Adamu Yusuf
The Gidan Galadima, one of the founding royal houses of Lafia Emirate in Nasarawa State, has appealed to Governor Abdullahi Sule to ensure that the family is included in the proposed creation of additional District Heads in the state.
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The appeal was contained in a complaint letter signed by Mohammed Galadima Gana on behalf of the descendants and members of the family and made available to newsmen in Lafia on Monday.
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Gana expressed concern over what he described as an apparent move to exclude Gidan Galadima, also known as the Musa Gana House, from the proposed creation of additional districts in the Lafia Emirate Council.
He warned that any attempt to exclude the ten traditional founding houses of Lafia, particularly Gidan Galadima, from the proposed district structure could generate apprehension, anxiety and ill-feelings among the people of Lafia.
Gana appealed to Governor Sule to ensure fairness, justice and equity in the process, stressing that the proposed restructuring should reflect the historical contributions and traditional significance of all the founding houses.
He specifically urged the governor to personally examine the relevant sections of the committee’s report, particularly pages 98 to 108, before approving or implementing any proposal that excludes Gidan Galadima or any other recognised founding house from the proposed district structure.
According to him, Gidan Galadima is one of the ten founding and traditional title-holding houses that formed the foundation of Lafia.
He listed the houses as Dunama; Gayam Lafia (Lamino); Jarman Lafia (Jaji); Galadiman Lafia (Musa Gana); Talban Lafia (Umar Sanda); Magajin Mallam Lafia; Wambain Lafia; Zanwan Lafia; Kuyambanan Lafia; and Dallatun Lafia.
“These houses are not merely ordinary families or contemporary beneficiaries of traditional titles. They represent the historical and traditional constituent houses whose forefathers were instrumental in the founding and development of Lafia from its formative period around 1804,” he said.
Gana further highlighted the historical significance of Gidan Galadima, noting that the house produced Musa Gana, who became the fifth Emir of Lafia and reigned from 1844 to 1849.
He argued that the historical position of Musa Gana as Emir of Lafia demonstrates the traditional importance and standing of the Galadima House within the Lafia Emirate.
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He said it would therefore be difficult to reconcile the historical status of Gidan Galadima with any arrangement that excludes the house from participating in the creation of additional districts while other founding houses are being considered for new traditional administrative positions.
Gana also stressed that the history of Lafia Emirate showed that its traditional leadership was not founded exclusively on one family, as several of the founding houses produced Emirs at different periods.
He cited Jarman/Jaji House, which produced Musa Dan Jaji, who reigned from 1809 to 1814; Talba House, which produced Umar Sanda, who reigned from 1814 to 1819; Gayam/Lamino House, which produced Gayam Lamino, who reigned from 1819 to 1844, and Ari Dan Lamino, who reigned from 1866 to 1868; as well as Galadima House, which produced Musa Gana, who reigned from 1844 to 1849.
According to him, the fact that Dunama House produced a majority of the Emirs does not extinguish the traditional rights, dignity and historical status of the other founding houses.
He maintained that the history of Lafia Emirate was one of multiple founding houses and traditional institutions, rather than that of one house alone.
Gana lamented that descendants of several founding houses had, over the years, been progressively excluded from meaningful participation in the traditional administrative structure of the emirate.
He alleged that existing District Head positions in Lafia were, to a significant extent, concentrated among descendants of the Dunama House.
He, however, clarified that the family was not questioning the historical contribution of Dunama House or seeking to diminish the status of any existing District Head.
“Our complaint is against institutional imbalance and unequal treatment. It is our considered view that the present opportunity created by the proposed establishment of additional districts should be used to correct historical imbalance and restore fairness among the founding houses,” he said.
Gana further alleged that the Lafia Emirate Council had proposed Gayam Lafia and Wambain Lafia among the new districts while also proposing a substantial number of additional districts from the Dunama House.
He appealed to the governor to ensure that other historically recognised founding houses, including Galadima, Jarman/Jaji, Dallatu, Talba, Magajin Mallam, Zanwan and Kuyambanan, were given comparable consideration.
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The family expressed confidence in Governor Sule’s commitment to justice, fairness, peace and equitable treatment of citizens and traditional institutions across Nasarawa State.