N/R Security Council explains rehabilitation of mausoleum

Tamale, May 20, GNA - The Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has explained that it was the collective decision of the Council and not the Regional Minister alone to permit the rehabilitation of the royal mausoleum of the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi. The REGSEC said it only provided security for the rehabilitation of the royal mausoleum also known as the "Yilipani" or "Katini-duu" upon a request by the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Naa Abudulai Yakubu Andani. The Council made the explanation at a press conference in Tamale on Wednesday to react to an earlier one organised by the Abudu Royal Family on Tuesday.

At its press conference, the Abudu Family accused the Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Sumani Nayina of giving the Kampakuya-Naa the permission to rehabilitate the Katini-duu against some provisions of the Dagbon Roadmap to Peace.

The Abudu Family also accused the Regional Minister of bias in favour of the Andani Royal Family and, therefore, asked for his removal from Office.

Mr Nayina, who is also Chairman of the REGSEC, explained that the Kampakuya-Naa considering the deterioration of the Katini-duu wrote to the Council indicating his preparedness to rehabilitate the building and was, therefore, requesting for security to enable him to do so. He said the REGSEC discussed the issue and appreciated the fact that the royal mausoleum was a heritage of Dagbon and as such, it should not be allowed to deteriorate further.

Mr Nayina said the Council agreed that the rehabilitation would be beneficial to both Gates, as well as ensuring the sanctity of the Dagbon tradition.

He said the REGSEC was also duly informed that the Regent of the Kuga-Naa, who traditionally sees to the welfare and maintenance of the Katini-duu, was adequately consulted on the rehabilitation exercise. Mr Nayina said the Council tasked the Yendi Municipal Security Committee to contact the relevant stakeholders to assist in providing security for the rehabilitation works to be undertaken. He said: "It, therefore, came as a big surprise to the REGSEC when a press conference was organized by the Royal Abudu Family ostensibly to give the whole rehabilitation exercise a political twist."

Mr Nayina said in as much as the Council was determined to cooperate to find a lasting solution to the chieftaincy dispute in Dagbon, it would not engage in any act that would derail the peace process initiated by the Government through the Committee of Eminent Chiefs under the chairmanship of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. "REGSEC wishes to serve notice, and notice is hereby given, that the Council will deal swiftly and decisively with any person or group of persons, who intend to take the law into their own hands to achieve their selfish, parochial and political agenda", Mr Nayina warned. A chieftaincy dispute involving the two royal gates the Ya-Na Skin of the Dagbon Traditional Area - Andani and Abudu Gates - boiled over leading to the assassination of the then Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II and 30 others on March 27 2002.

The Government set up the Wuako Commission to investigate the mayhem, but up to date the perpetrators have not been apprehended, thus leading to an uneasy calm in Dagbon Traditional Area.