Before the advent of the Jihad by Usman Dan Fodio, in the North, all tribes were on their own. They were living on their own and had their own type of leadership. The Gwong people were not an exception. The Gwong people believe that, their founders name is Thonna. Some are of the opinion that the Gwong people did not migrate from any foreign land to inhabit their present land, but that Num (God) created them where they inhabit presently (Khi-Gwong). This belief is reinforced because there is no record of them forcefully occupying the land “Khi-Gwong” by driving some people away. Again, there is no rival claim to the ownership of the land. The Gwong people believe that, Thonna gave birth to three sons namely, :Gwong Thonna, who founded the Gwong people, Nyankpa Thonna, who founded Darigo and Nindem Thonna who founded the Nindem people of Godogodo, writes LAMI RIMALA JAMES.
HISTORY further reveals that, Gwong Thonna got married and gave birth to Kamah who also got married and gave birth to five sons, Ngat who founded Fana Kyot; Ndat, who founded Fadan Kagoma; Ngomah, who founded B-sat; Soh who founded the Soh. The Gwong people like their neighbors have their customs and traditions which they hold in high esteem.
Moreso, they had a pattern of leadership which was unique to them as a people. There are contentious issues surrounding leadership in Gwong land. A school of thought is of the opinion that the Gwong people have a native leader who ruled over the Gwong land with the other school of thought disagreeing with the above school and maintaining that each Gwong land village had an independent, Kpop (Chief) who was charged with the responsibility of governing the territorial area of his defined village.
The most important point here is that, whether the Gwong land had a native ruler who ruled the entire chiefdom as maintained by the first school of thought or the second school who are of the opinion that each village had a Kpop who ruled his village, what is vital is that, there was a pattern of governance that was unique to the people and brought about cooperation, harmony and stability in Gwong land. There is no record of war or conflict or that a particular village or the other had a dispute that resulted into a conflict amongst the Gwong people.
The major occupation of a typical Gwong man is hunting; the logo of the chiefdom says it all. It is believed that, man called Kogong was the first to exhibit his hunting skills at Kot-gong about six kilometers north of Ngakyozi.
The jihad or religious war initiated by Usman Dan Fodio in 1804 and the subsequent defeat of the Hausa states did not extend to or succeed in Gwongland. The jihadists could not attack Gwong land because of its thick forest, caves and holy features, since they were using horses. They then employed diplomacy. According to Kirk Patrick, 1st assistant to the District Office (1912-1916), Mallam Usman the founder of Jema’a Emirate went to Dem in Fadan Kagoma (1810) to beg for a place to settle. But Dem became more diplomatic and advised Usman to go and settle at Angwa Musa between Gidan Waya and Gododgodo. This singular act by Dem denied the Jihadist sovereignty over any inch of Gwong land. Other attempts by the Jihadists were in the form of slave raids in 1859, 1879 and 1891 through the Emirs of Zazzau. Audu, Suleiman and Sarkin Yero. All the raids ended in disastrous consequences against the raiders.
History has it that British Colonialists took over the administration of Jema’a Division between 1903/1904 at Gidan Waya without firing a shot. Under the British administration, Jema’a Division became part of Nasarawa Province and was administration as such. After the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorate of Nigeria in 1914, the British Colonialists desired to raise taxes to run their administration. Districts were then created to help make administration easier. In that same year, the Assistant Divisional.
Officer in Jema’a sir Kirk-Patrick, appointed Tyezi to lead a team of Hausa/Fulani Taxi assessors to enumerate taxable male adults in Gwong land. Three years later in 1917, Kagoma/Yeskwa District was created and the colonialists through their indirect system of Government decided to post Hausa/Falani administrators through the Emirate of Jema’a to administer Kagoma/Yeskwa District.
Due to the boundary adjustment by the British Administration in 1926 and 1932, Jema’a Division Gwong land inclusive was transferred to Plateau Province. The division remained under Plateau Province until 1957 when another boundary adjustment transferred it to Zaria Province.
Between 1917 and 1949 the Hausa/Fulanis were sent to administer on behalf of the British Colonialists at Kogoma/Yeskwa District they are as follows; Mallam Lenjo (1917-1922), Sarkin Rafi (1922-1929), Iya Jema’a (1929-1934), Madakin Jema’a (1934-1940) and Pakachin Jema’a (1940-1949) during the administration of Pakachin, the people of Fadan Kagoma revolted against him result of his excessive oppression and exploitation. The Gwong people then requested for an indigenous ruler. The British administration granted their request and allowed Gwong land indigenes to vie for the stool. In 1951 Mallam Maidawa Jatau was elected as the first indigenous District head. On the 23rd September, 1957 he joined his great ancestors. After the demise of mallam Masidawa Jatau a number of candidates again showed interest to contest for the vacant seat. At the end of the election Langba Aruwa Jatau emerged as the new District Head. This was in 1958 which was just two years to the independence of Nigeria in 1960.
Langba Aruwa Jatau continued to serve as District head of Kagoma/Yeskwa District until in 1991 when Asso District was created and Language Mamma Reya was elected and turbaned as the 1st District head of Asso District.
In 1995, the ja’afaru Isah’s administration created the Gwong chiefdom vide Gazzette (KDSG gazette No. 17 of 30th November, 1995) with three ruling houses namely; Bi-ha Karo, Bi-ha Bako, Bi-ha Nwoh, Langba Aruwa because of his enormous contribution to his father land while he was District head for thirty seven years (37) and being the most senior District Head, stood at a vintage position to be unanimously recommended for the post, in 1995 he was installed as Kpop Gwong with a third class status. He ruled for five years and went to join His great ancestors.
It is important to note here that sons and daughters of Gwong land have for this chiefdom long before now. This dream became a reality when Ja’afaru Isah’s administration created the Gwong Chiefdom. All thanks goes to God almighty and Col. Ja’afaru’s administration that seemed it fit for the Gwong people to have their internal independence.
In 2000 the stool became vacant; the chiefdom was upgraded to second class status. The stool was contested for and lt. Col. P.Z Wiyom (rtd) was elected and appointed to ascent to the long historical throne as Kpop Gwong 11. Now the chiefdom has been upgraded to first class status and the chiefdom is also blessed with so many social amenities to mention but a few, Fayik filing, station, primary school, post primary school, primary health care centre, police station, Gwong development area secretariat, a big farm with guest houses establish by Late Gen I.N. Yusuf.
