Bimbilla Residents Hopeful of Peace After Supreme Court Ruling

It’s barely two weeks to go for what many have described as a landmark Supreme Court verdict on the Bimbilla chieftaincy dispute.

This is going to be historic in the history of Nanung kingdom.

The township has been placed under a curfew for well over a decade now following some protracted chieftaincy conflicts.

Some residents in the area have called for peace before, during and after the verdict.

They called on the feuding factions to accept the outcome of the Supreme Court for the sake of peace and development.

Citi News reports that the Nanung kingdom has been under severe chieftaincy dispute since 2002, after the funeral of the late Nàa Abarika Atta II. The dispute has been as to who is the rightful heir to the throne.

The contest has been between the Late Naa Salifu Dawuni and the late Naa Andani Dassana.

Both the regional and the national houses of chiefs ruled in favour of the late Naa Andani Dasana, but unsatisfied Naa Salifu Dawuni took the matter to the supreme court determined to cite that the previous rulings were not per Nanung tradition.

Over 40 lives and properties have been lost through the chieftaincy conflict in Bimbilla.

And indeed, the future of Nanung kingdom is going to determined by the verdict of the Supreme Court come the 25th of April 2018.

This day will go down in history as the day a lasting peace would be restored in Nanung. Some residents of Bimbilla told Citi News that they hope the verdict by the supreme court will be accepted by all to allow peace to prevail.

“I expect that whoever wins the case in the court, everybody will accept it for the sake of peace because Bimbilla lacks behind when it comes to development. No professional wants to accept postings to the area, and even those around are leaving simply because there is no peace in the area. I am appealing to both sides to accept the Supreme Court rulings so that Bimbilla will also see development because the world is not waiting for us.”

Nyeb Sung Lana Yussifu Salifu Dawuni, the regent of the late Naa Salifu Dawuni, urged his supporters especially the youth to exercise restraint in ensuring that there is peace, before, during and after the supreme court verdict.

He said he has trust in the supreme court and believes that the verdict will go in his favour.

He, however, called on his supporters to celebrate in moderation when the verdict goes his way.

“I am urging all the people of Nanung especially the youth to be patient and do not try to do anything to undermine the law. I call on them to be law abiding, and I have a firm belief that the wheels of justice grind slowly and surely victory would be ours at the end. I believe the Supreme court judges are learned and are abreast with issues especially the culture and tradition of Nanung. I expect that they will do a what is expected of them for Nanung to experience total peace for development to come. I urged to respect the laws of the land.”

The regent of Bimbilla, Nyeb Nyelinbogu Naa Yakubu Andani Dasana cautioned persons involved in the Bimbilla chieftaincy dispute to desist from stoking disagreements.

” The palace is sounding a word of caution to all those who have turned themselves into chieftaincy dispute contractors and not wanting to see the end to this dispute to see themselves running out of business as their previous successes in not abiding by the two past rulings would not be tolerated this time around. The palace remains hopeful that the law will be in their favour and the 25th of April ruling will uphold the previous rulings by both the regional and national houses of chiefs.”

Over the Bimbilla dispute has resulted in the loss of lives and properties, over forty people have been killed since then.

Bimbilla over a decade and a half been under dusk to dawn curfew from 6 pm to 6 am.