Peterkins Manyong
25 April 2008
Doh Gah Gwanyin of Balikumbat, who is on bail after appealing his 15-year jail term for murder, may soon be appearing in court again for assault.
According to a complaint dated April 16, addressed to the Ngoketunjia State Counsel, one Lawrence Bobga claims that Fon Doh's thugs recently got him severely beaten. The complaint states that he (Bobga) had just ended his sister's death celebration and was on a bicycle with his wife returning home when they saw Fon Doh's car parked on the road.
The moment the Fon saw him, he shouted orders to his aides to bring him. "A group of people immediately chased, caught me and dragged me with my bicycle to him,' he states.According to Bobga, Fon Doh gave me two "vicious slaps" and also kicked him twice. After that he asked why he (Bobga) passed without greeting him.
"He further asked me why I failed to attend his farm work. This question also earned me two solid slaps and kicks. Wasum, Balikumbat Mayor, joined the Fon to assault me," says Bobga.
Kingmakers Want Fon Doh Dethroned
Prior to the complaint, three kingmakers in Balikumbat had petitioned the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Marafa Amidou Yaya, calling for Fon Doh's dethronement as Fon
The position of the kingmakers is contained in a two-page document titled "Reminder To the Dethronement of Fon Doh Gah Gwanyin III and the Enthronement of A New Fon in Balikumbat Village."
The letter, signed by Doh Tangsin, Chairman of the kingmakers and two others, Doh Peloh and Doh Vat, recalls that several petitions and complaints had been addressed to the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, MINATD, on the subject.
The shooting in 1992 of one Henry Doba and the beating to death of John Kohtem on August 20, 2004 are not, in the opinion of the kingmakers, more grievous than the fact that he saw Kohtem's corpse contrary to tradition.
The letter reminds the MINATD boss that when in the past a Fon was found guilty of any of these acts, he was eliminated by the "gomba", a secret society in Balikumbat.According to the kingmakers, since such gomba eliminations are no longer permissible as they are contrary to modern state laws and human rights, they are left only with the dethronement of the former Fon and the enthronement of a new one.
The letter states that the kingmakers had on several occasions complained to the administration that Fon Doh is occupying the Balikumbat Palace illegally, but the administration has been silent on the issue.
"Your Excellency, it will be in the interest of peace, justice and development of the Balikumbat people that the government intervenes and assists kingmakers in replacing Fon Doh to avert catastrophe," the petition reads in part.
Contacted by phone, Fon Doh said everything had been cooked up and that the people doing it should look elsewhere for the genesis of their problems.Wasum could not be reached by phone to comment on the allegation that he joined Fon Doh in the alleged assault.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Post. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
