Abudu Youth Warn Rawlings -Rejoinder

6th March 2007

RE :ABUDU YOUTH WARN RAWLINGS

The Bilingual Free Press newspaper of Friday, February 23rd, 2007 came out with its front page article with the above headline,

According to a so-called leader of the “National Abudu Youth’’ Alhaji Mugisu Seebawey, the former President H.E. Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings should desist from using the Dagbon crisis to score cheap political marks and to pursue his subversive agenda. Mugisu Seebawey and his Accra domiciled amorphous group shamelessly admit that what happened in Yendi during the period Monday, March 25th 2002 to Wednesday, March 27th, 2002 is indeed a national crisis and therefore needs a national solution. As a national crisis every Ghanaian or anybody or group, be it an individual, civil society organization, political party which values human life, respects the rule of law and champions human rights has the legitimate right to call on the government of the day to come out and arrest the perpetrators of the gruesome assassination of Ya-Naa Yakubu II (of blessed memory) and other loyal Dagbon citizens. The former President and numerous civil society organizations, political parties and individuals have not ceased calling on the government of President Kufuor to arrest the perpetrators of this criminal act, because the President and his government have refused to heed the call for the arrest of the criminals, but continue to preach for peace and reconciliation in Dagbon. The President has on numerous occasions told the good people of Ghana that under his administration freedom and justice which is the motto of the Republic of Ghana are working. The President is also praised by the international community for promoting the rule of law, good governance and human rights in Ghana. The unfortunate situation is that when the issue of justice is mentioned in Dagbon, a deaf ear and a blind eye is turned to it.

There is this wise African proverb: ‘’An old lady becomes uneasy when dry bones are mentioned’’ Mugisu Seebawey and his so called “National Abudu Youth” become very hysterical and angry any time any person or group calls for the arrest of the perpetrators of this heinous crime. We are tempted to believe that all those who become hysterical and angry any time mention is made of the arrest of the perpetrators either directly or indirectly participated in the commission of the act. If not so why should Mugisu and his group vent their anger on the former President for daring the government to arrest the perpetrators? Is it a crime for any person or group to call on the government to arrest the perpetrators? We believe Mugisu whose father was a mere Dagomba citizen would have kept quite if some armed bandits had in broad daylight killed him. Of late, a lot of Ghanaians including politicians are calling on the security agencies to find the killers of the Ashanti Regional President of the Ghana Journalists Association Mr. Samuel Ennin. This is a mark of democracy and respect for human life. Is it a crime for Ghanaians to call on the security agencies to find the killers of Mr. Samuel Ennin? Is Mugisu and his so-called “National Abudu Youth” telling the good people of Ghana that the widows and orphans of Ya-Na Yakubu II (of blessed memory) do not deserve justice?

Mugisu and his group allege that, they are aware of the former President holding secrete meetings with some Andanis to incite the Abudus in order to destabilize the country. The group also alleges that at such meetings the former President provides finance and arms

If Mugisu and his group are aware of clandestine meetings being held by former President and some Andanis what prevents them from reporting to the national security for them to be apprehended and dealt with according to the laws of the land We are certain in our minds that Mugisu and his colleagues have made this allegation to justify the arming of the Abudu family for a show down with our family should the Committee of Eminent Kings rightly refusie them occupation of the old or new Gbewa palace to perform late Mahamadu Abdulai’s funeral rites.

Mugisu and his group describe the crisis in Dagbon as fraternal confusion that has unfortunately reached an alarming proportion. They shamelessly admit that we are all one from one common ancestor. We agree that we are all one from one common ancestor. What is however worrying and disturbing is that, if we are all from one common ancestors and the late Na Yakubu II (of blessed memory) was our father, (i.e. all Dagbambas). Is it human for one to kill the father mutilate the body and rejoice with the severed arm and head on the streets and to date show no sign of remorse? We doubt whether during the Jahiliya, (age of ignorance) era of the Arabs, this kind of animalistic behaviour would have gone unpunished. This was the barbaric act Mugisu committed by and his group and do not want any body to criticize nor request for the arrest of the perpetrators.

Mungisu’s group dares the former President to cause the arrest of the perpetrators of the conflicts which occurred in Vogu, Diari, Gushegu and Karaga. All the above conflicts were caused by some disgruntled and disloyal Abudu wealthy men who are in key positions in this present government. Their agenda was to challenge the authority of the Ya-Naa. With this agenda in mind, they armed some ignorant Abudus to prevent people who were customarily enskinned by the Ya-Naa not to go to those towns. This was to show disloyalty to the Ya-Naa and to embarrass him. Despite all these, the Ya-Naa magnanimous as he was forgot of all these and gave such persons his total support come Election 2000.

The Road Map to Peace in Dagbon is supposed to fall in line with Dagbon customs and traditions as bequeathed to us from the period of Na Nyagse (1416). Our family has never shown disrespect to the Road Map for Peace as was agreed upon in March 2006.What we are against is the attempt by the Abudu family to call for the implementation of the Road Map without due regard to our cherished customs and traditions. These customs and traditions can not be at the behest of any selfish individual. The Road Map should be implemented but with due regard to Dagbon custom.

The funeral of the late Mahamadu Abdulai which has been held in abeyance since 1988 can only be performed according to his legal status of Bolin Lana. Any thing short of this may lead to an adulteration of Dagbon customs.

The Bilingual Free Press newspaper claims its intelligence reports indicates that genuine Andanis (emphasis ours) distastes the former President using them for his political interests. The Andani family as a whole does not subscribe to any politician be it the NPP, NDC, DPP, CPP or UGM using the family or Dagbamba in general to advance their political interest. The family shall however not hesitate to support any body including the N.P.P as a group which calls for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of March 25th 2002 – March 27th 2002 which culminated in the massacre of Ya-Naa Yakubu II, (of blessed memory) and many loyal Dagbon citizens. Kampakuya-Naa Abudulai is not an Andani Regent but the Regent of Dagbon and Acting President of Dagbon Traditional Council. He is therefore presiding over the whole Dagbon local State and is thus a father to all Dagombas .

To the Bilingual Free Press newspaper and all ignorant press men, Azorka is not a Dagomba. He has never attended any meeting held by the Andani Family. If he is perceived to be an Andani, it is because, he stands for the truth, and we of the family welcome any Ghanaian who stands for the truth and justice into our fold. Azorka should therefore be left alone

We advise Mugisu to concentrate on his job as a driver of the Ghana Health Service. He should not allow faceless people to write statements for him which he does not understand to thumbprint. He should desist from issuing vain threats. The threats are probably meant to cow the Government and not the Andani Family and our associates. Mugisu and his group should be aware that for the twenty-eight years that Na-Yakubu II (of blessed memory) occupied the Gbewaa Palace alone with his wives and children without any security at the palace, where was their bravery?. They should not allow Political power to blind them. Political power is like a pendulum, it swings on both sides. They should use the Political power they have now to advance the course of Dagbon to fight against abject poverty, diseases and ignorance which are our common enemies.

To all Ghanaians who are behind us in the fight against injustice, we say continue the fight until the real perpetrators and their collaborators are apprehended and prosecuted. This will bring true reconciliation to Dagbon. The billions of the tax payers money that are being squandered in maintaining so-called peace in Dagbon, will be saved and used to provide the citizens of Dagbon portable water, good roads and schools etc. etc.

Long live Dagbon.

Long live the North

Long live Ghana

May Allah Bless and protect all who stand for the truth and justice.

Signed

Alhaji Abdulai Silinboma (Chairman)

ANDANI ROYAL FAMILY YOUTH

P. O. Box 277, Tamale.