Tsam people popularly known as Chawai, a tribe in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State is presently divided over who ascendedtheir traditional stool. The traditional title is usually contested among various clans that make up the kingdom in the event of death of a titleholder.
The former Res-Tsam, Danlami Yahaya who was from Kingwai clan died April 6, 2014. Following his death, various contestants from Kingwai, Kuka and Zambina being the original ruling houses indicated interest in the race.
Danlami had been on the throne since 1975 and his death saw his heir, who is also the Ciroman Chawai, Yahaya Mohammed, serving as the acting Res-Tsam.
Alhaji ZakariIsah Chawai, a former Executive Secretary, National Board for Community Bank, a son in-law to the emir of Zazzau is also seeking to succeed the late Res-Tsam, Danlami.
The Katukan Chawai, who is also the District Hhead of Zambina, from Zambina clan, Joshua Ahmadu has also beenapproached by his people to join the race for Res-Tsam.
So it is that brothers are working against themselves in the fight for the stool that has also witnessed several protests and disagreements.
A brief history of the Chawai people has it that the Tsam Chiefdom has been in existence for over 600 years with its already established tradition and norms of rulership.
“It was initially an independent kingdom where the chiefs have a status of SARKIN YANKA. Then the status of the Kingdom dimmed and became a vassal state under Zazzau, but with considerable independence in appointing its chief according to Chawai tradition,” anthropologist and historian C.K Meek explained in his book, Tribes of Zaria province 1920 said.
H.D Gun 950 and John Nengel confirmed that the Atsam popularly known as Chawai people settled into their present location with an organized independent Traditional Local Administration before Circa 1350 A.D.
“The Atsam were brought under the British Control in 1907 prior to this, during the period of 1902-1905 the British forces had to demonstrate the effectiveness of their superior modern weapons in the conquest and subjugation of politics, which were well known for their military prowess such as the Amo, Afizere, Iregwe and Rukubu. They attempted to put up resistance in the defence of their politics ensconced on readily defence’s hill top settlements on the Jos Plateau. Before attacking the Atsam, the politics on Kauru and Surubu Massif had similarly been conquered and subdued in 1907,” the historians said.
“With the coming of colonial administration, provinces were created and the vassal states around Zaria that is Chawai, Kauru and Kajuru were made districts. However, they retained their semi-independence of appointing their chief from the locality with the title of SARKIN CHAWAI or SARKIN KAURU as the case may be,” it was gathered.
Weekly Trust gathered that out of the economic imperative, the administrative decisions were taken which led to the dissolution of Atsam.It was merged with Zangon Kataf until long after independence in 1975 when it regained its previous status. Tsam chiefdom was created in 2001 by the administration of former Governor Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi (SARKIN YAKIN CHAWAI).
The traditional title of the chiefdom was named Tsam chiefdom with headquarters at Damakasuwa. At that time, the Tsam traditional system was said to have been given two ruling houses, Kingwai and Kiragito (Kuka), but Zambina was retained as the Chairman of the three kingmakers; Zambina (Chairman Kingmakers), Maizanko (Member), and Madaki (Member).
With the death of the former Res-Tsam, some clans are not satisfied with the arrangement and are now seeking for a review.
In a letter addressed to the Kaduna State Governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero dated April 28, 2014 and signed by Augustine Liman Audi and Moses Audi Yakubu, President and Secretary of the Chawai Development Association’s National Care-taker Committee, who wade into the crises said Kuka and Kingwai clans were messengers who were always sent on errands by the ruler, Zambina.
The association said the stool should be taken back to the Zambina clan since the entire land is behind the request which will guarantee peace, equity, tranquility, justice, fairness and progress.
“The so called two ruling houses, Kuka and Kingwai who are claiming to be the ruling houses are not the original ruling houses but were only messengers. Zambina clan is the ruling house from time immemorial which simply means, some of the people clamouring for the stool now are not even qualify for it because it does not belong to them despite the fact that they have held that position for a very long time. We want the governor to intervene in this crisis,” the association said in the letter.
A member, council of elders in Zambina community, Tsam Chiefdom, Joshua J Ahmadu said “everyone is aware that the history of Chawai people shows that Zambina is originally and officially the sole ruling house of the Chawai Chiefdom even before the advent of colonialism between 1902-to-1905. All rulers of the Chawai nation were known to be produced in Zambina. With the coming of colonialism and the peonage of the people under the Zazzau Emirate Rule, representative of Zambina used to go and represent us in Zaria. What the people are saying is that government should not choose the Res-Tsam for us, but the original rituals should be done in the selection of the chief.”
A70-year-old Sarkin Pada, Zakari Suleiman said they were told that they only have two ruling classes in Chawai. “We were not many and we always appoint someone that can carry everyone along. We the Karakito clan is in support of the Kingwai clan to continue because when the late Res-Tsam was sick, Chiroma was able to carry everyone along.”
Also, a youth leader in Damakasuwa, Peter Mukadas said they protested because they are behind Ciroma to become the Res-Tsam because he has been carrying everyone along, “and we want him to be installed as Res-Tsam.”
Chiroman Chawai Yahaya Mohammed told Weekly Trust that his father is the late Res-Tsam and he will want to inherit the stool.“I am the older son of my father and I was the one the Kaduna State government selected to be the acting Res-Tsam when my father was sick. We have been living in peace and that makes me apply for the Res-Tsam stool because by father was the 15th Res-Tsam. We have submitted our application and we are waiting for the selection. As the acting Res-Tsam, I am calling on our people to continue to live in peace,” Mohammed said.
The District head of Zambina, Joshua Ahmadu, who is also vying for the stool of Res-Tsam said: “We are not struggling for the stool, because we are the king makers and we are not applying, they have to apply to us because we are the original ruling class.”
Joshua said their father, Zambina was a warrior and as a ruler, he did not allow war to enter Chawai land. “Our forefathers always want warriors to be leaders so at a point, he asked his bother to represent him in Zaria and brief his people. That was when a clan was able to rule.”
“Our clan was the real ruling house and what our people are asking for is for the stool to be returned and any other person can be giving the Res-Tsam in our area. Our clan is not applying and other clans have to apply to us. I call on our people to be calm and let’s have a dialogue. Let the entire Chawai land come under a referendum and people should be enlighten on how the Res-Tsam title came about,” the district head said.
Kaduna State Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs could not react officially on the matter but sources at the Ministry said they have been mandated to work with the Kauru LG and the kingmakers in the area for a successful selection of the next Res-Tsam.
The Tsam chiefdom is located in the south-eastern part of Kauru LGA with a population of over 80,000 peopleaccording to the 2007 census result. The chiefdom has a land area of 1,125 sq kilometres.
The chiefdom is bond in the south by Moroa and Ganawuri Chiefdoms, to the east by Iregwe and Rukuba Chiefdoms all of Bassa LGA of Plateau State to the North by Lere, Piriga and Kumana Chiefdoms and to the West by Atyap Chiefdom.
The people have had 14 set of leaders. They are:1st Mohammed Jatau Kingwari (Kargi) 2nd Mohammed Babari Kingwari (Kargi), 3rdYunusa Maikahon Gada Karigato (Kuka), 4thBako Yunusa Kiragato , (Kuka), 5thNingardi Babari Kingwari (Kargi), 6th Isa Babari Kingwari (Kargi), 7th Ahmadu Umaru Kingwari (Kargi), 8thGwaza Isa Kingwari (Kargi), 9thAbdulmumini Ahmadu Kingwari (Kargi), 10th Mohammed Gani Bako Kiragato (Kuka), 11th Mohammed Sani Ahmadu Kingwari (Kargi), 12thUmaruBako, Kiragato (Kuka), 13thAbdujikan BakoKiragato (Kuka), 4thAbubakar Damai Ahmadu, Kingwari (Kargi).
The late Res-Tsam) who was appointed District head in 1975, was elevated to a 3rd class Chief on 19th January 2001 with eight districts.
