Gombe Govt. appeals for calm over appointment of paramount ruler

Gombe State Government has appealed for calm over alleged delay in the appointment of the next paramount ruler of Tangale Chieftdom.

Reports state that there was a protest on Wednesday in Billiri Community, Billiri Local Government Area of the state, over what the people described as delay in the appointment of the 16th Mai Tangale.

At a news conference on Thursday in Gombe, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, said that there was need for the people to remain calm.

According to Njodi, the state government was following the law with regard to the appointment, in the interest of the people.

He said that the law on the appointment stipulated that the governor should be given three names by kingmakers of the Tangale Chieftdom, from where the governor would choose one.

The SSG said the governor had to go through the names submitted by “doing a background check”.

According to him, it is the prerogative of the governor to pick the best in his own consideration.

“Any sentiment or distrust in the process is uncalled for, because the three names submitted to the governor are bonafide sons, and all of them belong to the same lineage,” he said.

Njodi said that the state government was doing its best to carry everyone along while making consultations.

He added that there was no timeline for the governor to announce a new paramount ruler