By Ahmad Saka
Village head of Tafawa Balewa Mallam Abdullahi Maigida and 206 others have filed a suit before Bauchi State High Court against the State Government’s plan to create Sayawa Chiefdom inside Tafawa Balewa.
Other Defendants in the suit are Governor of Bauchi State, Anthony General, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Clerk to the State House of Assembly, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bauchi State Local Government Service Commission, and Bauchi Emirate Council.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Rabiu Garba filed a motion ex-parte, affidavit of urgency, affidavit in support, attached exhibits and asked the court for leave to institute, maintain and prosecute the suit in a representative capacity, interim injunction and other reliefs.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Sa’ad I Zadawa granted an order to the claimants to institute, maintain and prosecute the action in a representative capacity for themselves and on behalf of non-Sayawa communities and the internally displaced non-Sayawa citizens of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area now residing in Bauchi, Bununu, Burgel, Dass, Mararraban Liman Katagum, other towns and villages and in diaspora.
Justice Zadawa directed that motion on notice for interlocutory injunction as properly filed and fully issued to be served on all the defendants.
He said "that an interim order of injunction to maintaining the status quo of the parties in relation to the subject matter on this suit and restraining the defendants from doing anything or proceeding with any action preparatory to the creation of Sayawa Chiefdom with headquarters in Tafawa Balewa town pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice is refused and that the court directed that the defendants be put on notice."
Justice Zadawa adjourned the matter to 18th February 2025 to hear the motion on notice.
Last December 2024, the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has approved the establishment of the Sayawa Chiefdom, with its headquarters in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, during a meeting with stakeholders from Tafawa Balewa LG.
He explained that the decision was reached after a thorough review of reports submitted by committees tasked with studying the modalities for creating the chiefdom. According to him, the move is aimed at addressing the long-standing agitation for a Sayawa Chiefdom by the predominantly Christian communities in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Areas.
Immediately after the announcement non-Sayawa communities in Tafawa Balewa Local Government opposed siting of headquarters of Sayawa Chiefdom in Tafawa Balewa.
In several press conferences, they explained that Tafawa is not a Sayawa town and creating their chiefdom inside Tafawa Balewa distorted the origin of the town and their History and would look like rewarding Sayawa communities that allegedly killed several people in Tafawa Balewa.
Many Sayawa Communities supported the creation of Sayawa Chiefdom with its Headquarters in Tafawa Balewa
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