Funeral rites for Ya-Naa put on hold over fresh disagreement between Andanis, Abudus

The final funeral rites for the late overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Naa Abdulai Yakubu Andani II which was to begin today has been put on hold by the Andani royal family over a fresh disagreement between them and the Abudu family.

According to the Andanis, one of the palaces to be used for the performance of the funeral is being occupied the Bolin-Lana Abdulai Mahamadu, who is the Regent of the late Ya-Naa Abdulai Mahamadu I.

The Regent is said to have refused to vacate the Mba Dugu Palace, which is one of the key places to be used for the performance of the funeral rites as required by tradition.

Keys to the palace were said to have been given the Regent by the Northern Regional Security (REGSEC) after the performance of the final funeral rites of the late Ya-Naa Abdulai Mahamadu I.

At a meeting with the Asantehene Otumfuor Osei Tutu II in Kumasi this week to announce their readiness to the chief mediator in the Dagbon conflict, the Andanis requested the Asantehene to intervene to get the Regent out of the palace before today, January 4, 2019.

But the Andanis claim Thursday that the Regent was still occupying Mba Dugu Palace where the Chief Imam of Yendi is demanded by tradition, to go for Qur’anic recitals as part of the rites for the funeral of the late Ya-Naa.

After a family meeting on Thursday, the Andanis consequently resolved to put on hold, the planned funeral rites which was to last for two weeks beginning today.

They argued the Mba-Dugu Palace cannot be occupied by the Bolin-Lana as it against tradition and also hinder the complete funeral rites and installation of a new Ya-Naa should the kingmakers select a candidate.

They have tentatively fixed January 11, 2019, as the new date for the performance of the funeral rites, noting even the new date is subject to the relocation of the Bolin-Lana from the Mba Dugu Palace.

According to the Andanis, instead of the two-week funeral rites, they will perform everything within a week “the Andani Family already has a Regent so we will not need two weeks; We will use one week to perform the funeral”.

Meanwhile, some chiefs have been appointed to inform the entire Andani family members and their sympathizers on the new dates.

The Abudu royal family on December 28, 2018, climaxed the two weeks final funeral rites for the late Ya-Na Abdulai Mahamadu at the temporary Gbewa Palace.

Per the peace roadmap, the Abudus left the Gbewa Palace to allow the Andanis to also perform the final funeral rites of their overlord Ya-Naa Abdulai Yakubu Andani II.