Elders sub – chiefs and opinion leaders from the Nanton traditional area have reechoed, their earlier warning that, they will resist any attempt to impose the Ya-Na’s candidate, Vo Naa Muhammadu Baba Bawa, on them as Nanton Naa.
According to the elders of the Nanton, before the performance of the final funeral rites of late Nanton Naa Alhaji Sulemana, a petition was sent to the overlord of Dagbon and that was followed by a delegation to the Gbewaa palace to reminded him of the need to undertake serious research and broad consultation in the selection of who becomes a Nanton Naa.
They claimed all their written and verbal petitions were overlooked by the Gbewaa palace and that has led to the current confusions in the area.
The elders of Nanton stated their outright rejection of the Vonaa as new Nanton Naa.
Speaking to Diamond News on behalf of the elders, Abdulai Mugtada, denied the assertion that Zoosali Lana, Alhaji Haruna Tia Sulemana is the cause of current happening in Nanton.
He indicated that all communities within the Nanton jurisdiction resolved to accept only Zoosali lana as chief of Nanton and therefore are appealing to the overlord of Dagbon to give Nanton traditional area an Abudu chief preferably Zoosali lana.
The Nanton community has since Sunday being in protests against the decision by the overlord of Dagbon, Ya Naa Abukari Mahama II to enskin an Andani as chief of Nanton.
Read the full Statement below
PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THE ELDERS, SUB-CHIEFS, OPENION LEADERS AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF NANTON TRADITIONAL AREA ON 5TH APRIL, 2019 AT NANTON
The elders and opinion leaders of Nanton, Invited Media houses present, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great honour and privilege to gather here this morning to brief you on the prevailing chieftaincy matters in our beloved Nanton.
Ladies and gentlemen, we start by indicating to the whole world that, prior to the funeral of the late Nanton Naa Alhaji Sulemana, a petition was written to the overlord of Dagbon followed by a delegation to his royal palace. The mission was simple. We indicated that, for the sake of peace in the Nanton Traditional Area in particular and Dagbon at large, there was the need for serious research and consultations to be done to select a chief who shall be readily accepted by all. We did indicate that, failure to select the right person for the area could set a stage for deadly crisis. We did that just to prevent what is currently happening in Nanton from happening.
Surprisingly, all the issues that were put before the overlord in that petition had been overlooked. It was a great shock to all the elders and people of Nanton when we got the news that, it was the Vonaa who was appointed to be the next Nanton Naa. Since then, there has been unrest in the Nanton Traditional Area. We are at crossroads. However, we the citizens of the Nanton Traditional Area have vowed to fight to the last drop of our blood to prevent the entry of the Vonaa into our traditional area as our chief. Some of the reasons for our position are stated below;
Firstly, all the elders, sub-chiefs, opinion leaders and all the people of Nanton Traditional Area do not accept the Vonaa as the chief of Nanton. However, these are the very people he is going to be working with as a chief and these same people are saying they will not accept him to be the chief let alone work with him.
Secondly, the District is comprised of five paramountcies, namely; Kpano, Zoggu, Nyoligu, Tampion and Nanton. Four(4) among these five(5) are occupied by chiefs from the Andani royal family. It is only Nanton which was previously occupied by a chief from the Abudu gate. Giving it to Vonaa who is also from the Andani gate will mean all the paramountcies in that area have been taken up by the Andanis to the disadvantage of the Abudus,which is not fair.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is interesting to note that, among the over twenty (20) contestants to the Nanton skin, only Vonaa and very few others are from the Andani gate. However, it is known that the Abudus for the sake of peace do not usually contest the skins that are predominantly Andanis. How come the Vonaa’s decision to contest the Nanton skin which is predominantly Abudus and has even been considered and appointed over all the Abudus? We suspect an ulterior motive.
Ladies and gentlemen, we conclude that, the Zoosali Lana has no hand whatsoever in the current happenings in Nanton. We the people of Nanton and its communities have resolved not to accept any other person as the chief of Nanton except the Zoosali Lana Alhaji Haruna Tia Sulemana. This position is fully endorsed by;
Nanton Wulana
Nanton Kambon Naa
Chief Imam of Nanton
Mba Naa of Zion
Kulashe Naa
Sanvuli Lana
Yidan Gunu
Maachendi
Youth Chief, Zaachi
For everlasting peace to prevail in the Nanton Traditional Area, we plead with the overlord of Dagbon to give us an Abudu chief, preferably, the Zoosali Lana Alhaji Haruna Tia Sulemana.
Thank you everyone for coming. Long Live Dagbong! Long Live Nanton! God bless you all.
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