Enoch Shaks & David Kazi




Mushere youths, under the auspices of Mushere Youth Movement (MUYOM) have called on Governor Simon Bako Lalong KSGG to sustain his policy thrust in handling the selection process of Mushere paramount ruler by the legitimate Mushere custodians of culture and tradition (kingmakers) to avoid the break down of the fragile peace currently being enjoyed in the land.


President of the Association, Amb. Duwam Bosco M. Kutsokot made the passionate appeal during a World Press Conference after an emergency meeting of MUYOM at GSS Ikngwakap - Mushere on Sunday, May 30th, 2021.



The purpose of the meeting is to strategize and come up with a solution to some major challenges Mushere nation is facing at the moment.


The group decried a situation where some persons in Mushere land have hijacked the system and are playing God. This act, according to MUYOM has created an imbalance of leadership trust in Mushere nation citing the situation in Kawel village which is now over 27 years without a substantive village head, adding hat this long period of years the occupier of the position has been on acting capacity, including other villages like Margif, Horop and even the District Head of Mushere as a whole are still on acting capacities. 



MUYOM also lamented that the absence of substantive traditional leaders has worsen insecurity for lack of traditional direction since traditional rulers are the custodians of the people in their various communities.His words,

"We are surprised by the involvement of some intruders into the affairs of selection/election of the Mushere traditional Chief, an affair that is purely the responsibility of the Kingmakers, as clearly expressed to the whole world by His Excellency Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, the Executive Governor of Plateau State and the Chairman of the Northern Governors' Forum during the ceremonial burial of the late Ujah of Anaguta at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium,Jos. 

Can our Governor speak in multiple colours when he openly frowned at any individual, groups or tiers of government that is bent on interfering with the selection process of chieftaincy position that it is purely the affairs of kingmakers."

"The Governor went further to clarify a record of his trust policy that he replaced eleven (11) traditional vacant seats in Plateau State without litigation because he did not interfere with the process, this pronouncement earned him standing ovation and was highly commended by all. We want to appeal to His Excellency Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong KSGG to sustain his policy trust in handling the selection process of Mushere paramount ruler by the legitimate Mushere custodians of culture and tradition that is the kingmakers to avoid the breakdown of the fragile peace in Mushere land please".

"If government has any reason in delaying to announce the substantive and duly elected paramount ruler of Mushere, it is not by suspending the Mushere kingmakers by the acting Saf Ron-kulere to be an option please".


Find the full conference text text below for your reference:

Gentlemen of the press, it has become necessary to address you today on the challenges bedevilling our Youth activities, progress and the Mushere nation. You will recall that our Youth leadership had been marred by series of attempts to frustrate our leadership best known to those whose stock in trade is to destroy the peace of others, although their efforts didn't yield any positive results but has rather strengthened us and made us more courageous and determined towards promoting peace and the growth of the Mushere Youths. 

The challenges in prospect are as follows:



INSECURITY

We have been battling with insecurity where lives are lost and properties worth millions of naira are frequently been destroyed with little or no proactive measures taken by the respective community leaders because most of the Traditional rulers or village heads as the case may have been on acting capacity over the years.

The reason may not be farfetched; some persons in Mushere land have hijacked the system and are playing God. This act has really created an imbalance of leadership trust in Mushere nation, for instance, Kawel village is now over 27 years without a substantive village head and this long period of years the occupier of the position has been on acting capacity, other villages like Margif, Horop and even the district head of Mushere as a whole are still on active capacities. Tell me, how the nation will grow with this leadership tussles orchestrated by a microscopic few?

The absence of some substantive traditional leaders has worsen insecurity for lack of traditional direction since traditional rulers are the custodians of the people in their various communities. It is also pertinent to inform you that these acting chiefs are not doing what will please the majority of the people, rather, they are paying loyalties to their masters who imposed them on the people against the collective wish of Mushere land.

We also witnessed with dismay series of kidnappings, attacks by unknown gun men, rape and other barbaric acts in our land, It is unfortunate to witness this inhuman acts carried out in a small community of ours. Mushere Youths are not happy with the trend of negative activities unfolding, that is why we are calling on the Mushere Youths to be proactive and take strategic measures towards curtailing these menace which we believe can be accomplished in synergy with all the substantive village heads.

Of recent, some pockets of Fulani herdsmen have migrated from unknown destinations and are now residing at Kadim villages of Mushere land without the prompt permission of the village heads and it was reported to the Mushere Youths leadership which the leadership reported same to the local government chairman and other relevant security agencies within Bokkos Local Government Area where we thereafter collectively deployed a peace based approach through the village heads of Kadim and the acting Ardo of Mushere and at the end, the illegal migrants left the area peacefully.

The reason of asking them to leave was to avoid distrust between Musherians and the Fulanis who have stayed in Mushere land for long.

We want to thank the security agencies for keeping abreast with some of the challenges within their reach and we encourage that synergy should be established with the Youths and other relevant stakeholders to reduce this menace especially during this farming season.

Another challenge Mushere normally faced during this season is the issue of grazing on farm lands by some misguided Fulanis, we want to advise for the sake of peace that the doers should desist from doing such because the Youths will not tolerate any breach of peace anymore.

We have enjoyed living peacefully with most of the Fulanis who reside in Mushere land and we want to sustain that relationship if they choose to enjoy living in peace. 

Consequently, with the leak of an internal memo from the office of the Inspector General of Police intelligence department dated 19th May, 2021 a copy at our disposal which revealed that the Boko Harram Terrorists have a Plan to expand their frontiers of attack on major cities in Plateau State, Jos and FCT where Mushere community is not an exception from this threat by these elements of terrorism, we therefore call on Mushere Youths to remain vigilant and on red alert to avert any eventualities.


COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP INTERFERENCE

You will recall that part of our community challenges are associated with leadership interference with special emphasis on MUSHERE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (MCDA) and some traditional council positions as earlier mentioned above, series of attempts to proscribed the legitimate community leadership by some few individuals in Mushere land is disquieting, this, as a challenge to our community has hindered the leadership potentials towards building a united Mushere nation. The freedom to operate and exists as the representative of the peoples mandate has been jeopardized and we are calling on those involved in this to please repent from dragging a Modern community leadership back to the stone age.


We therefore urge those holding MCDA leadership to ransom to please for the sake of peace relinquish the association's leadership to the standing electoral committee that where entrusted by the superior decision making body the congress for them to conduct democratic election devoid of interference for the progress of the community, refusal to do so, may amount to distrust that may cause emotional conflicts.


RENOVATION OF NDISHANG (THE MISKHAKAM MUSHERE PALACE)

At the heat of preparation for the selection/election of the Miskhakam Mushere stool that has been vacant over the years as a result of the demise of the late Paramount Ruler, instead of focusing on the processes of selecting/ electing a new chief, some persons who think they are gods of Mushere people embarked on the renovation project of a palace in which other shades of opinions differed on the ill fated decision and they are being called names. What the voices of reason are saying is that, we should not put the cant before the horse as they called for concentration on selection/election of a new paramount Ruler first before visiting the renovation of the palace, and since then, Mushere people have been polarised.


The said Ndishang in the first place was built and donated to the district by a single Philanthropist Chief Amb. Yohanna D Margif (Am-bubwet Mushere and Waziri Mushere) which by clear conscience his attention would have been drawn before un-roofing the Palace that is still yet to be re-roofed. Mushere Youths appeal to those who ransacked the palace to roof the palace since they insisted on the project not in the interest of the community but personal gains to avoid losing the entire structure during this raining season.


We equally call on the palace donor, chief Amb. Yohanna D. Margif who also doubles as one of the Mushere Youth Movement (MUYOM) Patrons to please re-roof the palace in case the desperate efforts of those who ransacked the palace fails to do it because this mixed vision has adulterated the trust amongst the Mushere elites and the Youths, this equally gave an early warning signal of social injustice and emotional trauma especially to future donors.


SUSPENSION OF MUSHERE KINGMAKERS (NDASKHAKAM KUM)

We all recall that the culture and tradition of Mushere land has not changed for any reason especially the status quo of the Kingmakers and the source of their existence, they can never emanate through political process that can be politically influenced by any political player.


We have a letter at our disposal indicating the suspension of the Mushere Kingmakers by the acting Saf Ron-kulere, Bokkos Local Government. The Youths beg to know if the said brazen act is known by the acting Miskhakam Mushere, Mushere traditional council members, title holders and other Mushere elites?

This singular threat to Mushere custom and tradition is another early warning signal of setting Mushere nation into a horizon of conflict that may escalate beyond control.

We are surprised by the involvement of some intruders into the affairs of selection/election of the Mushere traditional chief, an affair that is purely the responsibility of the Kingmakers as clearly expressed to the whole world by His Excellency Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, the Executive Governor of Plateau State during the ceremonial burial of the late Ujah of Anaguta at the Rwang Pam township stadium. Can our governor speak in multiple colours when he openly frown at any individual, groups or tiers of government that is bent on interfering with the selection process of chieftaincy position that it is purely the affairs of kingmakers. The governor went further to clarify a record of his trust policy that he replaced eleven (11) traditional vacant seats in Plateau State without litigation because he did not interfere with the process, this pronouncement earned him standing ovation and was highly commended by all. We want to appeal to His Excellency Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong to sustain his policy trust in handling the selection process of Mushere paramount ruler by the legitimate Mushere custodians of culture and tradition that is the kingmakers to avoid the breakdown of the fragile peace in Mushere land please.

If government has any reason in delaying to announce the substantive and duly elected paramount ruler of Mushere, it is not by suspending the Mushere kingmakers by the acting Saf Ron-kulere to be an option please.


POLITICS

Sequel to the PLASIEC's released of the Local Government Election time table on the 18th May, 2021 that the commencement of campaign activities by political parties is slated for the 20th May, 2021 and subsequently the conduct of the election on the 9th October, 2021, we therefore call on Mushere Youths to involve in the process and participate according to the rules of the game. We equally advise and suggest that Youths who are willing to contest in various positions should approach their political ambitions with good conscience of representing their people within the context of trust, accountability and progressive development. The Mushere Youths have invested a lot in their political drives with less or nothing to be proud of, therefore I call on the Mushere Youths to support and throw their weights on any candidate who value the Mushere Youths and the land at large. We will not continue to be political slaves as youths with future mandate to achieve. 


CONCLUSION

Promoting peace and unity of purpose is a project of Mushere Youths Movement, we need peace in Mushere land, we need unity in Mushere land, we prefer development in Mushere land, we advocate for Social Justice.


Finally, on behalf of my fellow Executive Council members of the Mushere Youth Movement (MUYOM), I sincerely thank all MUYOM Members in Nigeria and in the Diaspora for giving us the solid support from inception despite series of challenges. We owe our patrons profound gratitude for their continues support and their advices, we appreciate all stakeholders who see value in the capacity of our leadership drive towards the progress of Mushere Youths and the Development of Mushere Nation at large.


Long live Mushere Youth Movement.

God Bless you all


MUSHERE YOUTH MOVEMENT (MUYOM) Dawam Bosco M-Kutsokot

President