Nalerigu (N/R), Jan 21, GNA- Thousands of people including leaders of political parties and representatives of traditional rulers on Tuesday converged at Nalerigu in the East Mamprusi District to mourn with the chiefs and people of the Mamprugu Traditional area during the final funeral rites of the late Nayiri, Na-Gamni Mahamadu Abdulai.

The late Nayiri who was born in 1915 and enskinned King of Mamprugu in 1987, ruled for 16 years before "joining his ancestors" on June 9, last year, leaving behind 12 wives, 47 children and 78 grandchildren.

Vice President Aliu Mahama led a high-powered government delegation, including Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways, Mr Mahami Salifu, Upper East Regional Minister and Mr Ben Bukari Salifu, Minister of State at the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), to attend the funeral. Present were Dr Edward Mahama, leader of the People's National Convention (PNC), Ministers of State, Parliamentarians and Members of the Council of State.

In a tribute, Vice President Aliu described the late Nayiri as "a man of peace" who believed in law and order and did everything possible to maintain peace not only in Mamprugu but also in the entire Northern Region.

He said in consonance with his peaceful nature, Na-Gamni Abdulai refused to join other ethnic groups in their war with the Konkombas during the 1994 Northern conflict, adding: "He rather provided a safe haven for both the Konkombas and the other ethnic groups in his traditional area".

Vice President Aliu said in recognition of his peace-building role, the late Nayiri was appointed as one of the three eminent chiefs to mediate in the Dagbon crisis, during which he made a significant contribution to the containment of the conflict and peace building in Dagbon.

He said Na-Gamni was concerned about the environment and he regularly organised durbars for chiefs on environmental issues including bushfires, which resulted in the arrest and prosecution of a number of people on bushfire offences.

The Vice-President called on other traditional rulers to emulate the late Nayiri to enable the government to achieve its vision of transforming the economy of the country to improve the living standards of the people.

He said because of the peace prevailing in the Mamprugu Traditional Area, the government had within three years of its stewardship, undertaken a number of development projects, including the construction of the Bunkprugu-Nakpanduri and Nalerigu- Walewale roads. He assured the people that the government would upgrade the Nalerigu and Walewale Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) to the status of a model school.

The Regent of Mamprugu, Nantomah Wuni, appealed to the government for the provision of social amenities such as communication facilities and electricity to the area.

He also appealed to the government to build bridges over the White Volta through Wungu and Kpasenkpe in the West Mamprusi District to open up the "overseas area", which is often cut off from the rest of the country during the rainy season.

The Government delegation presented one carton of schnapps, 10 bags of rice, 10 bags of maize, 10 crates of minerals a cow and 10 million cedis to the family of the late Nayiri. 21 Jan 04