Dagbon on course for peace
The Daily Graphic expressed its joy at the commencement of the final funeral rites of Yaa Naa Mahamadu Abdulai on December 14 through to 28, 2018.
The rites have been performed successfully, with preparations underway for the funeral rites of Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani.
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Per the road map for the return of peace to Dagbon, the Abudus will leave the Gbewa Palace for the Andanis to occupy it to observe the rites from today, January 4 to 18, 2019.
This is an affirmation of the determination of the people of Dagbon to give peace a chance for development to take place in the land.
The Daily Graphic recalls that at the onset of activities for the funeral rites of Naa Abdulai, we expressed worry over some disagreements among the Andani Gate over the peace process.
We said at the time that such disagreements were normal in any peace-building effort and expressed the confidence that it was not above the family to settle their differences and ensure that the road map that had been generally agreed upon would be followed.
We are happy to note that by and large the family has ironed out its differences and consequently called on the President to express its preparedness to ensure the smooth implementation of the road map to peace.
As we congratulate the people of Dagbon on the peaceful way the funeral rites of Naa Abdulai were held, and the Andani Family on settling its internal differences, we appeal to the people to be one another’s keeper and ensure that the funeral for Naa Andani is also held in a peaceful manner.
Our conclusion from the peaceful manner in which the peace process is being handled by both gates is that the people are determined to make the peace process succeed this time round.
We thus appeal to the government to marshal the necessary human and material support for the area to firm up the peace process.
We also ask the main actors in the conflict to avoid anything that will be a distraction to the good cause they are pursuing.
Our appeal to the sons and daughters of Dagbon is to seize the opportunity to usher in a new dawn of hope, while at the same time we ask community and opinion leaders, especially Muslim clerics (since the areas is dominated by Muslims) to preach peace, tolerance and understanding among neighbours in Dagbon.
In this vein also, we call on the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to use its expertise and experience to avoid the temptation to listen to people who are bent on fulfilling their personal ambitions and selfish desires at the expense of the peace and development of the area.
We cannot for sure discount such tendencies that have marred previous attempts to resolve the matter, but this opportunity is so huge and precious to be allowed to slip by.
Dagbon must, therefore, remain vigilant and bare its hostility and aggression towards any individual or groups of persons who would want to rewind the clock of progress to return the area to sustainable peace and development.
The Daily Graphic notes the cultural harmony and time-tested traditional system of administration of Dagbon for centuries.
And this is what we want returned to the land for the people and others to copy to bring accelerated development to themselves and the entire country.
We convey our heartfelt condolences to the people of Dagbon in this time of grief and wish them well.