…Decries “Attempts to destabilize peace in Atyap Chiefdom.”
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA), the umbrella body of Atyap natives, says the petition against His Royal Highness, Agwatyap, Sir Dominic Gambo Yahaya, is a deliberate attempt to destabilize peace in Atyap Chiefdom and Zangon-Kataf LGA in Southern part of Kaduna State.
The ACDA, in a statement on Tuesday asserted that a petition by a group of ‘Concerned Residents of Zangon Urban’ has been circulating, alleging growing injustice and oppression against the Hausa and Fulani community in the Zangon Urban, describing the allegations as “false, dangerous, provocative, unfounded and highly divisive anonymous petition.”
Signed by its President, Dr. Samuel T. Achie, the association viewed the said write-up as a “desperate and malicious attempt to tarnish the hard earned reputation of the Agwatyap, and a direct assault on the peaceful coexistence the communities and people in Zangon-Kataf, Sen. Uba Sani and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu governments, have worked tirelessly to build over the years.”
According to ACDA, the contents of the said petition are not only manifestly false, but inciting, inflammatory and reckless, with the potential and intention of destabilizing the peace and provoke avoidable ethno-religious tensions in the area.
The association, therefore, called on the security architecture in the land to unearth these so-called ‘concerned citizens’ and bring them to book.
ACDA added that the petition, which has been in circulation, reads parts: “We, the concerned members of the Zango Urban community in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, Kaduna State, hereby bring to the attention of relevant authorities, stakeholders, and peace-loving Nigerians the growing injustice and oppression being perpetrated by Agwa Atyap (also known as the traditional ruler of the Kataf people) against our peaceful communities that made up the Atyap Chiefdom.
“Shockingly, Agwa Atyap, under whose traditional authority we fall, has chosen to misuse his powers by oppressing the Zango Urban community. Alongside some of his chiefs and prominent Kataf individuals, he has denied our people access to their farmlands, lands which our forefathers have cultivated for over 400 years,” it stated.
ACDA, in the statement stressed, “It is so disturbing because the said petition is against a leader known by many Hausa and Fulani in Zangon Kataf, to be generous, compassionate and fair to them.”
The association added that, everybody also knows Atyap to be an ambassador of peace; with outstanding records of maintaining lasting peace in the face of unprovoked attacks, maiming, burning and killings in his domain.
ACDA, therefore, categorically stated that, “That, His Royal Highness, Sir Dominic Gambo Yahaya, the Agwatyap, is a peace-builder and statesman who has consistently championed inclusive dialogue, just and fair dealing in his Chiefdom and peaceful coexistence among all ethnic and religious groups in his domain, including the Hausa and Fulani of Zango Urban.
“That some disgruntle negligible elements in Zangon Kataf settlement, who disguise themselves as ‘Concerned Residents of Zango Urban,’ are not happy with the sustained peaceful coexistence in Atyapland, Southern Kaduna and Kaduna State in general, brought about by the deliberate action of His Highness, the Agwatyap, Sen. Uba Sani and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“They are, therefore, bent at creating ethno-religious tension in Kaduna State, starting with Zangon Kataf. This would not happen in our land and among our people.
“That the allegations of land seizure, targeted harassment, or ethnic oppression are entirely baseless, malicious and without any iota of truth. These claims are fabricated to mislead the public and incite hatred against the Atyap people and their leadership,” it stated.
The association challenged the authors of the petition to come out publicly and prove the allegation contained in the petition.
The body also clarified that, “Land or farm land in Atyapland, like in any other communities in Nigeria, are not owned by tribe or ethnic group but by individuals or families and, that, land disputes are either between individuals or families.
“Such disputes are always settled through traditional arbitration or, in the regular courts, and not through incitement or blackmail of traditional leaders or ethnic groups. We wonder why the faceless land claimants are afraid to come out publicly and lodge their grievances with the appropriate organs or institutions.
“The government should act fast to ensure the peace process put in place by His Highness and the leadership of the Atyap Community Development Association is not truncated by the so-called faceless ‘Concerned Residents of Zangon Urban,’” ACDA stated.
According to Atyap, “The said petition is clearly the handiwork of a few mischief-makers and ethnic chauvinists claiming to be ‘Concerned Residents of Zango Urban’ whose agenda is to sow seed of discord and revive the dark days of communal violence. We shall resist this with all lawful means available.”
They also described it as very unfortunate and shameful that the traditional leadership in Zango Urban District claimed “helplessness” in calling the miscreants parading themselves as Concern Residents of Zango Urban to order, despite accepting that the contents of the petition are blatantly false and defamatory.
“This amounts to tacit endorsement of illegality that should attract disciplinary measures and reprimand,” they added.
ACDA called on the so-called ‘Concerned Residents of Zango Urban and the traditional leadership of Zango Urban District’ to henceforth desist from sponsoring, supporting or turning a blind eye to inflammatory propaganda targeted at the leadership of the Atyap traditional institution and, by implication, the peace-loving people of Atyapland, as the days of doing so and getting away with it are over.
“All hands should be on deck to sustain the peace we are enjoying in our land. We demand a retraction of the inciting and libelous publication immediately, as failure will be interpreted as a direct provocation and deliberate sabotage of peace efforts in our land.
“We call on the security agencies to carry out detailed investigation to unmask the authorship and intent of the petition and bring the perpetrators to book before they plunge Zangon-Kataf into violence.
“We reaffirm our loyalty and unwavering support for His Royal Highness, Sir Dominic Gambo Yahaya, the Agwatyap, Zangon Kataf Local Government, the Kaduna State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria, and pledge that we will remain law abiding at all times.
“We urge all our sons and daughters and well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the said petition in its entirety, as we await the action of the security apparatus in the area to swiftly do the needful,” they stated.