THE Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has pledged its absolute neutrality in the Dagbon chieftaincy stalemate and expressed its commitment not to interfere in chieftaincy matters in the region.
“We wish to reiterate the stand of the REGSEC not to meddle in chieftaincy matters but we will be swift to intervene and deal with any situation that will endanger the peace and security of the area,” the council emphasised.
The Chairman of the REGSEC, Mr Stephen Nayina, who made the pledge at a news conference in Tamale yesterday, further appealed to the people to support the quest by the council to find a sustainable solution to the chieftaincy impasse.
According to the REGSEC, “We shall also continue to remain neutral in the Dagbon chieftaincy dispute and support actively all negotiations and moves by the government and the Committee of Eminent Chiefs to bring sustainable peace to Dagbon.”
Mr Nayina, who is also the Northern Regional Minister, however, sounded a word of caution to trouble makers in the region that “the REGSEC will deal swiftly and decisively with any person or group who intend to take the law into their own hands to achieve their selfish, parochial and political agenda”.
The news conference was in response to the reaction by the Abudu Royal Family over the rehabilitation of the Katini-duu (Royal Mausoleum) in the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi last Sunday.
At a press conference in Tamale on Tuesday, the Abudus accused the minister of bias in the handling of chieftaincy matters and appealed to the President to relieve him of his position.
They indicated that it was only a sitting Ya-Na who could authorise any work to be carried out on the mausoleum, in consultation with a sitting Kuga-Na.
“In view of the current peculiar circumstances in Dagbon today, where there is neither a sitting Ya-Na nor a sitting Kuga-Na, the family believes that it is only prudent that both Royal families abide by the provisions of the road map to peace on matters pertaining to the Gbewaa Palace,” they stated.
The minister, however, explained that the decision to provide security for the rehabilitation of the Katini-duu was not his alone but rather a collective decision arrived at by the REGSEC.
According to him, the council received a letter on May 3, this month from the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Naa Abdulai Andani, indicating his preparedness to rehabilitate the mausoleum, in consultation with the customary leadership.
“The council exhaustively discussed the issue and appreciated the fact that the mausoleum is the heritage of Dagbon and as such it should not be allowed to further deteriorate,” Mr Nayina indicated.
He said the REGSEC subsequently gave the approval and tasked the Yendi Municipal Security Committee to undertake consultations and also provide security for the rehabilitation works that were successfully carried out last Sunday.
“It, therefore, came as a big surprise to REGSEC when a press conference was organised by the Royal Abudu Family, ostensibly to give the whole rehabilitation exercise a political twist,” the minister said.
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