The Executive Governor of Plateau
State Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong has lauded the King Makers and the entire
Anaguta Nation for conducting this transition peacefully without any
rancour or bitterness. He stated this while performing the installation and presentation
of staff of office to the new Ujah Anaguta, His Royal Highness, Johnson Jauro
Magaji, held on 17th June 2021 at Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos.
He said “This is the kind example
that we expect from all Chiefdoms: adding that he has always emphasized that
the Traditional Institution is vital to the survival of our cultural heritage
as it forms the bedrock of our coexistence as a people. The institution allows
us to share our common identity; norms and traditions that guide our conduct in
society. As it is commonly said, people without culture are like trees
without roots.
SPEECH BY H.E. RT. HON. (DR)
SIMON BAKO LALONG, KSGG, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE AT THE
INSTALLATION/PRESENTATION OF STAFF OF OFFICE TO THE NEW UJAH ANAGUTA, HIS ROYAL
HIGHNESS, JOHNSON JAURO MAGAJI, HELD ON 17TH JUNE, 2021 AT RWANG PAM TOWNSHIP STADIUM,
JOS.
Protocols
We are grateful to God for the
opportunity to witness another historic day in the life of the people of
Anaguta nation, Jos North Local Government and Plateau State in general. It is
my delight to perform this coronation and presentation of staff of office to
the new Ujah Anaguta, His Royal Highness, Pozho Johnson Jauro Magaji II, having
done same to his late father as a First Class Traditional Ruler some years
back.
May I request that we rise and
observe a minute silence in honour of the Late Ujah, His Royal Highness Photo
Jauro Magaji.
[MINUTE SILENCE IN HONOUR OF LATE
UJAH]
Distinguished Ladies and
Gentlemen, this occasion is the beginning of another chapter after the closing
of the previous one having gathered here at the Rwang Pam Stadium to bid
farewell to the late traditional ruler some months back.
As we perform the installation of
his successor and provide him with the Staff of Office, I want to congratulate
the King Makers and the entire Anaguta Nation for conducting this transition in
a peaceful manner without any rancour or bitterness. This is the kind example
that we expect from all Chiefdoms.
Just like I promised during the funeral of the late Ujah, the Government did not interfere in the process of selecting the new Ujah that we are installing today.
Like in other cases, the will of
the Anaguta people is what has transpired and the role of the Government is to
affirm their decision based on the powers bestowed on it by the law.
I have always emphasized that the
Traditional Institution is vital to the survival of our cultural heritage as it
forms the bedrock of our coexistence as a people. The institution allows us to
share our common identity; norms and traditions that guide our conduct in
society. As it is commonly said, people without culture are like trees
without roots.
You are aware that my
administration since coming on board has continued to pay greater attention to
reviving the traditional institution so that it can contribute meaningfully to
the development of the State. This explains why we restored Chiefdoms that were
scrapped by the previous administration. We believe this is necessary to
engender social cohesion and promote peaceful coexistence among our people.
This occasion therefore provides
me another opportunity to reiterate that Government expects the traditional
rulers to galvanise their communities to embrace dialogue as a means of
resolving their difference to consolidate on peace and allow development to
take place.
Your Royal Highness, the new Ujah
of Anaguta, you have taken an oath to work for the interest of your people and
ensure the peace and progress of the State. I, therefore, admonish you to be
proactive and carry your people along with irrespective of ethnic, religious, political
or other affiliations.
You are not an ethnic champion or
warlord that will promote bigotry and sectionalism. You must avoid selfish or
sectional interests and tendencies that will jeopardise the sanctity of the
revered stool which you are occupying in trust for your people.
You should do your best to uphold
the legacies of your late father who was a unifier and a rallying point for
peace. Having been nurtured and groomed by him, I have the firm belief that you
will use this God-given opportunity to promote tolerance, openness,
accommodation, fairness and justice in Jos North and Plateau State as a whole.
The government is working
expeditiously to ensure that the violence of the past remains a past tense in
our dictionary as a State. You are now in a position to ensure that every
remaining obstacle towards achieving total peace in Jos North is removed so
that peace and prosperity will reign. Your late father played his role and
passed the baton to you. All eyes will be on you to see how far you can go.
While I assure you of the support
of the Government in carrying out your new task, I wish to again make it clear
that we shall not tolerate any act that is aimed at disrupting peace and
bringing Government into disrepute.
In as much as Government does not
have interest in who is selected as a traditional ruler or support any
candidate, it has been vested with the power to remove anyone who does not
serve according to the dictates of his office. This responsibility we shall
continue to uphold.
May I use this opportunity to
express deep concern over the cases of isolated attacks in various communities
which are carried out in a hit-and-run fashion This is unacceptable and must
stop. Let me repeat my warning to traditional rulers that I will hold you
responsible if you fail to give information on who is behind such attacks under
your jurisdictions. Anyone found shielding criminals will be sanctioned.
You are the people closest to the
grassroots and you must gather intelligence on who comes in or goes out from
your community. I have told the police and other security agencies that I do
not want to hear unknown gunmen! People who come into communities and kill
innocent people in their sleep or when they are relaxing cannot be spirits and
must not be allowed to go free.
We have ordered the purchase of
50 security patrol vans and 200 security motorcycles will soon be launched
by the Inspector General of Police. In addition, we have trained and deployed
529 Police Constables who we expect to join forces with vigilante groups and
other security structures to boost intelligence gathering and early response at
the grassroots.
As we conduct this event,
Government is aware of vacant stools in the State which are yet to be filled.
Some are lingering because of existing litigations and contestation. I am not
happy with the fact that the people are denied the opportunity to have
substantive traditional rulers. Nevertheless, we will continue to do our best
and ensure that the issues are resolved.
The installation of the Ujah
Anaguta today is a wake-up call to other Chiefdoms and communities, especially
those that are still delaying the process of selection of their Traditional
Rulers because of disagreements. You should learn from the Anaguta Nation and
have a rethink to come together and forge ahead. Time is of the essence.
To Your Royal Highness the Ujah
of Anaguta, I urge you to see your ascension to the throne of your ancestors as
the will of God. You must not deviate from your assignment. Listen to the voice
of elders and tap from their wisdom and experience. I refer you to the story of
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon in the Book of 1 Kings Chapter 12.
He rejected the counsel and
wisdom of elders and chose to listen to only the youths. At the end of the
day, he caused the downfall of the Kingdom of Israel. May you did not end that way
in Jesus Name. Also, ensure that you depend on God and His Word for guidance
just like your father did.
On this note, may I again
congratulate His Royal Highness, the entire sons and daughters of the Anaguta
Nation, and the people of Jos North for this new era. I call on you all to give Ujah the necessary support for him to succeed in the onerous task of
leadership. Once more, congratulations Your Royal Highness.
Long live the Ujah of Anaguta
Chiefdom, Long live Plateau State, Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you all and God Bless.
Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong,
KSGG
Governor, Plateau State.
17th June 2021.
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