conditions.
The Yendi Legislator’s assertion comes at the back of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs resolution that funeral rites of the late two Dagbon overlords should be performed latest by March 31, 2015.
Habib Tijani who served as the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive for eight years is convinced that performing the funeral rites of Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai and Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II will mark the beginning of genuine reconciliation and unity in the Dagbon traditional area.
“For some time now Yendi has been considered a volatile area and all for me I still think we have relative peace in Yendi, we still don’t have perfect peace because all the outstanding issues that make the area volatile and we have been managing with are still there.”
He explained, “The outstanding issues have to do with the funerals of the two overlords of Dagbon thus the late Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai and the late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II: these are the two important chiefs whose funerals should be performed and when that is done the way will be opened for a substantive chief to be enskinned.”
Habib Tijani maintained that there was fragile stability in Yendi which is the traditional capital of Dagbon.
“Sometimes people deceive themselves and say there is perfect peace in the area: if there is perfect peace you will not see military detachments at the Gbewaa palace and at the Boling Lana’s palace, never: but I think if these funerals are performed other measures will be taking to reconcile both factions.”
“I know efforts are being made to reconcile both factions but as to whether it will take place or not that one I leave it to the government and all other stakeholders who are searching for permanent and lasting peace in Dagbon,” Habib Tijani underscored.
He advocated the enskinment of a permanent Yaa-Naa after the funeral rites are performed to restore the dignity and pride of Dagombas.
“Currently, we have a Regent of Dagbon who controls Dagbon and who is handling every issue in Dagbon but I think it is important for us to have a substantive chief but until that is done these funerals should be performed.”
Tijani appealed to the youth of Dagbon especially those in Yendi to zealously safeguard the fragile peace they have enjoyed so far.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/Citifmonline.com/Ghana