By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
The Tangale Community Overseas (TCO) has thrown it’s full support to Dr Musa Idris Maiyamba as the rightful Mai Tangle amidst years of intense succession dispute of the royal throne.
The TCO, a strong socio-cultural pressure group of the Tangale speaking people of Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State, in a statement sent to our Correspondent in Gombe by it’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Dr Eli Ibrahim Kerek, insisted that the Tangale people have the right to determine their leadership according to their culture and traditions.
According to the statement, the Court of Appeal in Maiduguri had recently ruled in favour of Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s disputed position on the chieftaincy tussle.
It said,, the dispute stems from Governor Yahaya’s refusal to appoint Dr. Maiyamba, instead backing an outsider, which TCO argues violates Tangale succession law and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including sections on freedom of religion, equality, and the right to self-determination in traditional leadership matters.
TCO also highlighted what it describes as a pattern of bias and interference by the Governor against Tangale leaders and institutions, citing previous cases including the denial of Justice Beatrice Iliya from becoming Chief Justice of Gombe State due to her faith and ethnic background.
The leadership of TCO described the Court of Appeal ruling as an attempt to override Tangale customs and silence the collective voice of the people.
The community maintains that Dr. Maiyamba, a respected medical doctor, was duly selected by the Tangale kingmakers in 2021 according to established customs and enjoys wide acceptance among Tangale sons and daughters both in Nigeria and abroad.
“The Tangale people remain united, law-abiding, and resolute in defending their cultural heritage, dignity, and constitutional rights, Our culture, traditions, and inherent right to determine our own leadership cannot and will not be overridden”, Dr Eli Ibrahim Terek insisted.
The statement traces a history of resilience among the Tangale people, noting that the community thrived without a traditional ruler between 1680 and 1700, and again from 1996 to 2001.
TCO emphasized that the current four-year vacancy of the Mai Tangle stool is “nothing new,” and that the Tangale identity is rooted in culture, unity, and shared heritage rather than government recognition.
The TCO statement also addressed alleged harassment of Tangale Christians during the Mai Tangle saga, including wrongful arrests and labeling by local authorities. These incidents, according to TCO, illustrate deep-seated discrimination, yet the community has responded with restraint, discipline, and continued commitment to lawful processes.
To consolidate unity, TCO recently conducted a historic election of the Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA), with Comrade Danladi Bako elected National President.
The leadership claims this election reflects the will of the Tangale people nationwide and internationally. TCO also announced that the annual Pissi Tangle festival will not take place this year, signaling the community’s firm stance on the leadership dispute.
TCO urged all Tangale sons and daughters to remain steadfast in demanding recognition of Dr. Maiyamba as Mai Tangle. The statement warned that political interference will not weaken the community’s resolve and that legal avenue will continue to be pursued to uphold the rightful leadership.
Despite ongoing provocations, the Tangale community pledged continued adherence to peace, non-violence, and constitutional order, while calling on local politicians, traditional leaders, and the clergy to prioritize Tangale interests over personal or political ambition.
“The Tangale people are one, indivisible, and unshakable,” Dr. Kerek said. “Whether Christian, Muslim, or adherents of our traditional religion, we stand together in unity, protecting our heritage and asserting our right to self-determination.”
End
