Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto
Hundreds of residents of Kucciyar Lalle in Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State, yesterday besieged the palace, seeking for the intervention of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, over alleged imposition of one Buba na Rafi as their village head.
Speaking with journalists in Sokoto, the leader of the group, Alhaji Nasiru Barade, said a wrong person was imposed on them as the village head by the Chairman of Bodinga Local Government Area, Alhaji Abubakar Dantsara and one of their district heads.
He noted with dismay that the council chairman allegedly imposed the village head on them, despite the fact that the residents of the village were in total opposition to the move.
Barade emphasised that the chairman was planning to install an associate and outsider who was never a heir to the throne.
“We are here to express our displeasure over the Imposition of one Buba na Rafi as our village head, despite the fact that he is not a heir to the throne.
“The council chairman wants to instal someone who is currently the APC vice chairman in the ward and not even from our village. We will never accept this because succession is hereditary in our tradition,†he said
He alleged that the chairman was only trying to compensate the vice chairman for the role he played in his election.
Barade said the residents decided to storm the palace to seek for justice rather than filing the suit in court.
“We strongly believe that the Sultan will intervene and ensure that the right heir to the throne is installed as the village head rather than an outsider.
“That is why we are here at the palace rather than going to the police or court to seek for redress.
“So, we are appealing to the Sultan and members of his council to stop the imposition and instal Sambo Barade who is the son of the late village head and the people’s choice,†he averred.
However, the chairman of Bodinga Local Government Area, denied the allegations, insisting that the new village head was elected by the district head and the 13 king makers.
He stated that the election was supervised by the representatives of the Sultan and that of the local government council, stressing that the new village head was not only a resident of the area but a heir to the throne.
