President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed dismay over the sudden eruption of violence in Billiri town in Gombe State over chieftaincy tussle. Spokesperson to Mr. President, Garba Shehu, in a press statement on Monday, said the president appealed to the feuding parties to sheathe their swords and allow the civil process to prevail in the matter. President Buhari decried the resort to violence over the matter; he said he was “seriously disturbed by the outbreak of violence in Gombe State and call on the parties involved to exercise maximum restraint to avoid escalation.” “The easy resort to violence is uncalled for because there are enough avenues to resolve differences amicably without threatening law and order,” the President said.
“In a circle of violence, there are no winners, except losers,” advising Muslims and Christians to avoid the temptation of resorting to violence in order to express their grievances.
“Nigerians have shed enough blood over issues that could have been peacefully resolved. I appeal to the two parties to sheathe their swords for the sake of peaceful coexistence. Gombe has enjoyed relative religious harmony for decades and you shouldn’t allow hoodlums destroy this positive record.”
Mr. Buhari appealed to the feuding parties to sheathe their swords and allow the civil process to prevail.
An earlier report by The Nation newspaper had given details of how violence erupted in Billiri last week over the appointment of a new traditional ruler for the town, the Mai Tangale.
Protesters from Billiri and neighbouring villages had blocked the Gombe-Yola highway for three days, over the delay in the appointment by Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
The obstruction of traffic left people traveling between Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, and other parts of the country stranded on the highway.
The protesters alleged that Mr. Yahaya had the intention to appoint someone other than the man who got the highest votes from the kingmakers in the voting process.
They said Musa Maiyamba had received the votes of five of the nine kingmakers while his two rivals to the throne, Ahmadu Maiyamba, and Danladi Maiyamba got two votes each.
They insisted on the immediate announcement of the winner as the new Mai Tangale.
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