At the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi last Friday, during the installation of the new Regent for Dagbon, former Vice President and NPP flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, stood before chiefs, elders and subjects not just as a statesman, but as a son who remembers.

In a speech delivered in Dagbani and laced with nostalgia, proverbs and prayers, Dr Bawumia paid a touching tribute to the late Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II and urged the newly installed Regent, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu Abukari, to preserve the peace and unity of the Dagbon Kingdom.

It was a moment of remembrance, laughter, reflection and legacy.

The palace grounds fell silent as Dr Bawumia began to speak, but the atmosphere soon turned lively.

"My relationship with the late Ya-Na did not begin in Yendi. It began in Savelugu, when he was Yoo-Naa," Dr Bawumia said.

He recalled a campaign visit to Savelugu in 2016, when he paid homage to the then Yoo-Naa as the NPP's vice-presidential candidate. Dr Bawumia recounted a memorable exchange that set the tone for his tribute.

"I said to the Yoo-Naa: If a man has two wives, and he only tastes the soup of one wife, how will he know which of them cooks the better soup?"

The gathering erupted in laughter as the proverbial analogy resonated with the audience, including chiefs, elders and President John Dramani Mahama.

"What I meant," Dr Bawumia explained with a smile, "was that the people of Dagbon should also try the NPP."

As he continued his tribute to the late Ya-Na, the mood shifted from laughter to reflection.

Dr Bawumia noted that, as fate would have it, he later became Vice President while the Yoo-Naa ascended to the throne as Ya-Na. He said the late overlord played a crucial role in consolidating peace and unity in Dagbon after years of conflict.

He described the late Ya-Na as a father figure and a man of wisdom, patience and peace whose leadership helped heal the kingdom and strengthen its unity.

According to Dr Bawumia, their relationship was built on warmth and deep mutual respect, stretching from Savelugu to the ancient throne of Yendi.

'Protect what he built'

The former Vice President then turned his attention to the newly installed Regent, Kampakuya-Naa Yakubu Abukari.

He congratulated the Regent and offered prayers for his successful stewardship, urging him and the people of Dagbon to preserve the peace, unity and stability established under the late Ya-Na.

Dr Bawumia said the greatest tribute that could be paid to the late king was to safeguard the harmony he worked hard to restore.

His address served as a reminder that Dagbon's enduring strength lies in its rich traditions and in the commitment of its leaders to place the interests of the kingdom above all else.

The installation ceremony itself was a colourful display of Dagbon's rich customs and traditions, featuring traditional regalia, drumming and dancing, as people travelled from across the country to witness the historic occasion.