Plateau State Governor and Chairman Northern Governors Forum, Barr Simon Bako Lalong has expressed deep sadness over the death of a First Class Traditional Ruler in Plateau State, the Mishkaham Mwagavul, Da Nelson Bakfur who joined his ancestors on Tuesday.
Lalong during a visit to the family of the monarch in Kerang, Mangu Local Government, said he received the news of the passing of the royal father with shock and grief as the deceased was a peacemaker and a rallying point for not only the Mwagavul nation, but the entire State.
Lalong said “Da Nelson Bakfur did a lot to promote peaceful coexistence and development in his domain since assuming office as Mishkaham Mwaghavul in 1999. As the Chairman of the Mangu Traditional Council, he was very instrumental to the substantial peace recorded in the Local Government as well as the confidence building that grew among various ethnic groups in the area. This facilitated the resolution of many disputes which prevented escalation”.
The Governor also paid tribute to the late Royal Father for his passion for economic emancipation of his people as well as paying special attention to educational development. He said the Royal Father also motivated the people to participate in agriculture and produce food for the State and nation at large.
While encouraging the immediate family and the Mwagavul nation to accept the passing of the late royal father as the will of God, Lalong challenged them to keep his legacies alive and continue to imbibe his good virtues.
Responding, Da Philemon Mutang, District Head of Kerang said the visit of the Governor to the family is consoling and reassuring which further demonstrates the good relationship that existed between the Governor and the late Royal Father.
Similarly, Senator representing Plateau Southern Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Nora Dadu’ut has described the late traditional ruler as a quintessential royal father who lived his life for the growth of his community as well as Plateau in general .
Daduut in a press statement issued to Journalists in Jos on Tuesday said, “As a traditional ruler, his community and people enjoyed peace, as there was no crisis whatsoever in the town and there were visible socioeconomic and infrastructure development during his reign”.
She said the late traditional ruler was an iconic traditional ruler who lived for his people, adding that he strived to see to the socioeconomic development of Mwaghavul land and its environs.
The senator said that the late Mishakagham Mwaghavul
had many great visions for the development of his people and most of these were fulfilled in his lifetime.
Senator Daduut condoled with the monarch’s immediate family and the people of Mangu and called on them to take solace in the lasting impact he had on his domain.
