All Imams of the various Divisions of the Gonja state (Savannah Region) have in letter to the office of the National Chief Imam appended their signatures and thumbprints affirming the Yagbon Imam of the Gonja State as the Savannah Regional Chief Imam.
This affirmation of the the Yagbon Imam of the Gonja State as the Savannah Regional Chief Imam is contained in a letter presented to the National Chief Imam and his Assistants by a delegation of the Sakpare or Kamagtey Clan of Gonja on 26th July, 2023.
Before presenting the letter that contains the message of the all Imams of the various Divisions of the Gonja state (Savannah Region), Alhaji Sumaila Mahama Somawura who led the delegation said Gonja Sakpare Imams, Islamic Clerics, Academicians, Professionals had a conference at Buipe in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region on Monday 22nd May, 2023 and the outcome of the conference was that the Sakpare or Kamagtey Clan of the Gonja Kingdom (Savannah Region) who are the custodians of Islam and Gonja Imamat petitioned the King and Overlord of Gonja Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale (I) and the National Chief Imam Sheik Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu for the acclamation of the Yagbon Imam, Sheikh Kassim Abdulai as the legitimate Chief Imam of the Savannah Region in accordance with undisputed Gonja customs.
Alhaji Sumaila also explained that the relationship between the Gonjas and Muslims began 348 years ago when Ndewura Jakpa met Mallam Mohammed Labayiru, also known as Fatu Morukpe and this was before he set out on his conquest of the vast land that became his Kingdom.
Alhaji Sumaila said Ndewura Jakpa entered into an agreement with Fati Morukpe and one of the terms of agreement was that Fati Morukpe would join the Gonja fighters in their battles for expansion and implore the help of God for their success and so the descendants the Sakpare ot Kamagte lineage were made the spiritual arm of Jakpa Kingdom with each of the divisions of Gonja having an Iman from Fati Morukpe’s descendants who are the Imams.
According to the Imams of Savannah Region and representatives of the Sakpare or Kamagtey Clan of the Gonja State they affirmed the Yagbon Imam of the Gonja State, now known as the Savannah Region as the Chief Imam of the Region, in accordance with the long-established custom of the Gonja State.
Meanwhile the letter of the Imams and Sakpare Leaders of the various traditional divisions or Municipalities and Districts of the Savannah Region copied to the King and Overlord of the Gonja State and President of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs Yagbonwura Bii- Kunuto Jewu Soale (I), as well as the Yagbon Imam or Supreme Chief Imam of the Gonja State (Savannah Region) and the
Gonjaland Youth Association, officially informed the National Chief Imam and the office of the National Chief Imam that Sheikh Abdulai Kassim, the incumbent Yagbon Imam, has been affirmed as the Savannah Regional Chief Imam and should be recognised as such for all purposes.
According to the Imams the position of Imams in the Gonja State, also known as Savannah Region, “is not exactly analogous to what pertains in other regions. Our system is unique and derives its source and strength from the history of the founding of the Kingdom itself. It is similar to how we select our chiefs or kings. This has helped to ensure peace over several transitions from one generation to the next”.
The Imams stated that the Gonja State has a Yagbonwura as the King and Overlord, who is a descendant of Ismaila Ndewura Jakpa (the founder of the Gonja Kingdom) and a Yagbon Imam, who is a descendant of Fatigi Morukpe (The founding Imam and spiritual partner of Jakpa). This arrangement is underpinned by the shared history of the founding of the Kingdom by their illustrious ancestors”.
According to the Imams of the various traditional divisions of the Savannah Region, the Yagbon Imam has long served as the leader of the Muslim community of the Gonja State, now Savannah Region and that a change to that status quo would be at odds with theie history and potentially undermine the peace of the Savannah Region.
The Imams in their letter stated; “To have anyone other than the Yagbon Imam as the Regional Chief Imam would be akin to having someone other than the Yagbonwura as the President of the Savannah Region House of Chiefs”.
The Imams in their letter affirmed that “the incumbent Yagbon Imam, Sheikh Abdulai Kassim is also the incumbent Savannah Regional Chief Imam” and that “every incumbent Yagbon Imam would similarly be recognized as the Savannah Regional Chief Imam”.
The Imams and Sakpare Leaders of the various traditional divisions or Municipalities and Districts of the Savannah Region also stated that; “all recognition due to the Regional Chief Imam must be accorded to the Yagbon Imam, hereinafter referred to as the Savannah Regional Chief Imam”.
The Imams and Elders of the Gonja Sakpare Clan in the Kingdom that signed a petition calling for Jirah Yagbonwura affirm the Yagbon Imam as the legitimate Savannah Regional Chief Imam in accordance with undisputed Gonja Custom include late Chief Imam of Buipe Alhaji Seidu Saaka, Head of Wasipe Sakpare Clan Alhaji Sumaila Mahama (Somawura), Chief Imam of Kpembe Mallam Mumuni Tikpiri and Chief Imam of Bole Alhaji Iddrisu Mohammed.
Others are Chief Imam of Tuluwe Mallam Shaibu Sulemana, Imam of Busunu Mallam Iddrisu Isshahaku, Imam of Sakpa Mallam Salue Mumuni, Head of Sakpare Clan of Damongo Mallam Sumani Moro, An Elder of Sakpare Clan at Deber (and Chief Imam elect of DeberTraditional Area) Alhaji Iddrisu Alhassan, an Elder of Sakpare Clan in Sawla Mallam Asumah Sulemana and an Elder of Sakpare Clan at Mankango Alhaji Awudu.
Source: nkilgifmonline.com
