Reasons the majority no longer have their way

Unfortunately, whether in education, health, infrastructure, political or economic development, the gap seems to be widening by the day. Although several factors may have been responsible for this yawning gap, unjust favours, unnecessary political inequality promoted by successive leaders, social injustice and marginalization of minority tribes in general, are the immediate and remote causes of […]

Unfortunately, whether in education, health, infrastructure, political or economic development, the gap seems to be widening by the day. Although several factors may have been responsible for this yawning gap, unjust favours, unnecessary political inequality promoted by successive leaders, social injustice and marginalization of minority tribes in general, are the immediate and remote causes of the state’s underdevelopment. There is also the mismanagement of the diversity of the people of the state.  Rather than try to get the best out of everyone, the Murtala Nyako-led government, for instance, is obsessed with the idea of not acknowledging the existence of the state’s minority tribes. This is not an exaggeration since the facts are there for anybody who cares to verify.

For example, the state government, in July this year, stealthily and without following due process, employed 36 state counsels in the Ministry of Justice alone. Out of this figure 29 slots were allocated to the Fulani while the remaining six slots were given to the minority tribes, encompassing 85 ethnic nationalities in the state. As if that was not all, it is also on record that Governor Nyako’s government has demoted, compulsorily sacked or replaced most minority public officers with Fulani by tactfully engaging in systematic cleansing of other ethnic groups occupying strategic positions in government. Another similar case in reference is the compulsory retirement of 15 permanent secretaries among other cadres of staff in its employment, all of minority extraction last year. To compound their problems, none of them has been paid their statutory entitlements up till this moment. I can go on and on.

These issues were again brought to the fore by a ‘Forum of Adamawa Elders’ at their second meeting after the one held early June in Yola. The meeting this time, was convened in Numan on November 27, 2010. In a Seven-Point Communiqué issued at the end of that meeting, the forum, among other issues, frowned at the state government’s discriminatory posture, most especially between 2007 and 2010, describing it as the least developed state in the country. The lesson to learn from our past experiences, the communiqué maintained, is that “never again shall we, the electorate of this state, be governed by unprepared, unproven, imposed or conscripted candidates. The chief executive of our state must be democratically elected”.

The communiqué signed by Ambassador W. B. Juta, General H. A. Hananiya (rtd), Air Cdre Dan Suleiman (rtd), Brigadier General Aliyu U. Kama (rtd), Alhaji U. J. Maina, Alhaji Julde Gurumpawo and Mr. S. P. Kaigama implored the administration to denounce discrimination, nepotism, religious bigotry and instead, be responsive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state. The body, believes in the promotion of national and international campaigns, for the promotion of human rights of disadvantaged and minority groups. The forum during its Numan meeting, had resolved to sooner than later, make public pronouncements on which political party and or the candidates it will support in the forth coming general elections.

There are signs of unfairness and discrimination against the majority of the ethnic groups in Adamawa State by the incumbent leadership. Generally, the level of nepotism and cronyism in the state has denied the majority of citizens some basic rights.

The fact is that Adamawa state can only prosper and flourish when the authorities remove all forms of discrimination, injustice and divisive tendencies. All citizens, irrespective of their differences, must be fully integrated in the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect. This is imperative, taking into cognizance that good governance requires reaching a broad consensus on what is in the best interest of the people and how it can be achieved. The importance of Adamawa, the North East geo-political zone and indeed the entire nation, cannot be over-emphasized.

Edward Wabundani lives in Abuja and can be reached on E-mail: [email protected]