Political Violence@North: Not entirely political

Tamale, Sept 03, GNA - Alhaji Abdulai Ziblim, Regent of Gulkpegu has stated that the recent disturbances in the Tamale Metropolis and the Gushiegu District were not entirely political.

He said the disturbances had chieftaincy undertones as one Nan-Lana Abukari Ziblim, an aspirant to the Gushiegu skin, was among the three people, confirmed by the Regional Security Council, as having lost their lives in the Gushiegu disturbances, adding that, his own palace had being a target of attack.
Alhaji Ziblim was addressing a press conference on Wednesday, at his palace in reaction to the conflict that erupted between supporters of the NPP and the NDC in the Tamale Metropolis and the Gushiegu District, following the recent visit of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the NPP to the area.
The press conference was attended by the Regent's sub-chiefs and elders.
Alhaji Ziblim said the recent disturbances were just like the events leading to the 2004 general election, in which some people openly wielded arms and the recent registration exercise, which witnessed gun-shots at certain polling stations. He said: "In all these instances, nobody has been arrested and this gives the impression that some people are above the law because the police seem to be helpless in the circumstances".
On the announcement that a police Panther Unit would be dispatched to the Metropolis to retrieve arms from houses, the Gulkpe-Naa said he was at a loss for the reason behind the announcement and wondered if it was not meant to alert some people to hide their arms. He said it was the announcement that had informed him, his sub-chiefs and elders never to allow any security personnel to search their houses, adding: "We will not be caught hands down without any protection for others to attack us."
Alhaji Ziblim alleged that he had earlier invited the Northern Regional Minister, the Metropolitan Chief Executive and the Regional Police Commander to his palace to discuss issues relating to the violence but they failed to honour the invitation. He said in view of the volatile situation in Tamale and Dagbon in general, he would make an appeal to the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuyana Yakubu Abdulai Andani, to urge the government to suspend political activities in the area.