Indigenous ethnic communities that constitute the majority of the population of Adamawa State, have accused military government that split the defunct Gongola State into Taraba and Adamawa States of doing so in favour of an ethnic minority group.
This was the consistent accusation and angst pouring out from all the indigenous communities in the 22 local government areas of the state visited by the Gongola People’s Forum (GPF), a socio-cultural association on tour sensitizing the masses on unity, justice and equity for all in governance.
The GPF in a statement on Saturday, said the ethnic communities expressed their displeasure while receiving a team of the forum’s leaders, led by Prof. Kaleb Fili, in Girei and Yola North Local Government Areas.
The forum said the ethnic communities complained that they weren’t consulted or was any referendum conducted before the renaming of the state, as it was done by military fiat.
“The peoples’ biggest concern was that their elite sons and daughters continue to suffer in their political aspirations, as this tiny ethnic group has kept a stranglehold on all electoral processes blocking all chances of fair play.
“They said that the privileged group has become so powerful that they pick and choose who should be elected or appointed into any office in the state. According to them, “anyone who dares them is locked away from power forever!.
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“They lamented that the state has been named after their ancestral father, the only state named after an individual in Nigeria, and every other major federal institution in the state.
“They said that this act of the then military government of IBB, secumbed to pressure to do so to render the rest of them who are in the majority as illegitimate and this has been so for decades,” the GPF statement said.
Responding to the complaints, Prof. Fili called on the indigenous ethnic communities to unite and maintain the peace by embracing legitimate means to address their grievances.
He advised that the best way forward is for them to register enmass and be prepared to vote and defend their votes during the 2027 polls, warning them to desist from taking corrupt money from politicians to sell their birthright.
He reminded them of how they stood by their son, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.
