Governor Sule Approves Appointment of New Chiefs in Nasarawa State

 

By Kure Tashilane

 In a move to fill vacancies created by the recent passing of some traditional rulers, Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule, has approved the selection and appointment of new chiefs for three chiefdoms in the state. The newly appointed chiefs are Agya Pius Ogu as the new Zhe Duglu, Mr. James Bala Angbazo as the new Aren Akun, and Mr. Omanji Sarkin Emmanuel as the new Sangarin Dari.

The selection process was conducted by the kingmakers of the respective chiefdoms under the supervision of a committee set up by the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development, and Chieftaincy Affairs. The State Traditional Council of Chiefs, led by His Royal Highness Sidi Bage Muhammad I, the Emir of Lafia and a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, ratified the appointments during a meeting at the Government House Council Chamber on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

Governor Sule, while receiving the nomination documents, expressed his gratitude to the officials of the Ministry for Local Government, Community Development, and Chieftaincy Affairs for ensuring that the selection process adhered to the approved guidelines. He also thanked the presiding officers who oversaw the process in the three chiefdoms and apologized for the delay in selecting a chief for the Agidi stool, citing unresolved issues.

"I do not want to have any situation where we will have any problem whatsoever in this selection process. We are doing everything possible to ensure that we are in compliance with the provisions of the law and that whatever we are doing aligns with the wishes of the people of those communities. Governor Sule stated.

He emphasized the importance of avoiding situations where the government's decisions conflict with the desires of the community. The Governor highlighted that the selections for the Duglu, Akun, and Dari chiefdoms were conducted transparently, with the nominees receiving the highest votes from their respective kingmakers.

"Agya Pius Ogu, who scored the highest number of votes, is hereby approved as the new Zhe Duglu. James Bala Angbazo, who received all the votes, is approved as the new Aren Akun. Similarly, Omanji Sarkin Emmanuel, who received all five votes, is approved as the new Sangarin Dari,**" Governor Sule announced.

The Governor also commended the royal fathers for their contributions to the selection process, noting that such efforts require significant collaboration. He expressed hope that the new chiefs would integrate seamlessly into the State Council of Emirs and Chiefs and urged all traditional rulers to continue promoting peace and development in the state.

"Your Royal Highnesses, you will note that there has been a lot of interest in our state, particularly in Dari, Kokona Local Government Area, due to the discovery of minerals. Abaga Toni is poised to become another Osana of Keana,**" Governor Sule remarked, underscoring the growing investor interest in Nasarawa State.

The event was attended by members of the State Traditional Council, the Deputy Governor Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, the Secretary to the State Government Dr. Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Government, Community Development, and Chieftaincy Affairs, and other ministry officials.