Jonathan Zamuna and Aliyu Yammah, two traditional chiefs of the Piriga and Arak chiefdoms, have been dethroned by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Governor El-Rufai will step down on May 29, 2023. Tthe dethronement was announced by Umma Ahmad, the commissioner for local government in Kaduna state.
The Commissioner asserted that Zamuna, the Arak chiefdom’s traditional leader, was ousted as a result of his unsatisfactory response to the state government’s inquiry into the illegal appointment of four district heads and his non-residence within his realm.
According to Ahmad, the traditional monarch of Piriga was deposed due to disputes between the Gure and Kitimi groups as well as his absence from the chiefdom.
She said that the removal of the traditional rulers was in accordance with section 11 of the statute no. 21 of 2021 governing traditional institutions.
The Commissioner stated that “The council secretary has been asked to begin the process for the appointment of a new chief. Mr. Babangida Sule, the district head of Garun Kurama, will oversee the operations of Piriga chiefdom until a new chief is appointed.
“Mr Gomna Ahmadu, the council secretary of Arak chiefdom, will oversee the affairs of the chiefdom and also initiate the process for the appointment of a new chief.
“The government found unacceptable the response of HH General Iliyah Yammah to the query regarding his appointment of four district heads, contrary to the one approved for his chiefdom, and his non-residence within Arak chiefdom.
“The deposition of HH Jonathan Zamuna follows the recent communal clashes between the Gure and Kitimi communities of Piriga chiefdom in Lere LGA, and his non-residence within the chiefdom.”
