From Muhammad Ahmad Saka, in, Bauchi
The Village head of Tafawa Balewa, Mallam Abdullahi Maigida and 206 others have filed a suit before the Bauchi State High Court against Bauchi State Government decision 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, the Bauchi State Local Government Service Commission and the Bauchi Emirate Council.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Rabiu Garba filed a motion exparte, 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, seeking interim injunction and other reliefs.
The Presiding Judge Justice Saad I Zadawa granted an order to the claimants to institute maintain and prosecute this 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 for hearing on the motion on notice.
Last December 2024 Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir 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 the siting of headquarters of thr Sayawa Chiefdom in Tafawa Balewa,
In several Press conferences they organized, they explained that Tafawa Balewa is not a Sayawa town and the creating a chiefdom inside Tafawa Balewa distorted the origin of the town and their history and it will 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.
