By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
Tangale Elders Forum has led other notable socio-cultural organs of the Tangale nation in listing the only conditions that can genuinely reconcile them with the Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, following irreconcilable differences since 2021.
The Tangale people, in Billiri Local Government Area of the State felt a serious cultural injury when an unpopular candidate was imposed on them as Mai Tangle, their paramount ruler, by the Governor shortly after the demise of Dr Abdu Buba Maisheru, the immediate past Mai Tangle.
In a joint press conference by the Elders, Tangale Ponar Council, Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA), Kwagam Tangle Socio-cultural Association and Tangale Community Overseas (TCO), they said only the recognition and installation of the winner of the selected Mai Tangle by the Tangale kingmakers in 2021 can true reconciliation be achieved.
The announcement of Malam Danladi Maishanu as the Mai Tangle in early 2021 sparked resistance resulting in violence that claimed some lives and properties worth millions of naira.
The Tangale nation had expected the winner of the selection process, Dr Musa Idris Maiyamba, to be announced as the Mai Tangle. The crisis had since pitched majority of the Tangale people and the Governor against eachother.
Mr. Augustine katty wasa, one of the leaders in the Elders Forum who read the text of the press conference categorically pointed out that, “Recognition of the duly selected Mai Tangle will mark the first genuine step towards reconciliation”.
An investigation carried out by our Correspondent indicates that there had been several moves by political appointees led by the Billiri Local Government Chairperson, Eglah Idris, towards reconciling the people with the Governor through paying homage to the Governor. The move failed severely because of the stiff resistance by a majority of the people.
However, when the Chairperson was able to mobilize a large contingent to the Government House for the homage, the Tangale Elders Forum, along with others, distanced the Tangale nation from the homage describing it as a carefully stage-managed event.
Mr Augustine said, “The crowd presented as Tangale representation consisted largely of the ruling party members, Local Government personnel, coerced or cajoled traditional rulers, and rented crowds imported from surrounding Local Government Areas, and even Gombe Central and Gombe North, assembled to give a false impression of mass Tangale participation.
“It is instructive that it reportedly took over twenty failed attempts before this contrived “breakthrough” was achieved, yet some sycophants now parade it as community endorsement.
“They hold no recognised community leadership positions in Tangale land and therefore lack the authority, legitimacy, or mandate to speak for the Tangale people”, the Elders Forum maintained.
Mr Augustine also stated that during the Government House visit, Governor Inuwa publicly admitted that he made a mistake in the Mai Tangle matter adding, “He further stated that his decision was influenced by a personal relationship of over forty years with the imposed ruler”.
He stressed further that, “the unedited video of this statement is publicly available.This admission confirms that the appointment was not based on Tangale custom, merit, due process, or the will of the people, but on personal considerations.
“While some Government representatives have claimed that the administration governs without offending any individual or group and have urged forgiveness on the basis of the Governor’s “humanness,” we must2021 state that a genuine apology cannot be conditional. An apology presupposes wrongdoing and must be addressed directly to those harmed.
“The Tangale people therefore call on the Governor to go beyond words and correct the acknowledged mistake. Recognition of the duly selected Mai Tangle will mark the first genuine step towards reconciliation”, the Tangale Elders Forum emphasized.
End.
