Adamawa State

Nigerian lady, Halima Shuwa, awarded Student of the Year at University of Manchester

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A Nigerian lady, Halima Ali Shuwa, has been recognised by the reputable University of Manchester and awarded with Student of the Year Award.

Ruth Macarthy, a doctoral researcher at Salford University, announced this on LinkedIn on Wednesday. 

“Sitting in Whitworth Hall today, at the prestigious University of Manchester, was one of my proudest moments as a Nigerian. It was the moment Halima Ali Shuwa was called up [to] the podium to receive the “Student of the Year” award from the President of the university.” Ms Macarthy wrote.

While presenting the award, the President of the university stated that Halima was chosen because of her dedication and selfless commitment to research excellence.

Halima’s Student of the Year Award

The President added that Halima dedicated a huge amount of time to researching the immune response in the blood of hospitalised COVID-19 patients – and predicting which patients will further develop long-term covid complications.

She was the first to publish on the associated long-term changes with fatigue and breathlessness in patients who would subsequently develop long covid.

Halima, a recipient of the prestigious Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) scholarship, hails from Shuwa town of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State. She was born, brought up and schooled in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Halima studied Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science at the University of Maiduguri, MSc Immunology at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and then got a PTDF scholarship to the University of Manchester, where she did her PhD in Immunology. 

Halima has published seven papers in high-impact journals during her studies and has four more papers under review. 

Towards the end of her PhD, Halima managed to secure multiple job offers from the University of Manchester and several pharmaceutical companies. Finally, she accepted the job offer from GSK (GlaxoSmithKline), where she’ll continue her cutting-edge research to discover an alternative cancer treatment targeting B cells in Immuno-Oncology settings.

How APC’s only female guber candidate emerged in Adamawa

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

The May 27th 2022 Adamawa State All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary election was hotly contested, very transparent, free, and fair.

Six contestants participated in the election — Former Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani, Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Nuhu Ribadu, Member House of Representatives representing Ganye, Jada, Toungo and Mayo Belwa Federal Constituency, Abdul Razak Namdas, Former Chairman of the   Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Wafari Theman and  Umar Mustapha Otumba, a business tycoon.

Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani won the primaries with 430 votes, while Nuhu Ribadu came second with 288 votes, former governor Bindow got 103 votes, and Abdul Razak Namdas scored 94 votes while Wafari and Mustapha got 21 and 39 votes respectively.

Wafari came to the contest unprepared — firstly, his tactics failed to work for him. Wafari solely relied on the strategy that, being the only Christian in the contest, he will get all the Christians’ votes. In fact, Wafari painstakingly took the statistic of all the Christian delegates throughout the state. However, he failed to understand that, in such a contest, this kind of approach doesn’t work.  Secondly, and most importantly, Wafari suffered cash flow problems. He wasn’t able to tour most parts of the state nor meet the delegates. Wafari couldn’t even win his local government area – Hong.

Abdulrazak Namdas is the only aspirant that toured the entire state and spent heavily early in the campaigning period. In fact, this writer criticized Namdas’s behaviour as a candidate instead of as an aspirant.  However, Namdas’s behaviour of acting like a candidate is borne out of the contentment that he is the only aspirant from Adamawa southern zone- the zone has 9 local government councils. Furthermore, Namdas so much believe, that he already has the over 200 votes from Toungo, Jada, Ganye and Mayo Belwa LGAs. Namdas heavily relied on votes from the Adamawa Minority Forum, but he was shocked. Namdas’s errors were that he spent too much, and too early in the wrong ways. He also relied on votes that he had really not secured and lacked a robust campaign team.

Former Governor Muhammdu Umaru Jirilla Bindow is one of the most likeable aspirants in the contest. Since he lost to Fintiri in the 2019 governorship election, Bindow has remained the leader of the APC in the state. Most of the stakeholders’ meetings were held at his residence in Abuja until the time he asked Boss Mustapha to takeover. Though, Boss never called such a meeting at his residence. The reason is that Boss always tries to avoid controversy and he appears comfortable with his SGF position. Bindow came to the race with a strong war chest but poor strategy.  Bindow was convinced that the APC structure would work for him. After all, he erected it. However, he failed to secure the votes of Mubi North, Mubi South, and Maiha LGAs combined. Bindow and his team found it hard to believe he came third, because, on paper, Nuhu and Binani shouldn’t have beaten him.  

Umar Mustapha Otumba came to the race with a very poor understanding of real local politics. No doubt that Otumba understands the politics of the first world, he is in the know of how to analyze development, but those are not the languages the delegates understand. Otumba was aggressive and overconfident. He was the first to buy the APC governorship form. What ‘killed’ Otumba’s ambition was, that the delegate and in fact, the ‘politics; saw his approach as too artificial. What he did,  was just like, he spoke in Chinese while addressing the French- Nigerian local politics don’t understand his kind of approach.   

Nuhu Ribadu operated his game as the true policeman that he is. His entire approach was covert. Nuhu didn’t open an official campaign office nor set up the traditional campaign team with a DG, he only formed a small committee two weeks before the primaries. What Nuhu did was; that he spent a good time working on his weak point- grassroots link. He avoided controversies, he never underrated anybody, built friendships, and tried to localize himself. Nuhu has been silently assisting the APC financially and otherwise. His 288 votes were not a coincidence- he earned it – through constant engagement, mobilization, and support from all the APC executives at the LGA level. He supported the creation of an environment to discuss Adamawa APC’s problems at local government levels and proffer solutions. These were the major factors that facilitated the 288 votes secured by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Nuhu’s biggest error was poor logistics and war chest utilization and over-centralization. He could have segmented the state into its 8 federal constituencies with coordinators to handle each.

Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani came to the race with assured votes in her ‘handbag’- women constitute nearly 40% of the delegates.   When Binani entered the voting arena, the entire women among the delegates welcomed her with a melody ( Guda). That was a big signal to her opponents that she was ready for the game. Local empowerment,  smart political calculations, and enormous & clever application of war chest including grassroots base were Binnani’s weapons, and they worked for her. Most of her votes came outside her zone. She found that Abdul Razak Namdas was ‘sleeping’, she chunked away the majority of the Ganye chiefdom votes.

In fact, that zone’s votes were the turning point. She also realized that Former Governor Bindow has underrated them and was carried away by his ‘past glory’- she grabbed good votes that were supposed to go to Bindow. Furthermore, her team realized that Wafari doesn’t know the game and had weak resources- she ‘won over’ a good number of his would-be delegates. Binani didn’t in any way made any attempt at Nuhu Ribadu’s, thus she smartly allowed the Nuhu team to be comfortable in their comfort zone while she carried her operations somewhere else.

Binani has a sweet victory but is coated with a bitter problem. There are allegations of over-voting and financial inducement. The EFCC has already arrested some of the accused while 2 people have been arraigned in a court. If the allegations of overvoting is established-  from the anomaly of accredited voters 1009, while total vote cast was  1011. The APC has no option but to cancel the primaries and organized a new one. The APC guidelines say: “no member shall vote for more than one aspirant, and where the number of votes cast exceeds the number of accredited voters the election shall be declared void”.

If the APC has to conduct a new gubernatorial primary election in the state   – the party has three options; conduct direct primaries, conduct indirect primaries or produce a consensus candidate.   Some pundits are of the view that due to the expensive nature of indirect primaries; some of the contestants may avoid another contest with Binani, secondly if indirect primaries are to be conducted – Binani may attract sympathy votes from many members of the APC and a revolt votes from the women folk. If a consensus candidate is to be carried, and Binani was not chosen, the ticket will come weightless.

 The Adamawa APC gubernatorial primary election was an interesting and unique one- apart from producing a woman as the party’s flag bearer for the 2023 governorship election, the ticket is laden with an intricate legal problem. Furthermore, the result of the contest has sent an important message to the Adamawa people- religious and ethnic politics is just an elites’ thing; the individuals that came first and second are Fulani, while the lone Christian aspirant didn’t secure even a fraction of the votes from delegates who share the same faith with him.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja via zaymohd@yahoo.com.

Why Adamawa Governors Must Emulate the Murtala Nyako Youth Empowerment Model

By Lukman Dahiru Abubakar 

Youths, they say, are the leaders of tomorrow. This is a saying we have heard since primary school days. Thanks to their productive and economically active age, youth should be frontrunners in nation-building. Adamawa State is blessed with educated and entrepreneurial people but tested with desperate and self-centred leaders who take advantage of these unsuspecting youths.

Please take a look at the administration of Gov. Murtala Nyako, CFR, GCON, from 2007 until his impeachment in 2014, spearheaded by incumbent governor Ahmadu Fintiri. Nyako ran the affairs of the state in an exemplary manner, leaving an indelible mark that won’t fade in the sands of time and making it almost impossible for his successors to fill his void. Nyako once described growing unemployment and unskilled youth as ‘enemy armies facing the nation’.

Gov. Nyako did not see the youths as commodities and tools for praise-singing on social media. He had a plan and a vision for them. His government established youth-centric empowerment programs for the benefit of all and sundry. Farming Skills Acquisition Centers were established all through the state. Vocational and technical training centres were instituted and equipped with German technology and managed by German expatriates. Monthly stipends were also given to the trainees for their upkeep.

Other youths were placed on the government payroll as special assistants. The Nyako Youth Empowerment Model was a visionary, focused, and purposeful one which paved the way for a promising future for the youths in the state.

Governor Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, riding on the change mantra in 2015, promised to revitalize and remediate these centres to ensure a continuum. Unfortunately, upon his ascension, he reneged on his promise, and because he doesn’t fulfil promises most of the time, he earned himself a nickname called digital. However, he had other plans for the youth and unveiled his youth empowerment package.

The Bindow Model includes the distribution of iPads for social media praise-singers and the disengagement of some staff from their places of work. This led to the birth of thuggery, criminality in the state, and even the Shila boys started around that time. The Shila Boys engage in street robbery and have been terrorizing the residents of Yola for years. He failed the litmus test and was kicked out of office in 2019.

Incumbent governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri assumed office in 2019. He looked the real deal at that time. However, he is in his third year now and doesn’t look like he has a cogent plan for the youths. Albeit last month it was reported that he purchased mobile phones for his social media warriors. This shows he did not learn from the blunders of his predecessor and is following in his footsteps, and until he adjusts, he’s likely falling into the same pit as ex-governor Umaru Jibrilla.

The youths must therefore rise and use the period of their youthfulness for something good and beneficial. Do not let politicians use you; use them instead.

Lukman Dahiru Abubakar wrote from Yola, Adamawa State, via ldahyu@gmail.com.

Revisiting Sardauna’s northernization policy

By Abdullahi Yusuf Tela

Between 1949 to 1960, the reign of Sir Ahmadu Bello as the Premier, the Northern Nigeria environment has seen tremendous development. By October 1960, because of his super influence, Ahmadu Bello has become a mighty figure within and outside the borders of northern Nigeria.

As described by Paden in Ahmadu Bello: Sardauna of Sokoto, the main concern of the Sardauna was “northernization”. His practical approach towards developing northern Nigeria was quite exceptional. Paden further states that “the north is his family, and he must get his family on the right track so that it can play its proper role within the federation and the world at large.”

Sardauna’s love for the growth and development of the North made him pursue a series of northernization policies, all in an attempt for a balanced growth amongst the regions despite warnings from other competing regions as to the consequences of his this ideology.

Sardauna had once replied, “No…. Over my grave!” This was in response to Dr Ibiam, who urged Sardauna to abandon the northernization policy.    

During one of his visits to the North, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe opined that the north under Ahmadu Bello’s reign was working consistently to catch up with the South in the race for progress. He added that its local government set up guarantees a stable government; its people respect and revere their emirs as a symbol of constituted authority while respecting elective representation in their local councils.    

His leadership style and dexterity made the former “Northern Cameroon” become “Sardauna Province”. Although the area called “Northern Cameroon” was part of Cameroon, Sir Ahmadu Bello lured them with a promise that if they joined Nigeria, he would grant them a separate province with lots of benefits as the Northern Nigerians. The Northern Cameroon province eventually voted to be part of the northern region through a referendum.

Ahmadu Bello, through his unreserved love for the youths, had fixed several of them in the civil service. It was found out that in 1961, out of the 41,000 employees in the federal civil service, only 400 were northerners. Due to this low turn-out of the northern people in the civil service, Sardauna developed the habit of making an appointment then sending the person on leave for a crash course at home or abroad. This created a lot of opportunities and positions for young northerners.

Abdullahi Yusuf Tela wrote via abdultela2@gmail.com.

The fallen heroes of Adamawa: Tributes to Prof. Gidado Tahir

Ahmadu Shehu, PhD.

Like any other place around the world, 2021 has not been easy, and 2022 does not seem to promise anything better. Great people have been lost all over, but Adamawa State has seen its worst for a very long time.

On one of those cold mornings, the world learnt about the transition of one of the bedrocks of the modern Nigerian university system, Dr Mahmud Tukur, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of what has become Nigeria’s centre of academic excellence, Bayero University, Kano.

Not many weeks passed before death struck again, this time at the heart of the Nigerian civil service veterans, taking away one of the best black-boxes, our father, Baba Ahmed Joda. As if that was not enough loss already, one of the leading public servants, a silent achiever and an erudite scholar, Alh. Abdullahi Danburam Jada left a vast vacuum that cannot be filled in the foreseeable future.

These were first class, first-generation Nigerians who fought for and served this nation in different and various capacities. They built the nation’s civil service, education, military, politics and economy. These were among the people without whom there wouldn’t have been Nigeria. They were the best Adamawa could offer to the world.   

But, today, I have not been as sad for a very long time because the reality of losing an icon, a mentor, has come to a step closer. A piece of unbelievable news surfaced on various platforms that one of the best of the bests in brain and character, a glittering light, a joint of unity among many, an icon of devotion and commitment, one of the most selfless souls, whose humility, sacrifice and gentility are immeasurable has gone to rest.

 Professor Gidado Tahir? No! I couldn’t believe it, for we have so much in stock waiting to be accomplished, none of which was for him or any single soul. Everything has been for his society, Nigeria, humanity. Although already 74, I couldn’t fathom the reality that Prof. has left without seeing some of these things happen.

However, the will of Allah is sacrosanct. Therefore, I accept it. I have come to terms with the reality that Professor Gidado Tahirhas left for good, but not without leaving us behind with the heavy responsibility of actualizing beautiful plans for our society and humanity.    

My relationship with Professor Gidado is a 24-year-old journey full of fascinating stories, exciting experiences and unforgettable lessons. In 1997, my father, Shehu Isa, took me alongside the headmaster of our nomadic primary school, Mamukan, Mal. Ahmed Musa Nyibango, to visit the head of the National Commission for Nomadic Education.

Before the visit, my father had organized a well-attended first graduation ceremony to celebrate the first graduands of the school. Professor Gidado was ably represented but asked that my father visit him for familiarization. I was 12 years old, fresh from primary into junior secondary.

My headmaster introduced me to him as the school prefect and the first in class position during that occasion. Prof. shook my tiny hands and said, “sannu maa Professor”, and while stirring deep into my eyes, he added, “do not leave school because you are the future”.

He then asked my father to “please keep in touch” and not relent in his pursuit for the education of the nomads, who he persuades to settle down with him and enrol their children into school. Indeed, my father kept to these words until the final moment.

The subsequent encounter was when Prof. handed me my Grade II certificate, which I earned from a DFID-sponsored nomadic teacher training program anchored by F.C.E., Yola and NCNE. Once again, Prof. followed this by saying to me, “move on, this is not the bus stop”, and that there is so much ahead to achieve. I heeded this advice and returned to school immediately after completing the two-year mandatory service at my nomadic school of origin. 

In 2004, the year I obtained an N.C.E., someone from the college who knew my modest academic activities had the cause to discuss me with him. I didn’t have a phone at the time, but Prof. ensured that his message got to me. It says, “please further your education to the university and let me know if you need my help. You can reach me on….” I immediately walked to my mentor at the college, Dr Salihi Atiku, and asked him to facilitate my results and application to the university.

There was a slight communication gap since I joined the University of Maiduguri until Dr Nafisatu D. Muhammed – who was instrumental to the survival of the entire nomadic education and my personal progress – mentioned me to him, highlighting my modest first-class degree and seeking his intervention in my application for a teaching job.

As the usual father that he was, Prof. immediately asked to see me, spoke to me regularly, mentored, engaged and supported me during my good and bad times. My last moments with him are unforgettable. He invited me to his house in the Villa on a Friday evening, where I met him undergoing physiotherapy with his doctor. I asked to excuse them, but he said to me, “sit here close to me, my son because you [plural] are our pride.”

More like a pre-planned episode, Prof narrated their struggle at and for NCNE, UBEC and how they helped establish the American University of Nigeria. Among many things, I would like to share his last words with all the young people out there: These legacies are for you to sustain and build upon. I gave him my words and left around 05:50 P.M. Allahu akbar!

Thank you for everything, Professor. May Allah grant you Jannah – until we come.

Dr Ahmadu Shehu writes from Kaduna. He can be reached on ahmadsheehu@gmail.com

Girei: The First Wakilin Fulani Adamawa

By Ahmadu Shehu, PhD.

On Friday, December 17, 2021, HRH Laamiiɗo Fombina, Alh. Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha, PhD, the International Grand Patron of Tabital Pulaaku International, appointed Dr Abubakar Umar Girei as the first Wakilin Fulani Adamawa. 

This appointment would have passed the waves without noise, just as other traditional appointments go unnoticed, had it not been put on the very head that fits it in all ramifications. The title itself is rare in a place like Adamawa, where the traditional council and the emirate are based on the Fulɓe culture and traditions.

The Lamiɗo of Adamawa is regarded as the global custodian of the Fulani race, Fulɓe cultural, linguistic, historical, economic and religious identity. Although the Fulani hold most of the major Islamic emirates in West Africa, and indeed within Nigeria, none of these traditional councils upholds the sanctity of the Fulani culture than Adamawa.

It was, therefore, highly unlikely that anyone could ever merit this office, nor could anyone be trusted with this critical responsibility by the Lamiɗo, who himself, is the first custodian of this special role. The traditional office of Wakili refers to “custodian”. In this case, Girei has become an ambassador between the Lamiɗo and all Fulɓe, the overseer of issues concerning Fulɓe and Pulaaku in the Emirate.

The new Wakili Fulani was born on May 25 1962, in Girei, a semi-urban town some ten kilometres away from Yola, the Adamawa State capital. He holds a PhD, M.A. and B.A. in Linguistics and Fulfulde studies from the University of Maiduguri, where he taught for fifteen years at the Department of Languages and Linguistics. His basic education started in Girei I Primary School, after which he proceeded to Arabic Teachers College, Gombe, where he completed his secondary education.

Having earned a First Class degree, Girei took off well and maintained an excellent academic career, rising through the ranks as a prolific writer, linguist and poet. His publications cut across the linguistic circle, publishing in competitive local and international journals on sociolinguistics, morphology, semantics and other fields of applied linguistics.   

It is safe to state Girei is the most prominent modern Fulfulde poet with numerous titles that address diverse fields, uniquely analysing all aspects of human endeavours. His books on poetry, such as Duuniya e Fiiji maaru, are the most recent modern Fulfulde poetry that have become reference points for scholars and the general public. 

The hope of an academic is to push back the horizon of ignorance on a global stage. In Fulfulde linguistics, where he specialises, Girei has become an undisputed authority, with scholarly and teaching experience in numerous European universities, including London, Bayreuth, Hamburg, and Vienna.   

His sojourn into the humanitarian services of the Fulani people began early in his life when he joined the crusade to enlighten the nomadic Fulani to settle down for education. His passion for the education of the Fulɓe led him to pick an appointment as a nomadic teacher, for which he travelled far and wide with nomads to teach their children. For instance, despite being a headmaster in his hometown, Girei moved to Labbare nomadic primary school in Wukari over eight hundred kilometres from his home to teach nomadic kids. 

His dedication to the service of the Fulɓe became more apparent when he rejected the admission to study Law and instead applied and studied Fulfulde in the university. His academic career revolved around teaching and researching Fulfulde, Fulɓe Literature and Culture, not only in the university but also in colleges of education where Fulfulde is taught. Those years have seen him produce and mentor future scholars and students of Fulfulde (including yours sincerely) who have become teachers in various prestigious universities worldwide.

Beyond the classroom, Dr Girei has led global projects on Fulfulde. For instance, he was the secretary of Lamido Aliyu’s committee on the translation of the glorious Qur’an into Fulfulde. He was my lead as the editor of the final version commissioned by Lamido Barkido Aliyu Mustapha in 2011. In addition, he serves on various linguistics and translation boards of organisations such as UNESCO, in which Fulfulde has been his primary language of interest.

Girei has served Fulɓe and Fulfulde in more capacities beyond academia. He was a founding member and the pioneer national secretary of Tabital Pulaaku International and is the founding and trustee member of other various Fulani socio-cultural organisations. The entire Fulani leadership understands his wit and dedication to the course, so the Sultan once appointed him to harmonise the Fulani socio-cultural groups.        

By and large, in the almost 60 years of his life, Girei had one goal, one career and one success. These are the well-being of the Fulani people and their cultural heritage. Thus, if anyone deserves to be the ambassador and overseer of the Fulani people, Girei is the one. Therefore, it is highly commendable that the royal father, the grand custodian of our culture, has made the right choice when it is most needed. 

Given the current socio-economic and political problems facing the Fulani people across the continent, this office couldn’t have been created at a better time, and Girei is the head that fits the cap. We ask Allah to guide him to success. Aameen.

Dr Ahmadu Shehu is Dr Girei’s academic son and can be reached at ahmadsheehu@gmail.com.

Gov. Fintiri proscribes hunters associations in Adamawa

Adamu Ibraheem Jimeta

The Adamawa State Governor, His Excellency, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has declared the Association of Professional Hunters in Adamawa as illegal. In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wunisiko on Monday, December 6, 2021, stated that “The operations and activities of the hunters have become a source of concern and insecurity instead of the security it is fashioned to provide”.

He further said the hunters’ abuse of rules of engagement and lack of regard to the traditional institution and security agencies in the state, especially in the five local governments of Numan, Demsa, Lamurde, Guyuk and Shellenge have made the decision unavoidable.

The statement reads: “More worrisome is the fact that the association operates independent of any security organization in the 5 Local Government Areas, thereby giving room for suspicion of their motive and intentions especially that they operate in uniforms of our security agencies and at odd hours.”

While emphasizing that security is everyone’s business, Fintiri added, “No group or anybody will be allowed to take the Law into their hands, disrespect to security agencies and traditional institution.”

He finally directed security agencies and traditional institutions to collaborate and ensure that peace is maintained across the state before, during and after the Yuletide and new year festivities.

Five persons confirmed dead in Bauchi auto crash

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Bauchi has disclosed that five persons have been confirmed dead in a deadly auto crash on Wednesday along Bauchi-Jos road.

Commander of the road safety corps in Bauchi, Mr Yusuf Abdullahi, told journalists Thursday that nine other people sustained severe injuries when the vehicles involved collided.

The vehicles were identified to belong to Adamawa Sunshine and Gombe Line transport companies.

He was quoted as saying, “Fifteen people, 13 males and two females, were involved in the crash.

“Five died on the spot, and they were all males. Nine others sustained injuries, among them were eight males and one female; the only person that escaped unhurt is a female.”

He added that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the Toro Local Government General Hospital mortuary.

He also warned motorists against reckless driving and that they should always ensure their vehicles are in good condition before embarking on a journey.

Police apprehend suspected kidnappers in Adamawa State

By Adamu Ibrahim Jimeta

Adamawa State Police Command has announced the arrest of kidnapping syndicate that have been terrorizing Malabu/Belel axis in Adamawa State.

The statement signed Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sulieman Yahya Nguroje, disclosed.

The operatives of the command attached to State Intelligent Bureau (SIB) in colaboration with the Police in the state accomplished the mission successfully.

The arrest of the suspects was said to have followed the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ahmed Barde.

Reports disclosed that Malabu had complained after been kidnapped twice by the criminal gang in the state, where they collected one million naira cash as a ransom.

The statement reads in part: “The confession of the suspects revealed they abducted the complainant sometimes, January, 2019, and received one million Cash as ransom and subsequently re- kidnapped him on the 11th February, 2021. by the same syndicate, but he luckily escaped from the captivity when negotiation for ransom was ongoing.

“Assisted by members of Miyetti Allah cattle breeders Association of Nigeria, apprehended 3 out of 5 members of the gang were arrested.

“They are Ahmadu Abdu, 24 years, a resident of Mbilla Malabu village, Fufore LGA; Buba Yusufa, 28years, a resident of Mbilla Malabu village, Fufore LGA; Usman Idi, 18 years, a resident of Bamanga village, Fufore LGA,” the statement added.

However, the CP while commending the police officers and Chairman Miyetti Allah, Alh. Jaoji, also assured the members of the public that they are committed to working with law abiding citizens to secure the state and reduce crimes to the bearest minimum .

Emerging intrigues in Adamawa politics

By Mohammed Zayyad

The Ward and Local Government Congresses of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the replacements at the wards, and the preparation for the LGA congresses by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have brought to the fore the emerging intrigues in Adamawa politic: The attempt to outweigh each other in the control of the two party’s structures among the party stakeholders is apparent.

 

The APC congresses, in most cases, were conducted based on Abuja’s directives of consensus and that the incumbents offer the Right of First Refusal, including accommodating newcomers. While for the PDP – if you have held the office for up to 8 years, death or resignation, your office is automatically vacant.

 

An interesting scenario in the APC is in Mubi North and Mubi South LGAs – the place has a former immediate governor – Bindow Umaru Jibrilla, and a sitting Senator, Ishaku Cliff Abbo. Abubakar Jafaru Member Representing Mubi North, Mubi South and Maiha Federal Constituency appeared to have been schemed out. For instance, while the Bindow and Cliff group were at Yazaram Cinema waiting for the election to be conducted, the actual election took place at Yelwa Primary School, with Jafar having the upper hand. What also weakened Bindow active participation was the issue of the leaked audio against President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

Another place of interest is Yola North, Yola South, Girei and Song LGAs- Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani, Adamawa Central, wanted to replace most of the Exco at those LGAs, but all her candidates lost woefully. Many people were surprised by Binani’s politics. The Excos Binani wanted to replace were those that assisted her in getting the senatorial ticket by narrowly defeating Aliyu Wakili Boya, Sarki Matasa.
In the APC congresses, three governorship hopefuls- Muhammadu Umaru Jibrill Bindow, Senator Cliff Ishaku Abbo and Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani were casualties, while three other governorship hopefuls Modi Halilu, Nuhu Ribadu and Abdul Razak Namadaz appeared to have made their intelligent moves silently. Namdas doesn’t have any issues at his constituency.

On the other hand, Boss Mustapha was not that enthusiastic – he only showed interest in one or two places in Yola North and Hong LGA. Former Governor Murtala Nyako played the role of a stabilizer and elder. The person that called the shots the most was Comrade Mustapha Salihu, APC NorthEast Vice Chairman. He doggedly implemented the APC Caretaker Committee’s instruction of consensus, giving the incumbent the right of first refusal and accommodating newcomers. The big game will be at the state congress. In particular, the State Chairmanship position- the big picture will be more precise- the grievances, crises, and contentment from each stakeholder and the group will be more open.

The PDP, being the party in power in the state and having some considerable interest within it, its replacements at the ward level and preparations for other congresses were unique. Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri made some political attempts- Most of the loyalists of Chief Joe Madaki and former Governor Boni Haruna were blocked.

An interesting place is the Numan Federation, where the Deputy Governor comes from. Crowther Seth was made ineffectual at his base; the person pulling the string is the Member Representing Numan, Demsa and Lamurde constituency, Kwamoti Laori; he is Fintiri’s right-hand man. It is still a surprise to many that Crowther Seth was made ineffective at Numan Federation. However, some pundits said it shouldn’t be surprised- Seth, as Deputy Governor, still operate from his house, of which the road to the house is not even tarred. Therefore, many people see Numan Federation as the big losers in the Fintiri government, despite being the joker for the PDP in the 2019 governorship election.

To be fair to Governor Fintiri, a sitting governor often dictates the direction of his party, and, Fintiri’s politics now goes beyond Adamawa; it has national elements in it- so he must have ‘the home’ in his control. Fintiri has some big PDP national assignments. This is also knit with his political ambition and the Wike connection. It was reported that Governor Wike flew to Yola twice or thrice in a specific week to confer with Fintiri and left within some hours. – Any political tête-à-tête that cannot be done via a cell phone is a big one.

There is a report that Fintiri will definitely try as much as he can to replace A.T. Shehu as the state chairman of the PDP. That’s why some politicians are of the view that Fintiri refuses to empower Shehu economically.

 

Fintiri means business, you can’t blame him. Recently, when the move to fill in the vacant position at the PDP Board of Trustee which was created by the death of former Governor Wilberforce Juta, Fintiri presented the name of Hamza Madagali Adamawa PDP Organizing Secretary, but former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and PDP former National Chairman Uche Secondus intervened, and presented the name of Boni Haruna, being a former Governor as Wilberforce Juta.

 

As the intrigues in both the Adamawa PDP and the APC further unfold, we will analyze it from the angle of the moment.

 

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja, 08036070980, zaymohd@yahoo.com.