By D.I. Laary, GNA
Bunkpurugu (NE/R), Dec 28, GNA – Batt Major Dr Sylvester Alhassan Tintaangobr I, Divisional Chief of Denugo, has called on traditional leaders to cease being part of the problem to restore lasting peace and development within Bimobaland.
Addressing the 17th anniversary of the Tintaandinaliib Festival on Saturday in Bunkpurugu in the North-East region, the Denugo Chief challenged his colleagues to move beyond what he described as “ritual discussions” on peace and instead adopt honest, collective action to peacebuilding.
He noted that the persistent underdevelopment of the area reflected a choice of conflict over stability and development.
He urged traditional leaders to unite in fostering peace, stressing that no peace could exist without a shared commitment to progress.
Dr Tintaangobr expressed regret that for 17 years, the festival themes had always focused on peace, yet senseless killings and the destruction of properties continued to plague communities.
He stated that the traditional leadership cannot blame political authorities for underdevelopment while failing to create the necessary environment for growth.
Using a poignant metaphor, he said, “no one fetches water into a basket and expects it to get full,” emphasising that limited national resources should not be wasted on avoidable disputes.
To the chief, the factors fuelling instability were well-known but rarely addressed openly by those in power.
He mentioned key drivers of instability, including judgments influenced by bribery, favouritism, and clan ties, which he said breed bitterness and erode public trust.
He also cited unresolved land disputes and deepening clan-based polarization as threats more dangerous than tribalism because it prevented the people from seeing themselves as one. Interference by high-ranking chiefs in subordinate jurisdictions, he added, often sows injustice and division.
“This internal division is often exacerbated when high-ranking authorities interfere in the jurisdiction of their subordinates for selfish interests, sowing seeds of injustice that lead to wrong outcomes,” he said.
“If our judgments are influenced by favouritism, it creates bitterness, anger and division,” he added, warning that while the poor may not have the power to fight today, their children will eventually rise against the injustices suffered years before.
Drawing on a military analogy, the Chief suggested that to restore peace, leaders must first stop breathing life into the causes of the problem, explaining that the solution lies in removing the causes of conflict.
He urged traditional leaders to ensure transparency in justice, noting that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done to build public confidence.
This, he said, required a commitment to total impartiality and transparency in every dispute resolution mechanism.
He advised chiefs to consult broadly with elders to unearth truths and delegate family matters to family heads rather than adjudicating every case.
He also called for collaborative peacebuilding, urging leaders to partner with religious groups, women, youth, and other ethnic communities to build trust.
“Modern peacebuilding must also be collaborative, involving partnerships with religious groups, women, youth, and other ethnic groups to build lasting trust,” he stated.
the Chief presented what he termed a “simple equation” for the future of Bimobaland: Integrity plus Justice plus Trust plus Unity equals Peace.
He urged the current generation of leaders to make this a turning point so that future generations might inherit a land of harmony.
The Tintaandinaliib Festival is an annual cultural event celebrated to promote unity, peace, and the rich traditions of the Bimoba people.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade