Concerned Stakeholders Of Bashar District Of Wase LGA Worries Over Selection Process of New Rekna of Bashar Chiedom.

Ogunenwa Audu Jos.

The stakeholders in Bashar district of Wase LGA of Plateau state have complained on the Selection of the New Rekna of Bashar in Wase Local Government Area.

The stakeholders at a Press conference in Jos on Monday at NUJ Press Center read by Shehu Mujahid Abubakar said they had earlier Petitioned the state government Committee on the Creation/Upgrade of Chiefdoms, Districts, and Village Areas in Plateau State on the development in Bashar district of Wase LGA of Plateau state.

According to him, “We, the Concerned Stakeholders is today calling this press conference following the injustice and irregularities melted out to the people of bashar chiefdom during the selection process for the new Rekna of Bashar in Wase Local Government Area”

“. This process resulted in the selection and installation of the incumbent traditional ruler, His Royal Highness Alh Abdullahi Idris as the new Rekna.”

He recalled that no proper Procedure was followed In September 2022 in the selection of the Rekna of Bashar when the position became vacant.

” Following tradition, a new Rekna should have been chosen from the ruling family through a proper selection process involving the kingmakers.”

He argued that the former Governor Simon Bako Lalong, established a committee to oversee the selection process

How ever he said Irregularities was Introduced by Former Local Government Chairman.

” The committee visited Bashar town on November 26, 2022, to brief the kingmakers on the selection process.
On December 2, 2022, the state government scheduled the official selection date. However, the then-chairman of Wase Local Government Council, Dr. Ado Abubakar Buba, bypassed protocol by inviting the kingmakers to his office and holding meetings with some of them under pressure.”

He said this action contradicts the Plateau State Chieftaincy Laws.

According to him, there was Manipulation of Selection Date:
due to the chairman’s interference, the selection process was postponed from December 2 to December 13, 2022.

” Abduction of Kingmakers
further disrupted
the process, four out of five kingmakers were abducted on December 16, 2022, by the former chairman and his associates, presumably to influence the selection outcome.”

“Selection was done under duress despite the abduction, a selection process was held on December 23, 2022. This selection violated our right to a fair hearing because the kingmakers were not present. Additionally, the former chairman unlawfully participated in the process, exerting undue political influence.”

He added that they wrote a formal complaint outlining these irregularities and was submitted to the former governor, Barr. Simon Bako Lalong but however, due to his alleged political affiliation with the former chairman and the preferred candidate, the complaint was ignored

“We have reason to believe that the incumbent Rekna, Alh. Abdullahi Idris, is still employed by the federal government while holding the position of Rekna. This violates the rules, as an individual cannot hold two government positions at the same time,”

They called on the new plateau state governor barrister Caleb Mutfwang,Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs and the review committee to as a matter of urgency investigate these Complaints arising from the irregularities that occured during the selection process for equity, justice and fairness to the people of bashar chiefdom ,wase local government area and plateau state in general.