Gushegu Regent appeals for lifting of curfew
The Regent of Gushegu, Naa Abu Bawa, has appealed to the government to lift the seven-year-old curfew imposed on Gushegu.
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According to him, there was now relative peace in the area, for which reason he entreated the government to consider lifting the curfew for socio-economic activities to thrive.
He indicated that some unscrupulous persons, especially armed robbers, had taken advantage of the curfew to operate in the area.
The Regent made the appeal when the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Gushegu as part of the minister's working visit to the district last Tuesday.
Curfew
The government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Gushegu following political disturbances that led to the loss of lives and the destruction of property in the run-up to the 2008 general election.
The curfew has since been renewed every month.
Currently, four districts are under curfew in the region following intermittent conflicts in those areas. They are Bunkpurugu, Bimbilla, Nakpanduri and Gushegu where security forces have been deployed to maintain peace.
Water
Naa Bawa also appealed for the rehabilitation and expansion of the water system in the area to provide potable water for the people.
He said the district was also faced with the challenge of poor road network and further entreated the government to work on it to facilitate smooth transportation of people, goods and farm produce to the market centres.
Response
Responding to the appeals, Alhaji Limuna said the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) would study the security situation in the area and make the appropriate recommendations for consideration by the government.
He observed that chieftaincy and land disputes continued to be major threats to peace and development in the region.
"I spend about 90 per cent of my time as regional minister in conflict resolution, while a chunk of resources meant for the development of the region is also channelled into peacekeeping operations in conflict areas in the region," he stated.
Advice
Alhaji Limuna, therefore, appealed to king makers in the region to follow the right processes in selecting rightful heirs to thrones and skins to help minimise the violent chieftaincy disputes in the area.
He also advised factions in chieftaincy disputes in the region to use dialogue and the law courts to resolve their differences, instead of resorting to arms.
The minister noted that chieftaincy and land disputes in the region had retarded the development of the area and, therefore, appealed to all and sundry to embrace peace.
