Kwajji DH Thanksgiving

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PROGRAM OF EVENTS

District Head of Kwajji Pius Sunday Selleng - Thanksgiving reception.

Sunday April 11th 2021

Venue:- Danwere , Kwajji.

Morning session at St Francis Catholic Church, Danwere.

8:00 – 10:00AM

v  Arrivals at the Church        

v  Songs of worship

v  Conduction of Mass by Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lamma

v  Remarks on the District Head by Church Officials

v  Closing of Mass and the morning session.

Afternoon session at Danwere primary school, Kwajji.  ( 1:30 – 5:30pm)

1.       Arrival of Kwajji people and guests.

2.       District Head arrives.

3.       National anthem and prayers

4.       Opening declaration by Chairman

5.       Opening displays and dances (Lere groups etc.)

6.       Reading of the History of Kwajji District.

7.        Biography of the District Head Pius Sunday Selleng.

8.       Guest Speaker delivers lecture

9.       Paying of homage/ presents and gifts/ by Ward/Village Heads  entourages and Guests.

v  Pupule town – Dagaci Buharii Maigari

v  Danzang village- Dagaci Dagaci Ferdinand Stephen

v  Manzala village- Dagaci Jonah Musa

v  Mashite village – Dagaci George F. Gavoh

v  Kakulun Village – Dagaci John Zindo Bujemang

v  Danwere village – Dagaci Jauro Danwere

10.   Cultural displays

A.      Wrestling/ drama

B.      Lere dances etc.

11.   Photo sessions With high Guests.

12.   Vote of thanks by District Head.

13.   Closing remarks by HRH Chief of Kwajji.

14.   Guests withdrawal.

V. I . P.  List

v  Chief Host:- HRH Alhaji Umar Abubakar Nyala – 2nd Class Chief of Kwajji

v  Special Appearance:- Rt.Hon. Dr. Mohammed D. Gbampo – ex Deputy Speaker Taraba House of Assembly / Member representing Yorro Constituency.

v  Chief Guest of Honour:- Hon Joseph Sanwiri Mika – Chairman, Yorro Local Government Council.

v  Co – Chairmen:-

Ex Chairmen Yorro LGC and Special Assistants to the Governor.

I.        Hon Zakari Buba Nyala.                      II.   Hon Asicus Kovoroba

 

v  Guest Speaker:-   Prof.(Ass.) Ali Ahmadi  HOD Linguistics a nd Languages, Taraba State University, Jalingo.

v  Co-Hosts:- District Heads of

Manang,- Hon. Tunde Alphonsus

Mika,- Hon Suleiman Mika

v  Sponsors:- Shong Punyazing Clan of Kwajji. And  Council of the Chief of Kwajji.

v  Chief Organizer:-  Rtd. Director Haruna Yakubu Tolenyashong Kwajji.

v  Spiritual Hosts :-

Rev. Fr.  Polycarp Lamma -

Pupule Parish

Chief Imam Pupule central Palace Mosque.

M. C s.:-     Justin Maleko Kassa

                Gabriel Stephen Jijjah

 

Guests Entertainment Centres

v  Chiefdom Council Members and District Heads at

Haruna Yakubu Tolenyashong Estate, Sabongida Kwajji.

 

 

v  Kwajji people and their guests at The  6

Various Villages Heads’ Compounds – Kwajji, Pupule, Danzang, and Manzala

 

A short History of Kwajji District

Kwajji district is one of the three districts that make up the second class Chiefdom of Kwajji. That together with Mumuye Chiefdom, form Yorro Local Government Area, of Taraba state. Kwajji people represent one of the major clans that of the Mumuye tribe.

Before the establishment of British Colonial rule at the beginning of the twentieth century in Nigeria and this region in particular, Kwajji people like their other kindred among the Mumuye had no king or ruler as such. Each clan or extended families were led by DAH VAH leaders of the Juju (VAH) deities that each had.

When the British took over in 1903, they systematically created administrative areas and rulers for their convenience in governing people. As a result of this, 3 Mumuye clans – Kwajji, Manang and Mika being neighbours and culturally similar were merged together  to form one District namely Kwajji.

Kwajji district was created in the year 1937. Kpanti Yawai Sholoba of Punyazing subclan Kwajji became the first District Head.

Prior to that however, Elders of the Punyazing subclan were put in charge of Kwajji area working for the colonial administration. These included Shanke, the first with others who followed like Abara Dova, Nyaboro, Ano Sanbijo, and Kpanti Sholoba in whose time and tenure new District of then was established. A new Government primary school was opened in 1938 but was closed and transferred to Pantisawa in 1940.

In 1945 Kpanti Sholoba was deposed. There was an impasse of 5 years during which Deputies (Wakilis) were sent to the District to manage affairs.

Christian Missionaries of  the Protestant Sudan United Mission (SUM) started a Church in Kwajji Village with new converts in 1949 but later transferred to Pupule where it now stands as the United Methodist Church. Later in 1958 the Roman Catholic Church also established another Primary School in Kwajji village and it too had to be transferred to Pupule in 1969 to be converted to Government ownership and now stands as Pupule Special Primary School. These schools served to educate many from near and far.

In 1950 Kpanti Bello Togha also of the Punyazing subclan was Chosen as the new District Head. In 1954, headquarters of the district was moved to Pupule another Kwajji town that was closer to Manang and Mika areas for more administrative convenience. A permanent Palace was built there in 1954. Pupule grew to become a vibrant commercial town.

Kpanti Bello Togha was as well deposed in 1975. In the next year, 1976 Kpanti Alhaji Buba Nyala of Mika was appointed as District Head.

 In 1983, a GDSS was established in Pupule. Maternity Health  clinic in 1992

DH Buba Nyala was in official capacity up to the year 2005 when Kwajji district was promoted to the status of a Third Class Chiefdom, by Governor Jolly T. Nyame. The district Head subsequently became the new 3rd Class Chief of Kwajji. He was later before his death in 2018, promoted to 2nd Class Chief. He was succeeded by his eldest son now HRH Alhaji Umar Abubakar Nyala.

By the promotion of Kwajji district to 3rd class in 2005, the 3 village areas of Kwajji Manang and Mika automatically became districts.

No appointment of district heads were done since then until on  the 20th of November 2020 when 3 new appointments were made and turbaned by the Chief of Kwajji to act in the positions.

In the turbaning of 20/11/2021 Pius Sunday Selling became the new district head of Kwajji.

 

Chronology of Kwajji Rulers from 1903 to date.

SHANKE    →   Abara Dova   →   Nyaboro  →  Ano Sambijo  →  Yawai Sholoba.

 

Kwajji District Heads

Yawai Sholoba  (1937 – 1945)

/

Deputies (Wakilis)( 1945  -  1950)

/

Bello Togha  (1950  -  1975)

/

Alhaji Buba Nyala  (1976  -  2005)

/

Pius Sunday Selleng  20/11/2020 to date.

 

 

Kwajji village Heads(Dagatai)

 

Kpanti Bello Togha (1945 – 1950)

/

Kpanti Jike Mashi  (1950  - 1986)

/

Kpanti Bala Danbojo (1986  -  2008)

/

Kpanti Sunday Zano Unvo  (2008 – 2020)

 

 

2nd Class Chiefdom of Kwajji (Chiefs)

 

Alhaji Buba Nyala (2005 – 2018)

/

Alhaji Umar Abubakar Nyala (2018 to date)

It should be noted that between 1903 to 1937, Kwajji served as an administrative headquarters for the Mumuye clans settlements and villages in the  plains between Jalingo and Zing. That was because Kwajji was on the main road between Yola and Jalingo. And from the initial stage of British rule Kwajji was placed under the INDIRECT RULE of the Emir Muri and Muri Division. This was the status quo until the creation of Kwajji Chiefdom in 2005.

Kwajji people are composed of the following subclans:-

1.       Punyazing    2. Bolong  3.  Dossa  4. Danvo  5. Punya. 6. Shite  7. Bujemang  8. Dokpong  9. Layang  10. Labeleng 11. Laweki  12. Dogalang  13. Didonko

Apart from Kwajji people, there are other subclans that form part of Kwajji district. These are Manzala, Danzang, kwaleyang, and Pabenzang. There exist as well Hausa/Fulani community in Kwajji district.

Kwajji district is widely known as a mainly farming and livestock production area.

(Visit :- www.hytolenyashong.com )

Biography of the District Head of Kwajji Hon. Pius Sunday Selleng

Pius S. Selleng was born in the year 1982 to Late Kpanti Sunday Zano Unvo the deceased Village Head of Danwere, Kwajji. Late Kpanti Sunday belonged to the family of late Kpanti Jike Mashi Punyazing also an earlier Village Head of Kwajji.

DH Pius, started his primary education at Old Kwajji Primary School between 1991 – 1996.

He left Kwajji to join his Uncle Mr. Haruna Yakubu at Mile-Six Jalingo where he continued his primary education at Howayi Primary School from 1997 – 1999.

He got admission into Nukkai Day Secondary School where he studied from 1999 – 2002 and obtained his JSS Certificate.

He transferred back home to Kwajji where he studied at GDSSS Pupule, from 2002 – 2005 and obtained his WASC/GCE certificate. After competing Senior Secondary school, Mr. Pius was offered direct admission to study for National Diploma in Animal Health and Production between 2007 – 2008 and graduated.

From his early age, the DH has always been a hardworking and humble person. He helped his Father with the farms had his own farm too. At times he did labour for payments for other people on their farms, cut grass and firewood to buy clothes and books all in the efforts to assist his parents to educate himself.

In the Community, as a young man Hon Pius was involved in numerous society activities.

Activities in the Church (Zonal /Community).

St. Francis Catholic church Danwere

·        Church General Secretary

·        Church Chairman

·        Lay leader

·        Choir chairman/ Secretary General

·        Church Advisor

·        Catholic Men Organization – Secretary General.

Pupule Parish activities

·        Choir Auditor

·        Planning committee

Mr. Pius Sunday Selleng is married to Mrs. Delia Pius and they are one Son Master Ebeneezer Lakpanti Pius Selleng.

Kpanti Sunday Zano Unvo father of DH Pius died on 29th of August 2020. The DH Pius was officially turbaned by HRH Alhaji Umar Abubakar Nyala the 2nd Class Chief of Kwajji on Friday November 20th 2020 as District Head acting in capacity under Kwajji Chiefdom.

With this development, the 39 years old Hon. Pius Sunday Selleng becomes the 4th District Head of Kwajji since its creation in 1937. He now rules over six wards or Villages known as (Dagatai) in areas of Kwajji and Pupule towns.

Long live the District Head!

Long live Kwajji!

www.hytolenyashong.com

 

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