| Wase | |
|---|---|
| — LGA and town — | |
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Wase
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| State | Plateau State |
| Area | |
| • Land | 675.7 sq mi (1,750 km2) |
| Time zone | WAT (UTC+1) |
Wase is a town and Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, Nigeria. Situated some 216 km south east of Jos, the Plateau State capital, Wase State is a traditional state founded in the area in 1820; this became part of the British Niger River Protectorate (later Northern Nigeria) in 1898. The population of the LGA was 125,000 people as of 2003, and the area is 1750 km².
The main tribal group in the area are the Fulani ruled by an Emir who doubles as the chairman of the local council emirate council. The current Emir of Wase, Alhaji (Dr.) Haruna Abdullahi Maikano. He is assisted by the Rekna of Bashar, Alh. Adamu Idris, in conducting the affairs of the traditional council.
The Wase emirate council consists of four districts, namely: Wase, Bashar, Lamba, and Kadarko. Each of these districts is headed by a district head known as the "Hakimi", while the several towns and villages in the districts are headed by a chief known as "Sarki".
Bashar is a town next to Wase among the districts in terms of population, political background and leadership. Other notable towns and villages include Lamba, Saluwe, Mavo, Wase-Tofa, etc.
At the moment, the Rekna of Bashar is the oldest paramount traditional ruler, having spent forty-six years on the throne. Due to his advanced age, he is currently being assisted by his eldest son, Yusuf Adamu Idris, in conducting the affairs of Bashar.
A unique feature of Wase is the famous Wase Rock. It is perhaps the most outstanding and breath-taking sight in Nigeria,[says who?] in terms of rock formations. This beautiful topographic feature stands alone, and rises sharply at well over 800 ft (250 m), like an imposing skyscraper, above the surrounding Wase plain. The rock is also surrounded by the Wase Game Reserve/ Bird Sanctuary and serves as one of the rare breeding places of the White Pelican birds in Africa. The rock is a mountaineers' delight and a must-visit for bird watching and picnics.
Another feature is the Wase River, which runs through the LGA. It serves as a major water source for both irrigation and the domestic use of the local communities.
"This is Wase,the home of agriculture and tourism", a presentation by Sabbhabs B. Abdullahi, MSc., at a function in Abuja, October, 2009.
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