The Gongola Peoples Forum (GPF) has commended Governor Ahmadu Fintiri for reforming and restructuring the traditional institution in the state and giving the indigenous peoples of Gongola a true sense of self- determination and autonomy hitherto denied them for decades.
It also congratulated the newly appointed chiefs and emirs, while calling on the people of the state to come out en masse to support the appointed chiefs and emirs in the newly created chiefdoms and emirates.
General Secretary of the GPF, Chief Leonard Nzadon, in a statement on Monday, applauded the process that led to the current position that has given the people of the new chiefdoms and emirates a new lease of life.
“The action of Governor Fintiri in creating new chiefdoms and emirates and his appointment of their royal highnesses into those positions, demonstrates that our indigenous peoples through good governance have recovered their traditional and cultural rights which were usurped by alien forces through colonialism and indirect rule.
“Gov. Fintiri has charted a very popular path of freedom which is completely in tandem with the ideals of the GPF. This is why we earlier in this movement warned trouble-makers who think they are above the law to watch their steps this time around.
“We want to assure Governor Fintiri that the GPF has already mobilized the people in support of his reforms in the traditional sector to give them freedom.
“No one should be under the kind of feudal serfdom that the indigenous peoples of Gongola were subjected to during the previous dispensation which ought to have been terminated by the introduction of our constitutional democracy a long time ago.
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“It is for this reason that the courage demonstrated by Governor Fintiri needs to be supported and appreciated by all. Those who think Governor Fintiri is against a particular group in the state are not only wrong but clearly being mischievous.
“We in the GPF believe that the governor has helped the party that benefitted by the dismantled system by doing what they ought to have willingly surrendered decades ago. Their holding onto and lording it over the majority indigenous peoples actually gave them a very bad image as an oppressive minority!
“The GPF therefore, wishes to state unequivocally that our support for Governor Fintiri’s action in this matter is irrevocable and any attempt to reverse this will be met with the combined resistance of all our ethnic nationalities.
“No one is willing to remain under feudalism any more. The days of empires are over. Democracy has made us free and our people have embraced this with great enthusiasm and gratitude to God and to Governor Fintiri.
“The GPF once more congratulates all the appointed chiefs and emirs. GPF wants to assure your royal highnesses that we stand by you and the people you are to rule over. We advise that in your service to the people, rule with honour, dignity and integrity. Do not disappoint your people and the appointing authorities so that we can make quick and good progress in the renewed hope we all have,” the forum said.
