By: Bafana Bafana
In 2014, Murtala Nyako, a fulani was the governor of Adamawa state. He got into trouble with Goodluck Jonathan over his incessant critcisms of the president’s lackadaisical attitude towards the book haram insurgence and Jonathan orchestrated his impeachment. Both he and his deputy were impeached in July 2014 and the speaker, Ahmadu Fintiri, a Marghi, became acting governor. Fintiri immediately won the hearts of Adamawa people by clearing all salary arrears owed to civil servants and this earned him the nickname “ATM”. Fintiri also embarked on road construction all over the state.
By-elections were scheduled for October 2014 and Fintiri got into the race and clinched the PDP thicket. This did not go down well with the Fulani oligarchy. A move was made to disqualify Fintiri on the grounds that he was not eligible to contest and was only meant to “act” until the next governor emerged. This wasn’t going to work out so the impeached deputy governor, Bala Ngilari, same tribe with Fintiri was reinstated as governor on the grounds that he was wrongly impeached. The governorship by-elections were cancelled.
2015, general elections came, Bala Ngilari didn’t contest for governorship (Maybe their agreement). Fintiri got into the race again, he was leading in the PDP primaries and the process was halted and moved to Abuja where Nuhu Ribadu, a Fulani, was announced the winner even before the delegates from Yola got to Abuja. He was not popular enough to be governor and PDP lost. Umar Jibrilla Bindow, non-fulani from Mubi, became governor.
2019 general elections: Fintiri contested and clinched the PDP ticket. Power was however with the APC, Halilu Ahmed, Fulani and brother to Aisha Buhari was in the race. All attempts to deny Bindow the ticket in favour of Halilu failed and Bindow emerged APC flagbearer. This caused a fracas between Aisha Buhari and Oshiomole. Aziz Nyako, son of Murtala Nyako emerged as the ADC governorship candidate and got all the Fulani votes. This was to the detriment of Bindow whom as my friend told me would have gotten Fulani votes even though they don’t like him. Fintiri won and became governor. I must add that he has been the best performing governor since the creation of Adamawa state. Nobody can deny this!
Now 2023, the Fulani Oligarchy are set to take the governorship seat by all means. Hook and crook. Binani is a Fulani woman, she is their candidate. Along religious lines, she is also the preferred muslim candidate.
PS: there are over 70 tribes in Adamawa state and Fulanis are found in almost every local government. The Lamido Adamawa is also regarded as the tribal leader of the Fulani people and boasts of his kingdom extending to Cameroon.
