The people of Gaba community in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State have protested against the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar’s choice of its new traditional ruler, Etsu of Gaba.
The former traditional ruler had died on October 11, 2021 and the Etsu Nupe appointed Alhaji Yusuf Gana as the new ruler of the community.
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The chairman, Gaba Development Association, Mr Paul Y. Gana, in a statement, alleged that the popular candidate elected by the community members to fill the vacant stool was jettisoned by the palace of Etsu Nupe.
He said, “In the history of Gaba community, the selection of the traditional ruler has never been subjected to the approval of the emir. The individual elected by the people was pushed aside for another person.”
He said whenever the traditional ruler of the community dies, 13 houses would come together to select or elect the successor and inform the emir of their decision.
“This time around, there were two contenders and the process resulted into an election, which was done at the instant of the emir, but the results were never made public, only to announce to us after three weeks that this is our new traditional ruler. This has never been the practice,” he said.
While calling on the people of the community to remain calm and shun violence, Mr Gana called on the authorities to allow the choice of people to prevail, for peace and tranquility.
