El-Rufai deposes two traditional rulers in Kaduna

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, has deposed Jonathan Zamuna and Aliyu Yammah, the traditional rulers of Piriga and Arak chiefdoms respectively.

Umma Ahmad, Kaduna commissioner for local government, announced the development in a statement on Monday.

Ahmad said the traditional ruler of Arak chiefdom was deposed for an unacceptable response to a query by the state government over an unauthorised appointment of four district heads and his non-residence within his domain.

She added that the traditional ruler of Piriga was removed because of communal clashes between Gure and Kitimi communities and also his non-residence within the chiefdom.

Ahmad said their removal was in line with the provisions of section 11 of the traditional institutions’ law No. 21 of 2021.

“The district head of Garun Kurama, Mr Babangida Sule, will oversee the affairs of Piriga chiefdom, pending the appointment of a new chief, while the council secretary has been directed to initiate the process for the appointment of a new chief,” she said.

“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.”