*I remain Gbong Gwom Jos-Jacob Gyang The Plateau State* Government has
carved out Jos North and Riyom Traditional Councils from the Jos Joint
Traditional Council currently headed by the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang
Buba. This was seen by many as a move to reduce the influence of the
paramount ruler.
Governor Simon Bako Lalong had, last August, created new chiefdoms and
upgraded some, including the Anaguta Chiefdom in Jos North and that of
the Aten of Ganawuri in Riyom.
Lalong had followed it up with the presentation of a first-class staff
of office to the Ujah of Anaguta and Atar Aten of Ganawuri.
n a leaked memo written by the Commissioner for Local Government and
Chieftaincy Affairs, Dayyabu Garga, to the chairmen of Jos North and
Riyom Local Government Areas, the government stated that all the graded
chiefs, district heads, village heads and their staff, who are from both
local government areas, should henceforth constitute members and staff
of the newly created traditional councils.
The memo explained that Governor Lalong’s decision was in compliance
with Section 91(1) of the 2016 Local Government Law, adding that Section
91(3) of the law also states that the most senior traditional rulers in
each local government shall be presidents of Jos North and Riyom
Traditional Councils respectively.
The development has elicited controversy with many insinuating that
Jacob Gyang would no longer be referred to as Gbong Gwom Jos, but Gbong
Gwom Berom.
But Gyang yesterday dismissed the insinuation.
Speaking to Daily Trust through his media aide, Alex Rwang Pam, Gyang
said: “That is an absolute misconception and not a true reflection of
the implication of the current development.”
According to him, the position of Gbong Gwom Jos was the one gazetted and nothing has altered the provisions of that document.
Pam went down the memory lane to explain that the position currently
being occupied by Da Jacob Buba was first institutionalised as Sarkin
Jos on August 28, 1947, explaining that it was much later that the Berom
people re-coined the name to their own language “since ‘Gwom’ means
‘Sarki’ in that language.”
First class chiefs and emirs in the state are Gbong Gwom; Agwom Izere –
Jos East; Ujah of Anaguta – Jos North; Atar Aten of Ganawuri Riyom; Long
Gamai; Ngolong Ngas; Ponzhi Tarok; Emir of Wase; Emir of Kanam;
Miskaham Maghavul – Mangu LG; Utu Ugo Kiche-Bassa; Long Pan – Quaan Pan
LG; Saf Ron Kulera – Bokkos LG and Long Tehl-Mikang.
Source : Daily Trust Newspaper