The Gidan Galadima, a Royal Family from Lafia has appealed to governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state to include the family in the proposed creation of new District Heads.

This was contained in a complaint letter signed by Mohammed Galadima Gana on behalf of the descendants and members of the family, and made available to newsmen on Monday August 24, 2026 in Lafia.

He said any attempt by the Lafia Emirate Council to exclude the 10 traditional founding houses of Lafia particularly Musa Gana (Gidan Galadima) in the proposed creation of new District Heads in the state will cause serious apprehension, anxiety and ill-feelings among the people of Lafia.

Gana claimed that there was an apparent move to exclude the family from the proposed creation of additional Districts in Lafia Emirate Council.

“We make this representation with the utmost respect to the office of Your Excellency and in the firm belief that you will ensure fairness, justice, equity, peace and respect for the history and traditional institutions of the various founding houses of Lafia.

“We therefore, respectfully urge Your Excellency to personally examine the relevant portion of the Committee’s report, particularly pages 98–108, before approving or implementing any proposal that excludes Gidan Galadima or any of the other founding houses from the proposed District structure,” he said.

He explained that Gidan Galadima was one of the 10 founding and traditional title-holding houses that constituted the foundation of Lafia.

He listed the 10 houses and traditional title holders to include; Dunama; Gayam Lafia (Lamino); Jarman Lafia (Jaji); Galadiman Lafia (Musa Gana); Talban Lafia (Umar Sanda); Magajin Mallam Lafia; Wambain Lafia; Zanwan Lafia; Kuyambanan Lafia; and Dallatun Lafia.

“These houses are not merely ordinary families or contemporary beneficiaries of traditional titles. They represent the historical and traditional constituent houses whose forefathers were instrumental in the founding and development of Lafia from its formative period around 1804.

“The historical significance of Gidan Galadima is further demonstrated by the fact that the house produced Musa Gana, who became the 5th Emir of Lafia and reigned from 1844 to 1849.

“Musa Gana was a descendant of Gidan Galadima and belonged to one of the founding houses of Lafia. His position as Emir of Lafia is incontrovertible evidence of the historic importance and traditional standing of the Galadima House within the Lafia Emirate,” he added.

He noted that it was therefore, difficult to reconcile the historical status of Gidan Galadima with any present arrangement that seeks to exclude the house from participation in the creation of additional Districts while other houses are being elevated or granted additional status.

Gana further said the history of the Lafia Emirate demonstrates that the traditional leadership of Lafia was not founded exclusively upon one family or house. He said several of the founding houses produced Emirs at different periods in the history of the Emirate.

He said Jarman Lafia of/Jaji House produced Musa Dan Jaji, who reigned from 1809–1814; Talba House produced Umar Sanda, who reigned from 1814–1819; Gayam/Lamino House produced Gayam Lamino, who reigned from 1819–1844, and Ari Dan Lamino, who reigned from 1866–1868; and Galadima House produced Musa Gana, who reigned from 1844–1849.

He further explained that for the fact that Dunama House produced a majority of the Emirs, does not extinguish the traditional rights, dignity and historical status of the other founding houses.

“On the contrary, the fact that four of the ten founding houses produced Emirs at various periods reinforces the proposition that the history of Lafia Emirate is a history of multiple founding houses and traditional institutions, rather than that of one house alone,” he said.

He lamented that, over the years, the descendants of several other founding houses have been progressively excluded from meaningful participation in the traditional administrative structure of Lafia Emirate.

He said the existing District Head positions in Lafia are, to a very significant extent, concentrated among descendants of the Dunama House alone.

“We do not question the historical contribution of Dunama House, nor do we seek to diminish the status of any existing District Head.

“Our complaint is against institutional imbalance and unequal treatment. It is our considered view that the present opportunity created by the proposed establishment of additional Districts should be used to correct historical imbalance and restore fairness among the founding houses.

“It will be unfair, unjust and contrary to the principles of equity for additional Districts to be created substantially for the benefit of one house while other founding houses whose ancestors established Lafia and, in some cases, produced Emirs of the Emirate, continue to be excluded,” he said.

He said based on the information available to them, the Lafia Emirate Council has proposed Gayam Lafia and Wambain Lafia among the new Districts, while at the same time proposing a substantial number of additional Districts from the Dunama House.

“We respectfully submit that such an arrangement cannot be regarded as equitable where Galadima, Jarman/Jaji, Dallatu, Talba, Magajin Mallam, Zanwan and Kuyambanan, among other historically recognised founding houses, are not accorded comparable consideration.

“We remain confident in Your Excellency’s commitment to justice, fairness, peace and equitable treatment of all citizens and traditional institutions of Nasarawa state,” he said.