Residents of Arak Chiefdom in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State have appealed to the new state governor, Uba Sani to reinstate their traditional ruler His Highness, Brig Gen Iliya Aliyu Yammah, rtd, who was deposed by the immediate-past administration.
On May 22, 2023, the administration of Malam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai, through the commissioner for Local Government, Umma Ahmad, announced the deposition of the paramount ruler.
But the community, in a statement issued by the acting president of Numana Community Development Organisation (NCDO), Comrade Ahmed Manzo, while congratulating the new governor of the state on his victory at the polls and his swearing-in pleaded with him take a look at the issue that led to his predecessor’s action and reinstate the deposed royal father.
The statement read in part: ”The residents of Arak Chiefdom in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State have expressed shock and displeasure over the recent deposition of our traditional ruler, His Highness Brig. General Iliya Aliyu Yammah (Rtd), by the former governor of the State, Malam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufa’i.
“To us, the deposition of our paramount ruler by the Malam Nasir el-Rufai led-government was in bad faith, not fair and a witch-hunt which was clad with false allegations.
“While congratulating Dr Uba Sani for his victory at the polls and the successful swearing-in as the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, we, therefore, called on him to take a look at the issue and reinstate the deposed traditional ruler of Arak chiefdom, His Highness Brig. General Iliya Aliyu Yammah (Rtd).
“The reasons given for the deposition, according to the state government include, “an unacceptable response to a query by the state government over an unauthorised appointment of four district heads and his non-residence within his domain.
“To us, these reasons are not good enough as the allegations were not properly investigated by the state government before arriving at such a harsh conclusion.
“We, therefore, appeal to the Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Uba Sani, whom we know over time, to be fair-minded, to revisit the issue in an effort to unravel the truth in order to reinstate our Royal Father.”
Commenting on the alleged appointment of four district heads by the deposed traditional ruler, the community said the monarch did not, at any time, appoint four district heads in Arak Chiefdom.
“What happened was that, when Arak Chiefdom was created from Gwantu Chiefdom, only one district was left for the new chiefdom and without a district head.
“His Highness, in his wisdom, after a series of meetings with all the Ruling Houses (comprising ARAK, EGAR, JANDA, and MADA) and other critical stakeholders, verbally assigned a senior village head in each of the clans to oversee their respective areas and report to him. There were no benefits attached.
“This was done for ease of administration of the Chiefdom pending the appointment of substantive district heads by the state government.
“The then State Government under Malam Nasir el-Rufai, without proper investigation, misunderstood the action as a creation of new Districts and appointment of District heads by the Royal Father,” the statement said.
