General News of Thursday, 1 February 2007

Source: David Tamakloe - The Enquirer

Vice President Destooled?

Stool custodians bury live goat and frog to invoke curses on Veep

Hours after Vice President Aliu Mahama, was enstooled as a Chief under tight police guard in the Volta Region town of Sogakope, by a chief with disputed royal credentials, crack juju men and custodians of the stool embarked on an elaborate midnight vigil to ritually destool him.

In a very strange ritual, a black sheep with two live frogs hanging on its neck was tied with a rope and dragged it on the path used by the Veep after which the sheep was drowned alive to signify a curse on the Veep and his accomplice chief.

White cloth with inscriptions of the Veep on it was also symbolically burnt to register the disapproval of the custodians of the stool regarding the enthronement of the Veep, from the trouble prone northern region as development chief in the town.

Earlier on the title Torgbui Avulekpor was conferred on the Veep. There is a chieftaincy dispute in the town and the vice president is now seen as supporting one faction against the order,

According to eye witness account, Alhaji Aliu Mahama’s image was dragged through the streets of Sogakope for at least two hours by the people of the area after which the traditional authorities performed rituals to revoke the title.

The traditional authorities made up of the Zikpitor (custodian of the stool) of the Anyigbe Clan of the Agave traditional area Torgbui Abordor, the Avafia (Warlord) and the Avadada who doubles as the acting paramount chief of the Fievie traditional area and their warriors chanting war songs participated in the in rituals.

The action according to the eye insiders was to also cleanse the town of the seemingly dubious title on the Veep by Mr. Abotsi Diame.

Earlier that morning, an advance party of the vice president’s security besieged the town to remove all the red bands which the opposing faction has hanged in the town.

The installation ceremony itself begun at around 10 am prompt after a sheep was killed as part of the installation processes which saw the Alhaji Aliu Mahama taken through some rituals to become the Development Chief of Sogakope (Torgbui Avulekpor l)

Chiefs from Battor, Mepe, Aveyime, and Mafi Kumasi all under norh Tongu District were convened to grace the occasion which was dear to Vice president but does not have the blessings of the traditional authorities of the fievie area.

Also present was the Volta Regional Minister who is said to be a strong supporter of the Alhaji Aliu’s campaign to lead the NPP.

Soon after the installation ceremony was over a crowed started gathering for the “distoolment”of Alhaji Aliu as the development chief of the Fievie area.

Prior to the revoking of the controversial title conferred on the Vice President as a development Chief of the area, a group of people including the Avadada and the acting President of the traditional council, Torgbui Ahli were dispersed by some members of the vice president’s security with the explanation that the hotel premise was under security zone, when they were going to present a petition to the District Chief Executive.

The people of Fievie area had earlier advice the vice President not to accept the invitation to attend any ceremony to confirm any such title on him since such act does not have their blessing.

The Traditional Council contended that it is totally against his enthronement and would not accept the usurpation of its authority by a stranger.

They observed that for some time now Mr. Doe Diame, the alleged Sogakope chief has been parading himself as the Chief of Sogakope, which action has been reported to both the Security agencies and the District Assembly.

They pointed out that it it is only the kingmakers of Fievie State who could nominate and install a person as chief or headman of any of the Fievie towns, and said Avudzega Sogah had not been installed as such.

A royal of the traditional council revealed that the title conferred on His Excellency the Vice President is alien in the history of the Fievie traditional area.

Irate demonstrators alleged that the Vice President has bought the title with money in sacks.

An elder of the town who spoke to The Enquirer observed that he was disappointed by the Vice President’s action.

He said the Vice President must be daring enough to attend the function organized by one of two feuding factions since anything could have happened for which the Vice President would be held responsible.

“This is uncharacteristic of a man who wants to become a President of this country”.