Governor Mutfwang Commended for Reinstating Traditional Ruler
The Bashar Chiefdom Community Development Association (BACCODA) has publicly praised Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for reinstating Alhaji Abdullahi Idris to his position as the Rekna of Bashar in Wase Local Government Area. The commendation was contained in a signed statement from BACCODA President, Zakari Mohammed, and Secretary, Alhaji Yunusa Aliyu Garba, who said the governor's decision reflected strong and principled leadership committed to preserving traditional institutions and fostering peaceful coexistence.
Victory for Justice and Fairness
The group described the development as a turning point for justice and fairness in the chiefdom, adding that it demonstrated the governor's readiness to respond to popular sentiment and place communal harmony above political considerations. The statement noted: 'The reinstatement of the Rekna of Bashar is a triumph for justice, fairness, and the collective desire of our people to sustain our cherished traditional institutions.'
Impact on Peace-Building Efforts
BACCODA said the resolution of the long-standing chieftaincy dispute would strengthen ongoing peace-building efforts across Wase Federal Constituency and Plateau State as a whole. The group commended what it described as Mutfwang's consultative style of governance, which it said had helped build trust and mutual respect among the state's diverse ethnic and religious communities.
The association called on the people of Bashar Chiefdom and the wider Wase Local Government Area to support their traditional rulers, uphold law and order, and align with the development agenda of the Plateau State Government. BACCODA also reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside state authorities, traditional leaders, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's federal administration to deliver development and democratic dividends to residents of Wase.
Similar U-Turn in Cross River State
In a related development, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State recently reversed an earlier decision to remove the chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council, extending the monarch’s tenure days after announcing a replacement. The development followed the emergence of two conflicting letters from the Department of Chieftaincy Affairs, signed by the governor’s Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs, Francis Edet. The first letter, dated June 18, announced the appointment of Felix Ukudare as the new chairman, while a second letter dated June 23 reversed the directive, granting the incumbent chairman a two-year tenure extension.
