DAGBON PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED BY DAGOMBAS - ALIU (PAGE 12, NOV 26, 2010)

THE former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama has observed that efforts being made by the government and other bodies to resolve the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis would not yield any positive results, except the people of Dagbon were willing to put behind them their disagreements and embrace reconciliation.
According to him, no “outsider” can bring peace to Dagbon if the people themselves are not prepared to share the olive branch, adding that “nobody can solve the Dagbon crisis except Dagombas themselves.”
Alhaji Mahama made these statements when he addressed a press conference at his Kalpohin residence in Tamale, after he made what a return back home to fraternize with his people.
He said he was devastated by the level of rivalry between the two feuding sides, the Abudu and Andani gates, and asked “how can we be so annoyed with ourselves such that we do not even see the need to unite,” he stated.
“We would be lying to ourselves if we think that somebody is coming to solve our problem for us. Dagombas have to sit up because Ghana cannot wait for us,” he further stated.
Alhaji Mahama noted that there were traditional dispute resolution mechanisms in Dagbon that could be implored to solve the dispute instead of “allowing outsiders to continue to use us for their political gains.”
He however refused any comment on the current court case, except to entreat the people of Dagbon to wait for the outcome of the case, adding that “perhaps, after the ruling, we will learn our lessons.”
The former Veep said during his visit to the various Muslim prayer sites, he challenged the clerics to use the pulpit to sober the hearts of Dagombas to enable them reconcile.
He said he was shocked that there were religious leaders in Tamale and yet people who worshipped with them had so many misgivings about each other.
He also entreated Dagombas to come together and shun people who sought to divide, instead of unite, them.
“When people come to you to talk of prosperity, receive them with open hands, but if they talk of Abudu and Andani, hoot at them,” he suggested.
Alhaji Mahama debunked reports that the Kufour government was behind the bloody events that happened in Yendi in 2002, which led to the unfortunate murder of the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II and many others.
He said the government was “shaken” by the incident and that it did everything possible to resolve the matter, such as the formation of the Wuako Commission and the Committee of Eminent Chiefs.
Aside the Dagbon crisis, the former number two statesman spoke on a number of issues including attempts being made to accelerate the development of the Savannah.
He said due to the agrarian nature of the northern economy, much efforts needed to be made in increasing farmer’s access to loans to enable them acquire inputs to increase production.
Alhaji Mahama also stressed the need for more roads to be upgraded to facilitate the movement of both agricultural produce to market centres.
“Government needs to create an enabling environment for the private sector to set up factories in the north, so as to provide employment to our people,” he further recommended.