Kingmakers Defend Selection, Installation Of Plateau Monarch

Kingmakers and stakeholders in Bashar Chiefdom of Wase local government in Plateau State have said the selection and enthronement of the new Rekna of Bashar, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris, did not fail due process as alleged by his opponents.

Their defence was prompted by a press conference addressed by some indigenes of the chiefdom under the aegis of “Concerned Stakeholders of Bashar Chiefdom” on the disputed stool.
The stakeholders had on Tuesday claimed that the process that brought Idris to the throne in 2022 was faulty.

However, in reaction, the kingmakers and stakeholders of the Ruling House said the exercise followed due process and could not be faulted by anybody.

At a press conference addressed by the Ruling House through Shehu Abubakar, they deemed it necessary to use this forum to correct misrepresentations, inaccuracies, or falsehoods peddled by the said “Concerned Stakeholders”.

In their address read by Dr Zakari Mohammed, the kingmakers said that a lie not debunked or corrected could assume the colour of the truth.

Mohammed said the claims of the purported stakeholders are false as they failed to state or demonstrate in what capacity they claim to be stakeholders of the stool of the Rekna of Bashar.

“As in matters relating to chieftaincy stool, only members of the royal family, particularly those contestants or candidates at an election and the kingmakers, can claim to be stakeholders. “

He said, “Regrettably, no paragraph of the statement issued or read at the press conference alluded to the identities of these stakeholders as to entitle them to take objection to the selection and appointment of Alhaji Abdullahi Idris as the Rekna of Bashar.

Mohammed said the Rekna of Bashar was selected by the kingmakers following due compliance with the law regulating his selection.

“Upon completing the selection exercise, Simon Lalong, the then governor of Plateau State, in exercising his powers, appointed Abdullahi Idris as the Rekna of Bashar.”

According to him, following the election and appointment, Idris was presented with the staff of office as the Rekna of Bashar Chiefdom.