An open letter to Plateau State governor

The people of Yelwa community recently received soothing news of your plan to re-install a head for them, who will help revive and fight for the development of the community and beyond. The community was full of joy after hearing this good news, because they had long been waiting and praying for such development. Sadly, however, some of your tribesmen, (Goima people) were not happy with the new development. 

Three to four days after the news had reached every nook and cranny of the community, some rioters, who are members of your tribe, were all over the streets of Yelwa Shendam protesting against the re-installment of the new community chief. Their protest did not  stop here; it got to a point where they violently defaced many cars, attacked innocent passers-by and set some places afire. My dear governor, what are we going to call this? Terrorism or what? 

Residents displaced by Plateau crisis return home 7 years after

An open letter to Plateau State governor

According to their unreasonable, selfish statements, the people of Yelwa community must be under the control of Nsher community head, which is totally impossible if we are fair and just to them. My dear governor, how on earth can a 30-year-old village be a mother to a 200-year-old community? Is this something to be agreed with? No. Nsher is a 30-year-old village, while Yelwa is a 200-year-old community. There’s a 170 years gap between the two. Therefore, Yelwa is, whether they like it or not, a grandmother to the mother of Nsher. 

Since November 26, 1992, when the community head, Chief Adamu Othman died, Yelwa had been without a head till date (30 years today). The previous administrations, at some point, vowed to re-install a new head for the community, but didn’t keep the promise. It is quite surprising and questionable for a populous community like Yelwa to be left this long without a ruler. There are many more villages in Plateau State that have less population, businesses and other developmental things than Yelwa, but none of them is without a head. Why Yelwa? 

Truth be told, Yelwa deserves to be upgraded to the status of a local government area for it has all it takes to be one. 

Finally, my dear governor, the people of the Yelwa community really appreciate your tremendous support and care  toward them. You are indeed the true definition of a good leader. Yelwa people have no words to thank you enough. But there is one thing you apparently seem to forget. I have already demystified it above. Thank you, sir. 

Muhammad Abubakar wrote from Yelwa Shendam, Plateau State and can be reached via [email protected]