…directs SSG to initiate executive bill for creation of Kpange Chiefdom
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has appealed to his kismen, the Mada ethnic extraction in Akwanga Local Government Area on the need to vote for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu come 2027.Governor Sule made the appeal when he hosted officials and members of the Mada South Unity Forum (MASUF) at his country home in Gudi on Saturday.
According to the Governor, he had found it difficult to project people of the area mostly because it is on record that they voted against President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections.
This is just as Governor Sule directed the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, SAN, to initiate an executive bill for the creation of Kpange Chiefdom in Akwanga Local Government Area for onward transmission to the state assembly for consideration and passage.
While preaching for Unity among the Mada people, he assured that his administration is willing to fulfil the earlier promise to establish the Kbange Chiefdom in order for the people of the area to have a sense of belonging.
On the challenges he contunue to face as a result of the failure of the people of Akwanga to vote President Tinubu during the last general election, the Governor said the 2027 general election presents a golden opportunity for the Mada people to retrace their steps and to join meanstream politics by massively voting for the reelection of President Tinubu.”Bola Tinubu, by the grace of God, will win his election.
There is no doubt about that. Because all the indicators are clear for him to win his election. My prayer is that my people from Mada South will be counted amongst those who also contributed to bringing him back to that seat.
So that when one day some of us are going back to him to say that, Sir, we want so, so, and so, nobody will do what they are doing to us today. Because today, when we talk, they say no, Nasarawa is only being sentimental about it. It is his same people from Akwanga that even made us lose this election,” he stated.
Governor Sule urged his kinsmen to vote for President Tinubu in 2027 so that he could have a bargaining chip even though he may not still be in office as the governor.”I want to say even if I am not on seat as a governor,
I want to be able to say, our people in Akwanga have voted for you, Mr. President. That is what I am looking forward from you,” he said.Speaking further on the proposed creation of the Kpange Chiefdom, he called on all those aspiring to occupy the stool to show leadership through diplomacy and by carrying everybody along.
The Governor said he will not impose anybody on the community but that they should endeavour to make it easy for him by selecting someone with sufficient exposure who would be able to bring development to the area.”Please unite yourselves.
Not everybody will be the king. Only one person will ascend to the throne. You know yourselves better than I know you. I don’t want to impose anyone on you. One thing that I will insist upon is that you must bring someone who is exposed.
Somebody who can bring development, who has the capacity to carry everyone along,” he said.Earlier, in a mission statement, the President of the Mada South Unity Forum (MASUF),
Prof. Bitrus Wokhe Tukura, said members of the forum visited Governor Sule purposefully to remind him about the promised he made earlier to create the Kpange Chiefdom.
According to Prof. Tukura, the people of the area have suffered marginalisation especially after the court judgement and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2003, which proclaimed the creation of three chiedoms including Kpange Chiefdom.
He said already, the Ngar and Nunku chiefdoms have since been created, with the Kpange Chiefdom left out.”We feel shortchanged and could have gone for litigation but yet we chose the path of peace, believing in the unity of Mada as a people.
We strongly believe in your capacity to break the chains perhaps now. We want to appeal that the new villages and districts suggested in our memo to the state government for the creation of Kpange Chiefdom should be giving favourable considerations,” he said.
Prof. Tukura dismissed insinuations that the MASUF is divided against itself concerning the creation of the chiefdom, describing the claims as the handiwork of enemies within and outside the MASUF. The MASUF commended Governor Sule for his transformative strides across the state and particularly in Akwanga Local Government Area.
“The construction and tarring of some township roads within Akwanga are worthy of note. Your Excellency, it will be a gross oversight not to mention the underpass within the metropolis. It does not only reduced traffic congestion but it has added beauty to Akwanga metropolis.
“Your pragmatic leadership style has also resulted to ongoing construction of the bypass from the Mada Community Secondary School to link up with Keffi-Abuja highway to decongest traffic in Akwanga town.
This will no doubt attract development in the outskirts of Akwanga. Buku-Kembre-Andaha will certainly ease transportation thereby boosting socio-economic in those areas, the group stated. MASUF equally appreciated the Governor for identifying and appointing four of their sons into his administration.
Also speaking, former national assembly member, Senator Philip Gyunka, confirmed that the Mada South people voted not only against the President but also against the APC and against Governor Sule. Senator Gyunka, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, described himself as a repented sheep who has been forgiven by the Governor
