From: Samuel Luka, Bauchi
Sons and daughters of the Zaar/Sayawa ethnic group on Saturday trooped to Tafawa Balewa town where they staged a peaceful rally in continued total support to the Gungzaar Select, retired Air Commodore Ishaku Komo who has been awaiting confirmation from the government of Bauchi state since his emergence over a decade ago.
The solidarity rally which was tagged, "Get Involved and Say the Truth", witnessed mammoth crowd in attendance, commending Governor Bala Mohammed's effort and zeal to actualize the long agitated Chiefdom with headquarters in Tafawa Balewa town.
Speaking at the rally, Comrade Ga'Allah Daniel, National Leader of Zaar Youth Development Association (ZAYODA) noted that the choice of Air Commodore Ishaku Komo in 2009 was spearheaded by the Zaar council of elders and stakeholders in line with the custom and tradition of the Zaar/Sayawa ethnic group.
He recalled that Komo was selected unanimously due to his impressive track record of being a successful retired general in the Nigerian Air Force and as an elder statesman.
The Zaar youth leader urged the state government under Governor Bala Mohammed to prioritize the choice of the majority Sayawa people over the interest of the minority, stressing that the Zaar Sayawa people are not divided in the choice already made, but rather facing opposition from a small group of people within.
He said "some people have misinterpreted the call for the solidarity rally, thinking it is aiming at protest but you have seen how it is going. The programme aims at appreciating the Governor for siting the Sayawa Chiefdom headquarters in Tafawa Balewa town", he said.
"Secondly, the rally is meant to appreciate His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed for his move to actualize the long awaiting Chiefdom, we really appreciate him and we also appreciate the mammoth crowd that graced the event", the Youth Leader disclosed.
Comrade Daniel who stated that this is the fifth year such event is holding, declared it will be done next year to appreciate the governor if he actualize the agitation by giving staff of office to the Gung Zaar-select, Retired Air Commodore Ishaku Komo.
He said that the rally was also an avenue to call on the entire Zaar people to unite and rally round Komo, the Gungzaar Select.
Commenting on external forces opposing the siting of the Chiefdom headquarters, the youth leader stated that the Chiefdom is purely for the Zaar community who have already taken a stand.
"If anyone is parading himself as a fraction, as far as I am concerned, I don't know any faction. So far, we are one", Comrade Daniel said.
The youth leader who stated that no Community agrees 100 percent on Chieftaincy issues, noted that 99 percent of the Sayawa population are solidly behind Komo, as such, the Governor should consider where the masses are heading to.
"The Governor is a man of peace, he want everyone to be carried along but he has the power to ratify the choice of the people or whoever he want but he doesn't want issue after the appointment, that was why he gave us the opportunity to come back home and sort out our differences amicably", he said.
Also speaking, Bitson Timothy Tafare, Secretary Zaar Traditional Council, debunked what he termed as unnecessary lies and fabrication of wrong information about the programme.
"This is an annual event, we use to meet and appreciate the effort of the Zaar people, the effort of the government and any other person God has used to contribute to the Zaar struggle", he said.
Tafare who regretted the attitude of some people misleading the public that Ishaku Komo was not duly selected, stressed that the Gungzaar Select was unanimously selected by the combined effort of the youth, traditional leaders and the elites.
"We are thankful to Governor Bala Mohammed who has developed the courage to have mentioned Tafawa Balewa town as the headquarters of the Chiefdom", he said .
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