Gombe berates Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, Says Gov Yahaya not responsible for Billiri violence
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Following the allegations made by a socio cultural group, Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum which indicted Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state, over the violence that erupted in Billiri Local Government, the State Government has debunked the allegations.
The group had accused Yahaya of been responsible for the orgy of violence that claimed four lives in the town, Speaking on behalf of Government, Director Press Affairs, Government House, Ismaila Misilli said the Inuwa Yahaya led administration will not do anything to circumvent the oath of office he took.
“It has come to the attention of the Gombe State Government that a certain body known as the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum has made futile efforts through a disparaging Gombe State Government, particularly the Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, over the recent mayhem that took place in Billiri town orchestrated by some unscrupulous elements as the people await a new Mai Tangle.
“After the death of the late Mai Tangle, Dr. Abdu Buba Maisharu II, on Sunday, January 10, 2021, the Gombe State Government allowed the traditional Kingmakers to select and forward the names of nominated candidates to replace the late monarch. That process has been concluded, and the Gombe State Government is in receipt of the list containing the names of three nominated persons for the stool,” he said.
According Misilli, 23 eligible persons from the Tangale land indicated interest, and the number was later pruned to 18. In their wisdom, the Kingmakers arrived at the three names required by law, which were forwarded to the State Government for necessary action. Suffice it to say that the three names submitted by the Kingmakers are all qualified for the stool.
He added, “Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya cannot be blackmailed or arm-twisted into doing what is outside the law. Let it be known that consultations are ongoing among the relevant stakeholders on who becomes the next Mai Tangle from the three nominees. The Governor will NOT go outside the three nominated names submitted to him by the Tangale Kingmakers.
“It is on record that the Gombe State Government imposed a 24-hour curfew on Billiri LGA following the violence that erupted in the area, all in an attempt to arrest the situation before it degenerated into a serious unrest. If the forum is sincere to itself, it would have told the world that no security personnel was sighted or accused of attacking or killing anyone throughout the short-lived violence. Governor Yahaya, as a peace loving man, cannot and will never have any business to do with thugs as alleged by the forum.”
