Munga Dosso community in Taraba wants its own electoral ward

The Munga Dosso community in Karim Lamido Local Government Area, Taraba State, is asking Governor Agbu Kefas to create a separate electoral ward for them.

This request is in a petition signed by Ishmael Thomas, the national president of the Munga Dosso Development Association (MDA). He shared this with journalists on Wednesday in Jalingo, the state capital.

The community highlighted years of poor infrastructure, limited political representation, and feeling left out of government projects. They also asked the governor to look into their exclusion from a ₦200 million development project meant for the Bikwin area.

They want to keep their unique identities of Munga Dosso and Munga Lelau, and they raised concerns about social media posts that could cause tension between the two communities.

In the petition, the association mentioned that they have sent many requests to government officials, from local to state levels, but have not received a proper response. They pointed out that their latest petition was submitted on August 28.

The community said that even though they belong to Bikwin Ward politically, they have not gained much from government development projects over the years. They listed issues like no primary healthcare center, lack of culverts, no boreholes, and poor roads as their major concerns.

The association believes that their situation deserves government attention due to their population, voting power, and past contributions to the success of various administrations.

They argue that Munga Dosso is at a disadvantage in Bikwin Ward because of their unique ethnic identity and ties to another community group.

The petition states that while other communities in the ward come together under the Bikwin Association, Munga Dosso is part of the JCDA, linked to the Jenjo group. This has made it hard for Munga Dosso to get proper representation and access to political positions, development projects, and other government benefits.

The association claimed that their interests are often overlooked, and projects meant for the area do not always consider Munga Dosso. They mentioned Bambuka and Dadiya as examples of communities that have benefited from political and community structures. They also noted Bandawa and Kunini, which have separate wards even while being part of the Bakula Association.

According to the petition, Gwomu is the only community in Bikwin Ward with a population and voting strength similar to or greater than Munga Dosso's. The figures shared by the association were not checked independently.

They also asked the governor to make sure that Munga Dosso gets a fair share of the ₦200 million development fund set for the Bikwin area. They claim that community representatives attended a meeting with Bikwin leaders before the funds were released but were later excluded from projects funded by that money.

The association called this exclusion a serious issue, arguing that their population, voting contributions, and lack of basic amenities should be considered when distributing development funds. They urge Mr Kefas to step in so Munga Dosso can benefit from the project.

The petition did not explain the project's approved parts, the criteria for choosing beneficiaries, or the amounts allocated to different communities. They also want the state government to help keep the unique identities of Munga Dosso and Munga Lelau intact.

The association said the two communities have had separate names and identities since their ancestors allowed the people of Munga Lelau to settle there. They expressed worry about the use of the name “Munga” alone, saying it creates confusion about the two communities and their interests.

They specifically raised questions about the registration of the name Munga Development Association (MUDA), fearing it might be mistaken for Munga Dosso Development Association. They want authorities to check this and ensure it clearly represents the community.

The association also alerted the governor about a Facebook group called Munga Galleries, which they believe is managed by members of the Munga Lelau community. They said some posts on the group might cause misunderstandings and tension between Munga Dosso and Munga Lelau.

According to the petition, Munga Dosso leaders have talked about their concerns with Munga Lelau leaders two times, including during meetings, but the issue is still unresolved. They mentioned that this problem was also discussed in a meeting attended by the chairperson of Karim Lamido Local Government Area, Virginia Baba Bambur, who warned against actions that could lead to conflict.

The association said that community elders have been urging the youth to stay calm and avoid reacting to what they see as provocative online posts. They want the right authorities to look into these claims and act against anyone found guilty of spreading false or harmful information.

The claims against the platform and its managers were not independently verified, and the petition did not name specific posts or include any response from the platform's administrators.

As part of their requests, the association wants the state government to support creating a separate Munga Dosso Ward, following the appropriate legal and administrative steps. They named nine villages that could make up the new ward: Bwai, Bugbamui, Bunkawai, Bunkaubu, Bunkachi, Mudang, Bukadui, Bukaregwag, and Nwaminshi.

They estimate that these nine villages have a combined population of between 120,000 and 150,000, although this number has not been independently checked. They believe that having a separate ward would give them better political recognition and improve their representation in local governance.

The association repeated its call for fair inclusion in the ₦200 million development fund and asked for actions to protect the identities of Munga Dosso and Munga Lelau. They also want the authorities to look into their concerns about online posts that might threaten peace.

The association described Munga Dosso as a peaceful and law-abiding community dedicated to the unity and development of Taraba State. They said they are ready to meet with the governor to provide more details on their issues and confirmed their commitment to peaceful living with neighboring communities.