Yo Na Abukari Mahama II- New Ya Naa For Dagbon
The leadership of the two royal gates of Dagbon – Abudu and Andani- has finally selected a new Yaa Naa to ensure peace in the area.
Nyab Yoo-Naa, the chief of Savelugu, was handed the cola of kingship by the Gushei Naa and Kug Naa in accordance with Dagbon tradition after the funeral rites for the late Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II, who died in 2002, was performed fully.
Yoo Naa Abubakar, head of the Andani Royal Family in Dagbon, takes over from the Kampakuya Naa, son of the late overlord of Dagbon, who temporarily occupied the skin pending the selection of a substantive Yaa Naa.
The traditional selection committee’s decision was in line with the Dagbon Constitution of 1930 and the Supreme Court’s verdict in December 1986.
In 1986, the Supreme Court ordered that only occupants of the gate skins of Mion, Karaga and Savelugu were eligible to contest the kingship of Dagbon.
The Supreme Court’s ruling also barred regents of the late overlord from becoming overlords of Dagbon.
Dagbon had been engulfed in a protracted chieftaincy dispute for over 15 years after the demise of Ya Naa Andani II, which had claimed several lives and destroyed properties.
The Yoo-Naa’s Secretary, Pelinaa, told DAILY GUIDE in an interview that the oracles were happy to present the cola of Yaa-Naa to the Yo-Naa.
He, therefore, entreated other contestants to accept the decision of the oracles.
The Peli Naa also called on the people of Dagbon, especially the youth, to promote peace in Yendi.
The Committee of Eminent Chiefs, led by Asantehene Otumfuor Osei Tutu II, convinced the Abudus and Andanis to adhere to the roadmap to peace in Dagbon, which led to the performance of the funeral rites of the late overlords of Dagbon Yaa Naa Mahamadu Abdulai and Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani.
The funeral rites for the late Yaa Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV commenced on December 14 and ended on December 28, 2018 after which the Abudus left the Gbewa Palace peacefully.
The Andanis also took their turn at the Gbewa Palace and performed the funeral rites of the late Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II from 11-18 January 2019.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia visited Yendi to witness the climax of the final funeral rites of the late overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani.
He was accompanied by the Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu, National Security Minister, Kan Dapaah, Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed and other government appointees.
The Kampakuya Naa Andani Yakubu Abdulai performed the circumambulation of the local deities to complete the funeral rites after which he rode on a horse and went round the old Gbewaa Palace and Katini House three times to signify the official end of the funeral for the late Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II.
Meanwhile the Minister for the Interior has on the advice of the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and by the executive instrument, imposed curfew from 5:00 pm-7:00am on Yendi and its environs effective 18th January, 2019.
According to the statement, the imposition of the curfew is to forestall any violence and ensure the maintenance of law and order in Yendi and its environs.
“Government urges the chiefs, elders, opinion leaders, youth and people of the area to exercise restraint in the face of the challenges confronting them, as well as use non-violent means to channel their energies into ensuring peace in the area,” a statement added.
The Minister for Interior also banned all persons in Yendi and its environs from carrying arms, ammunition or other offensive weapons, adding that any person found culpable would be arrested and prosecuted.
From Eric Kombat, Yendi