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The spokesperson for the Abudu Regent in the Northern region, Mohammed Kpemsi, said the Abudus have no intention to abide by the directive from the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC). On Friday February 19, the REGSEC in a release said this year�s Damba festival in Yendi should be celebrated at the Gbewa Palace only. They have suspended the performance of all funerals in and around the Yendi municipality until all activities related to the Damba festival are completed. According to the release signed by the Northern Regional Minister designate, these measures have become necessary as a result of some security threat facing the area, adding that the regional security would not hesitate to bring any miscreant who breaches the directive to book. However the angry sounding spokesperson to the Abudu Regent, told Citi News, that his boss would go ahead and celebrate the Damba festival at his own palace and not the Gbewa palace as it has been directed. He noted that �the statement released by the Regional Minister designate is unfortunate�. According to the spokesperson, �the Abudu would go ahead and celebrate the Damba festival at the Bawku Yaa Naa�s palace not the Gbewa palace irrespective of the threat by the security agencies�. �The Regional Minister and Regional security had no right to stop them from celebrating the Damba festival�, he argued. Mr. Kpemsi said the regent has instructed all the chiefs under his jurisdiction to come in their numbers with their warriors to his palace to celebrate the festival. According to him, �before the meeting with the regional council, there was a meeting at the Bawku Yaa Naa�s palace�his Royal highness is an action man and he has already invited all the chiefs under his jurisdiction to come to Yendi for the celebration of the Damba festival in company with their warriors� The spokesperson however added that �it is not a preparation for war but the celebration of the Damba festival�. According to him, �the Abudu family is a peace loving people but they�ve always given in for peace but this time round we would not accept any directive from anybody�.