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Tag: Adamawa

  • Angry youths set District Head’s office, Magistrate Court ablaze in Adamawa riot

    Angry youths set District Head’s office, Magistrate Court ablaze in Adamawa riot

    With the chant of Allahu akbar (God is great) more than 300 angry youths burnt down the offices of the head office of Jimeta District and a Magistrate Court in Yola, Adamawa State capital yesterday.

    The youths were protesting the removal the Imam of the Jimeta Jumaat Mosque, Mallam Sufiyanu Adamu.

    The angry youths, who also burnt down the office of the District Head of Jimeta, Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Baba-Paris. insisted that they would not accept the removal of the Imam by the District Head simply because the Imam criticised government’s handling of the security situation in the state.

    The Imam had been very critical of the governments at the state and federal levels over the prevailing security situation, particularly the Boko Haram crisis, during a special prayer session for peace.

    His fiery comments were said to have drawn the ire ofg Baba-Paris who decided to send him on suspension.

    Trouble started when some of the rioters got to the mosque for the jumat service only to learn that the Imam could not show up because he had been suspended by the District Head.

    They immediately mobilised themselves and stormed Baba-Paris’ office. Disappointed that he was not in the office, they decided to burnt down the office and the Magistrate Court.

    Some of the youths also headed towards the district head office, setting it ablaze and were preparing to proceed to Baba-Paris’ residence before they were prevented by security agents and some opinion leaders who pleaded with them.

    “We will no longer condone injustice by leaders who think we must not express ourselves in the face of injustice.

    “Why should the district head feel offended because the Imam spoke the mind of the majority as far as the insecurity situation is concerned,” one of the protesters who identified himself as Sufi said.

    Effort to get the Baba-Paris to react to the development did not yield result as he was said to have been rushed to an unknown destination by security agents.

    When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Adamawa State Police Command, DSP Othman Abubakar, confirmed the incident. But he said he was yet to get details of what actually happened.

    Abubakar however said that the situation was now under control.

  • Fed Govt to sponsor 2,400 pupils from Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

    Fed Govt to sponsor 2,400 pupils from Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

    THE Federal Government has approved N435 million for the sponsorship of 2,400 pupils from the three Northeast states under the safe school initiative.

    The amount, which is budgeted for, covers all expenses for the scheme, such as feeding and books.

    Part of the money, it was learnt yesterday, will be made available as stipends to parents interested in going to the schools to check on their sons and daughters.

    The first batch of students are from the three states of Borno, Yobe and

    Adamawa, where a state of emergency is being enforced as a result of the activities of Boko Harram.

    The approval was announced by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, shortly after a meeting with members of the Steering Committee of the Safe Schools Initiative.

    She said the component involves the transfer of students from the three emergency states of Yobe, Adamawa and Borno, who want to go to school in other parts of the country.

    The minister, who addressed reporters after the meeting, said all is now set for the implementation of the programme, which according to her, would be launched by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    According to the minister, “so far, about 800 students per state, giving a total of 2400 students for the three troubled states, have been identified for the scheme. These children would be attending any of the Unity Schools across the country.

    “It is a purely voluntary programme. Parents, who have said that they would like their children from JSS 1 to SSS 3 to go to unity schools in other parts of the country and elsewhere, have made themselves known. And we have identified 800 students per state for a total of 2,400 students.

    “We are supporting the cost of this. I think that for the 2,400 students, the initial cost for the first year will be about N435 million.”

    The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Mr. Zannah Mustapha, said the project would also help young people in the Internal Displaces Persons camp to go to school.

    Reacting, the President, Society for the Protection of Women Against Abuse, Ngozi Nwankwo, said the group was part of the initiative, adding that the students in the admitting schools were very receptive of the project.

    The principals and the teachers in the receiving schools were also being sensitised on what to expect.

  • Air Force’s missing jet’s wreckage sighted in Adamawa

    THE wreckage of a Nigeria Air Force’s Alpha Jet suspected to be missing in an operation against insurgents in Adamawa State may have been discovered in the River Benue in Demsa Local Government Area.

    The Alpha Jet (NAF 466) went missing during routine operations in the northern part of Adamawa State on September 12.

    Parts of the plane, according to sources, were spotted when a group of villagers went fishing around Kwaine village near Goron district, in Demsa council.

    The local council is about 50 kilometres from Yola.

    One of the fishermen, Mr. Audu Vrati, said they discovered objects believed to be parts of the missing aircraft in the river.

    Vrati said when the plane crashed, the level of water in the river was high, occasioned by the rainy season. He said the fishermen found the parts because the volume of water had receded, adding that security operatives had cordoned off the place and were preventing people from visiting the scene.

    Boko Haram claimed to have shot the aircraft down in a video in which they appeared to slaughter one of the pilots of the missing Alpha Jet.

    Military spokesperson, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, in a statement, after the accident, said the aircraft “left Yola about 10:45a.m on September 12, 2014 on a routine mission and was expected back by noon.

    “Since then, all efforts to establish contact with the aircraft have not yielded.”

    Olukolade could not be reached for comments.

     

  • Adamawa: Group protests exclusion of Ngilari from race

    Some communities and youth groups, under the aegis of the Adamawa Collective, have kicked against the exclusion of the Adamawa State Governor Bala Ngilari from the 2015 governorship race.

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), last week, announced the zoning of the governorship position to the Central Senatorial District, thereby excluding aspirants from the Northern and Southern districts.

    The pasrty’s decision was announced after Ngilari, who is from the Northern Senatorial District, obtained nomination form to contest the election.

    Describing the decision of the PDP leadership as undemocratic and unacceptable, the group accused the party of double standard and a plot to undermine the governor because he is from a minority group.

    At a media briefing yesterday in Abuja, the group’s Coordinator, Eli Gamaliel, and Secretary, Dr. Panny Boga, argued that Ngilari was not a party to the agreement the party reached with the eight aspirants from the Central zone to contest the poll.

    According to them, Ngilari was still pursuing his ouster in court at the time the PDP reached the agreement with the eight aspirants.

    They added that by virtue of the court’s verdict, which installed Ngilari as governor, the agreement should have been overtaken by events.

    Gamaniel said: “It is important to state that when the decision was taken to zone the governorship to the Central Senatorial District, Governor Ngilari was not in office, neither was he part of the meeting.

    “The doctrine of necessity, which brought President Goodluck Jonathan to office during the illness and later death of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua remains a good reference point for the PDP.

    “It was in that same spirit of the doctrine of necessity that the late Governor Patrick Yakowa continued in office and contested in 2011 and won. This zoning arrangement for Adamawa State is to say the list, unjust and uncalled for.”

    Secretary of the Adamawa Collective, Boga, accused PDP’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, and the Principal Secretary to the President, Alhaji Hassan Tukur, of allegedly plotting to impose a particular candidate on the state.

    Boga said: “It is on record that Mu’azu and Tukur have mounted tremendous pressure on Ngilari to drop his governorship ambition in 2015 for the Senate. This was on the excuse that it has been zoned and reserved for the Fulani, particularly Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

    “Yet, it is on record that impeached Governor Murtala Nyako, who spent almost eight years in office, is of the Fulani ethnic extraction.

    “We are not shocked by the stance of the hegemony because this was the same stance the likes of Prof Ango Abdullahi took when he insisted that President Jonathan should not contest in 2011 or the heavens would fall.

    “We, therefore, insist that since Ngilari was never a party to the agreement that zoned the governorship to Adamawa Central, it cannot be used against him in any material particular.”

  • Total curfew imposed in Adamawa

    Worried by the continued attacks on parts of Adamawa State, the government has imposed a curfew on the whole state.

    The curfew announced on Saturday by the Secretary to the State Government Mr Ibrahim Welye is an extension of the existing curfew in some parts of the state.

    Welye said in a statement that the curfew would now commence from 9pm to 5am daily.

    Those on essential services and with permit would allowed to carry out their duties during the curfew.

    “ All citizens and security operatives are please advised to comply strictly with these directives,” it stated

  • ‘Adamawa group rejects zoning’

    Some Adamawa State indigenes, under the aegis of the Movement for the Emancipation of Adamawa People (MEAP), have condemned the “subtle moves to stop Governor Bala Ngilari from contesting the 2015 governorship election on the grounds of an existing zoning arrangement”.

    In a statement yesterday in Kaduna by its President, Mr. Philip Adamu, MEAP urged Ngilari to disregard “such moves” and pick the governorship nomination form.

    It said although there was a zoning arrangement, quality leadership should not be sacrificed for zoning.

    The group described Governor Ngilari as a humble, peaceful and credible leader, who is in touch with the masses.

    It said the governor had the capacity to ensure stability and unity in the state, “which has been divided for long”.

    The group called for the understanding of the people of Adamawa Central Senatorial Zone, whose turn it is to produce the governor in 2015. It urged them to be patient and support Ngilari in 2015 to reconcile the people and chart a new course for the state.

  • Adamawa: Court faults Fintiri’s claim on judgment

    Adamawa: Court faults Fintiri’s claim on judgment

    The Federal High Court has dismissed claim by sacked Adamawa State’s Acting Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri that it was working to frustrate his appeal.

    Fintiri had, in two petitions to the National Judicial Council (NJC), alleged that the court was reluctant to release to him a certified true copy of the October 8 judgment which voided his swearing in as Acting Governor.

    A senior official of the court said yesterday that a copy of the judgement has since been given to Fintiri’s lawyer identified as Theophilus Okwute, from the law firm of the sacked Acting Governor’s lead lawyer, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN).

    He exhibited the acknowledgment copy where Okwute signed after he collected a copy of the judgment.

    The court, in a statement also said the judge, who delivered the judgment, was entitled to seven days within which to get the judgment ready for collection by any party who seeks to appeal.

    Citing Section 294(1) of the Constitution and 2:7 of the Code of Conduct for Judicial officers,the court said there was no basis for Fintiri’s lawyers to allege that they were not given copies of the judgment.

    The court said that Justice Ademola ought to be commended for determining the suit within two months rather than being vilified.

  • Adamawa’s botched by-election

    The feverish preparations for last Saturday’s governorship bye-election in Adamawa state came to an abrupt end with the swearing-in of former deputy governor, Bala James Ngilari as the new substantive governor.

    An Abuja Federal High Court had in a suit between Ngilari, the speaker of the state House of Assembly and five others ruled that the former deputy governor did not resign properly from his office following the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako a few months ago. The court therefore ordered the acting governor, Umar Ahmadu Fintiri to quit the seat while Ngilari be sworn-in immediately.

    The court further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to halt last Saturday’s bye-election in that state. With these ruling, that election was put off even as Fintiri reportedly appealed the judgment.

    Expectedly, the turn of events has jolted many especially stakeholders in Adamawa politics. This is more so as it came barely three days to the conduct of the bye-election which the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and the All Progressives Congress APC would have used to test their strength. The development has come to mean so many things for so many people depending on the prism from which it is being viewed.  Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and presidential aspirant of the APC saw the verdict as a temporary delay of the overwhelming desire of the people of the state to vote out the PDP government. While accepting the verdict, he saw it as nothing than postponing the doomsday for the PDP.

    Even within the PDP, the development has come with some discomfort. This is palpable from the reaction of the party through its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh. He had urged the new governor to maintain the balance in the party. Fintiri is equally uncomfortable with the situation and has vowed through his lawyer to press on to reverse the swearing-in of Ngilari. The PDP is also not certain of Ngilari’s direction given the turn of events and their earlier preferences for Fintiri.

    In spite of all this, the PDP is not worse off following Ngilari’s ascendancy since he remains a member of that party. In a way therefore, the party has turned out as the eventual beneficiary of the verdict even as Fintiri is one of theirs. The party is the eventual beneficiary because the outcome of the bye-election could have gone in either direction. Since nobody could say for certain which party was going to emerge victorious, a situation that brought back the former deputy governor is still of advantage to the PDP despite their differences with him.

    One other moot issue arising from the verdict is the hurried swearing-in of the beneficiary even when the judgment has been appealed. This is bound to raise questions. Issues could be raised as to why the swearing-in could not wait for the appeal to run its full course. Fintiri’s counsel Bayo Ojo has faulted the swearing-in arguing that the “implication of the appeal is that the order of the court cannot be complied with until the appeal process is disposed of. This is to forestall a situation where a fait accompli will be foisted on the appeal court”

    At things stand, we are yet to hear the last on the matter unless the PDP persuades Fintiri to drop the appeal.

    No doubt, the verdict took the people of Adamawa by surprise and made a mess of all the preparations and investments the various contenders ploughed into their campaign. It must have shattered dreams; dashed ambitions and left with it, trails of woes.  The larger effects on political calculations in the state will linger for sometime to come.

    Above all, it has saved INEC the burden of conducting election in one of the states that has been the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency; a state that has for the third time been under a state of emergency. It has denied the commission the relevant experience it would have called into action in managing elections in the more volatile Borno and Yobe states. That experience has been lost at least for now.

    The commission had come out last week with the information that elections would not hold in two local governments most susceptible to terrorism attacks. It would have been a worthy experience seeing how that will play out. It would have also been rewarding to witness the responses of the insurgents on the election day. Even for the areas where the election was billed to hold, it would have been a test case for the impact of the insecurity on voters’ turn-out. All these have been lost with the cancellation of Saturday’s bye-election.

    Adamawa is a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society where adroit political balances play a major role in determining who occupies what office. We saw this at play prior to the ascendancy of Fintiri as the acting governor. We are also witnesses to the zoning arrangements the ruling party put in place for the 2015 elections. These are bound to be altered by the court verdict and Ngilari’s triumph.

    The controversy surrounding the purported resignation of Ngilari was all part of the complex dynamics of the plural politics of that state. The main issue then was his religion. He had to be traded off in a controversial or stage managed resignation to garner the support of the assembly men to impeach Nyako.

    But all that have come to naught following his victory at the court and eventual swearing-in.  Apparently conscious of the political coloration of that state, Ngilari has promised an open and transparent government. He has called on the people of the state to “rise above primordial differences of religion, ethnicity and political affiliation” pledging to “address our challenges which are not limited to general security, poverty, hunger, reconciliation and disease”

    One thing that appears certain is that he will have to contend with the task of reconciling the contending tendencies in the state. The state is sharply divided now and his ascendancy may not go down well with some bigots. He must work hard to prove that primordial predilections are only veritable tools exploited by the elite to exploit the masses.

    For a great majority of the people, it matters little who is there provided they are made to benefit from the mandate which leaders exercise. He would have made a big difference by the way the benefits of governance are felt in all the nooks and crannies of the state. Time is not in his favour as he will be saddled with events leading to the 2015 elections.

    He can still make his mark even with the limited time he has. The way he perceives his assignment which he has attributed to God will make the difference. For now, his triumph has diffused the political heat which last Saturday’s election was bound to generate.

  • Beyond Adamawa’s macabre dance

    Beyond Adamawa’s macabre dance

    Barely three months after the sack of Governor Murtala Nyako, the macabre dance in Adamawa State is still continuing. In this piece, Managing Editor Northern Operation YUSUF ALLI looks beyond the events which led to the dramatic emergence of Bala James Ngilari as governor

    The unending drama in Adamawa State continued on Wednesday with the sack of the state’s former Acting Governor, Umaru Fintiri. After being an Acting Governor thrice, Fintiri’s larger-than-life image suffered a jolt with the order of a Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice A. F. A. Ademola asking him to vacate office for ex-Deputy Governor Bala James Ngilari who has assumed office as the substantive governor of the state. The setback may be the beginning of a journey into political oblivion for Fintiri unless he secures a reprieve from the Court of Appeal. The judge granted the prayers of Ngilari’s lawyer Festus Keyamo.

    Unknown to many, Fintiri had battled spiritedly to retain his job on Wednesday by pulling all the strings in the Presidency but doors were shut against the hitherto anointed boy of the Villa. The judgment by Justice A.F. A. Ademola reads in part: “A declaration is made by the combined provisions of Section 306(1), (2) and (5) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Plaintiff, Barrister Bala James Ngilari as Deputy Governor of Adamawa State did not resign his office by addressing a letter of resignation dated 15th July 2014 to the 1st Defendant (Speaker, Adamawa State House of Assembly).

    “A declaration is made that by the combined provisions of Section 306(1), (2) and (5) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the purported resignation of the Plaintiff, Barrister Bala James Ngilari as Deputy Governor of Adamawa State did not take effect when the purported letter of resignation was received by the 1st Defendant ((Speaker, Adamawa State House of Assembly) on the 15th of July 2014.

    “A declaration is made that by the combined provisions of Section 306(1), (2) and (5) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the declaration of the Office of the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State (then occupied by the Plaintiff) vacant on the 15th of July 2014 vide the votes and proceedings of the 2nd Defendant of same day is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

    “A declaration is made that by the sequence of the legislative business of the 2nd Defendant as contained in the transcript of the Votes and Proceedings of the Adamawa State House of Assembly (2nd Defendant) of Tuesday July 15, 2014, the 5th Defendant (Murtala Nyako) was still the Governor of Adamawa State at the time the 1st and 2nd Defendants received, accepted and acted upon the purported letter of resignation of the Plaintiff (Barrister Bala James Ngilari) to declare his seat vacant.”

    How Nyako’s affidavits

    facilitated Ngilari’s victory

    Unknown to many, five affidavits sworn to by ex-Governor Murtala Nyako through his Director of Press, Ahmad I. Sajoh formed the thrust of the judgment of Justice Ademola. Nyako made it known to the court that he was out of Yola as at the time the purported letter of resignation was written by Ngilari and he could not have been in receipt of the vital communication.

    Attempts by Fintiri to prove otherwise were rejected by the court which said “the plaintiff having discharged the burden of proof that he did not resign according to law, the onus shifted to the defendants who failed in every material particular to prove to the court the existence of a legitimate resignation letter by the plaintiff.” It was easier for Nyako’s camp to pay back Fintiri in his own coin because the ex-governor was said to have “politically brought up the sacked Acting Governor, who was in business; offered him House of Assembly’s ticket and the eventual Speakership which he used against his mentor.” Nyako could not believe that Fintiri can backstab him and dismantled his political structure. Reacting to the verdict of Justice

     Ademola, Nyako said:  “This is a further testimony to the fact that the entire process associated with the purported impeachment saga had been just series of acts characterized by extreme illegality and political brigandage. Buoyed by a system that promotes impunity and abuse of all legal and constitutional procedures, the law makers in Adamawa State took it upon themselves to abuse all known legal norms to enthrone a regime anchored on illegalities.

    “We wish to observe that this is the first step in the judicial process of correcting the wrongs of the Adamawa State House of Assembly. We are confident that the Nigerian judiciary will further confirm the injustices associated with the purported removal of Governor Murtala Nyako which was done in a manner akin to a civilian coup d’état. The process of the reversal of all the series of illegalities connected with the supposed impeachment saga has only just commenced and will continue until it culminates with the return of Governor Nyako to Government House, Yola.  He should be mindful of the nature of Adamawa State as a diverse and plural society and therefore rule the people with justice, fairness and the fear of God. The new Governor is further advised to heal the deep wounds of mistrust and mutual suspicion inflicted on the people of the state by the illegal government of the Acting Governor.

    “Finally we call on the people of Adamawa State to remain calm, law-abiding and to extend all necessary support to the new leadership and to wish Barr Bala Ngillari success and God’s guidance in his new assignment.

    “We also call on the people to pray for the new Governor and the State so that peace will be restored and the State returned to the path of progress, harmony and peaceful co-existence.

    “We equally wish to assure the good people of Adamawa State that God willing, and in no too distant future, the Courts will return Admiral Murtala Nyako as the Governor of Adamawa State.”

    Untold story of

    Ngilari-Fintiri clash

    For a long time, there had been bitter rivalry between Ngilari and Fintiri in Madagali Constituency. Ngilari comes from Mildu Ward; Fintiri is a product of Kirchinga Ward with the two leaders competing for the control of the constituency.  Although Fintiri commands large following, there had been a cat and mouse game between them. In 2011, Ngilari opposed the nomination of Fintiri as PDP candidate for Madagali Constituency in the House of Assembly because he was not given a waiver by the party having defected from the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to the PDP. But Nyako overruled Ngilari and conceded the ticket to Fintiri. The ex-governor is today regretting not listening to his former deputy. Also in 2011, Ngilari fought back in the same year by installing his own candidate, Mr. Chubado Tijjani as the Chairman of Madagali Local Government Area against Fintiri’s candidate. Barely an hour after he was inaugurated on Wednesday, Ngilari appointed the same Tijjani as his Chief of Staff. But in 2013, Fintiri fought back when he regained the control of Madagali LGA by installing his own candidate as the council chairman. It was learnt that the court verdict on Wednesday was the icing of the cake for Ngilari. The ex-Acting Governor Fintiri, who had upstaged Ngilari politically many times, never wanted Ngilari to be Deputy Governor, acting or substantive governor because Ngilari will overshadow his rising political profile. This was why Fintiri plotted how the House of Assembly decided to impeach Nyako and forced Ngilari to resign. Still undone, Ngilari was dragged before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and grilled for alleged mismanagement of funds during the administration of sacked Governor Murtala Nyako. It was said to be part of the plot of the then Acting Governor to seal the fate of Ngilari.

    A top source said: “The entire Adamawa State is being dragged into a local rivalry. The two leaders do not see eye-to-eye at all. As a matter of fact, Fintiri thought Ngilari was politically dead with the impeachment of Nyako.

    “But like a cat with nine lives, Ngilari has bounced back to claim a sweet triumph.”

    Why Pdp was quick to

    accept the verdict

    After reading the lips of President Goodluck Jonathan, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), most of whom had robust relationship with Fintiri, accepted the inevitable exit of the former Acting Governor of Adamawa State. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said: “The party has looked at the judgment on Adamawa and we resolved as follows: The PDP is a law-abiding party and we have therefore advised our members to obey accordingly. As is being done in every legal matter, there is a right of appeal. But in the meantime, the PDP has enjoined our party members to obey the decision of the court.

    “Secondly, the paramount thing for us is peace in Adamawa. And we enjoin the Executive Governor of Adamawa State that was sworn in today to pursue peace and progress of Adamawa State. The state has had its own fair share of political turmoil; the state has had its own fair share of challenges. We believe that the citizens of the state deserve peace and unity. We urge our state chairman to ensure that PDP remains united as one body in Adamawa. And as a PDP member we can only say to the former Deputy Governor to continue to pursue the party’s programmes for the benefit of the people.”

    Investigation however revealed that right from the onset, Fintiri was not the favoured candidate of the party but he had the incumbency factor and the war chest (state resources) at his disposal. Having been financially sapped, everyone fell for Fintiri’s bait as a matter of survival. But the judgment was actually a life-line for PDP which could have lost the postponed October 11 poll because the ruling party was yet to recover from post-primaries wrangling. According to a reliable source, who spoke in confidence, the PDP thrice conducted discreet surveys which confirmed that the All Progressives Congress(APC) will win the governorship bye-election. The source said: “Each of the surveys showed that APC might secure 72 per cent of the poll because Fintiri’s nomination has polarised the poll because the primaries were marred with irregularities including over-voting, double voting, and manipulation. The attitude of Fintiri after the primaries, especially his declaration that he might still contest for the governorship election in 2015, and the holier-than-thou posture or I can go it alone ego had weakened the PDP for the suspended October 11 poll.”

    Second chance for Modibbo, Marwa, Ribadu, others?

    The sudden  change of guard has left the governorship race open because the unwritten agreement between Fintiri and former PDP governorship aspirants may no longer subsist. Those who hitherto stepped down for Fintiri will rekindle their ambition. The aspirants, whose number may increase,  are ex-UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo; ex-EFCC Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Markus Gundiri; Auwal Tukur; ex-Minister Aliyu Idi Hong; Sen. Abubakar H. Girei; Jerry Kumdisi; Andrawus Sawa; James Barka;  retired  Gen. Aliyu Kama; ex-Military Administrator of Lagos State, Gen. Buba Marwa; Ahmed Gulak and a former presidential aide, Dr. Umar Ardo; Jerry Kumdisi; and James Barka.

    It was, however, gathered that they have a match in Ngilari who might also seek re-election as a governor.

    Adamawa PDP’s loss, APC’s gain?

    Yet it is not yet Uhuru for the PDP in Adamawa State. While the National Secretariat is playing safe, most PDP leaders in Adamawa State boycotted the swearing in of Ngilari when it was apparent that they were in Yola. Though Ngilari refused to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Nyako, he did not enjoy the backing of the party leadership in the state. The removal of Fintiri will polarise the party because all leaders and members who are loyal to the former Acting Governor may embark on protest votes against PDP in the 2015 poll if Ngilari emerges PDP’s governorship candidate. The Muslims and the Fulani, who form the core power brokers in the state, have been uncomfortable with Ngilari based purely on religious sentiments. They would rather tolerate Ngilari by banking on the hope that the court will restore Nyako’s mandate. But the party’s policy of automatic ticket for the incumbent might leave the Fulani oligarchy with no choice than to back a Christian candidate in Ngilari if the court rejects Nyako’s application.

    The development in PDP may however have a backlash on APC whose members might call for fresh governorship primaries. In the earlier primaries, Senator Jibrilla Bindo had clinched the governorship ticket by defeating the ‘anointed’ candidate of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had no choice than to accept the party’s choice. Atiku will also use the “reprieve period” to re-strategise and take away back the mandate of Bindo if the party supports fresh primaries. So far, Atiku had expressed cautious optimism that APC will still win the governorship poll in the state. In his reaction to Wednesday’s judgment, the ex-VP said: “The judicial verdict that may have tacitly cancelled the governorship by-election in Adamawa State for now was a painful development for the membership of the APC in Adamawa State.

    “As leaders of the party, we shall respect the verdict of the court, but we must be quick to say that the verdict has merely delayed the overwhelming desire of the people of Adamawa State to vote for change and thumbs down the PDP imposition on a people. Clearly, we in the APC had the momentum and therefore an advantage going into Saturday’s election,” Atiku said.

     Nyako/ Fintiri/ House

    of Assembly’s factors

    The inauguration of Ngilari is a sign of a long drawn legal battle ahead and it is too early to conclude that the new governor might be in charge till May 29, 2015. The sacked Governor Nyako is still before a Federal High Court in Lagos and if he is reinstated, Ngilari will have to vacate his office for his boss.  Also, Fintiri, through his counsel, Chief Bayo Ojo(SAN) has headed for the Court of Appeal against Wednesday’s judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja. If the appellate court restores Fintiri as the Acting Governor into office, the political ding-dong in Adamawa will continue. A PDP stalwart in Adamawa said: “The suits are distractions to Ngilari who may spend more time in and out of the court than settling down to work. We may eventually not witness real development in the state in the next seven months.

    “It is becoming clearer to all that those who removed Nyako have not done the state any good.” As at press time, it was gathered that if the Court of Appeal does not hear Fintiri’s petition on time, the former Acting Governor and State Assembly members may pay a spoiler’s game at the Federal High Court in Lagos by admitting that Nyako was illegally impeached on July 15. “This is Option B in Fintiri-Assembly’s camp to stop Ngilari from being the governor of the state,” another source added with much confidence.

    Unless wise counsel prevails, Ngilari  may also want to probe the short tenure of his arch-rival,  Fintiri who spent state resources to buy Prado Sports Utility Vehicles(SUVs) for local government chairmen. Probing Fintiri may plunge the state into chaos because the former Acting Governor devoted much time to stomach infrastructure.

    A major problem Ngilari might face is the State House of Assembly which is under the firm control of Fintiri. Only a member of the Assembly attended the inauguration of Ngilari suggesting that the Legislature is poised for another battle. The members of the Assembly are already in a fix on whether to reinstate Fintiri as their Speaker or confront Ngilari up front. “Do not rule out impeachment proceedings against Ngilari, because we have a report on him,” a member of the Assembly told our correspondent. Even if Ngilari is not impeached, he might not enjoy the confidence of the legislators in the state who were “spoilt” silly by Fintiri.”

    But some forces have also risen against the return of Fintiri as the Speaker of the House of Assembly because, according to a highly-placed source, the same Madagali Local Government cannot produce the governor and the Speaker.

    “It would amount to abuse of the party’s zoning formula. No one can also gamble to allow Fintiri to be Speaker again. The worst is for him to be an ordinary member of the House.”

    What becomes of Adamawa?

    With Nyako’s suit before a court, the nation may still be treated to more drama in Adamawa State. All the stakeholders are back to the trenches while Ngilari is tottering.

  • Adamawa: We won’t appeal court judgment, says PDP

    Adamawa: We won’t appeal court judgment, says PDP

    The sacking yesterday of Adamawa State Acting Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and the inauguration of ex-Deputy Governor Bala Ngilari as governor received wide acceptance.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), impeached Governor Murtala Nyako and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar okayed the action.

    The PDP said the party would not appeal the judgment by the Federal High Court.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said: “The party has looked at the judgement on Adamawa and we resolved as follows:

    “The PDP is a law-abiding party and we have therefore advised our members to obey accordingly. As is being done in every legal matter, there is a right of appeal.

    “But in the meantime, the PDP has enjoined our party members to obey the decision of the court.

    “Secondly, the paramount thing for us is peace in Adamawa. And we enjoin the Executive Governor of Adamawa State that was sworn in today to pursue peace and progress of Adamawa State.

    “The state has had its own fair share of political turmoil, the state has had its own fair share of challenges. We believe that the citizens of the state deserve peace and unity.

    “We urge our state chairman to ensure that PDP remains united as one body in Adamawa. And as a PDP member we can only say to the former Deputy Governor to continue to pursue the party’s programmes for the benefit of the people.”

    Atiku said: “The judicial verdict that may have tacitly cancelled the governorship by-election in Adamawa State for now was a painful development for the membership of the APC in Adamawa State.

    “As leaders of the party, we shall respect the verdict of the court, but we must be quick to say that the verdict has merely delayed the overwhelming desire of the people of Adamawa State to vote for change and thumbs down the PDP imposition on a people. Clearly, we in the APC had the momentum and therefore an advantage going into Saturday’s election,” Atiku said.

    He added: “The people of Adamawa want change. They expressed that desire throughout the nooks and crannies of the state with the massive momentum going for the candidate of our party during the electioneering campaign.”

    “We shall remain resolute and provide the leadership that will make it possible for the people of Adamawa State and Nigerians in general to vote for change whenever and wherever the opportunity arises.”

    Nyako, in a statement through his Director of Press and Publicity, Ahmad Sajoh, said he had hope in the court to reclaim his mandate.

    The statement said: “His Excellency Admiral Murtala Nyako wishes to express satisfaction with the judgment passed by the Federal High Court in Abuja declaring that former Deputy Governor Bala James Ngillari has not resigned as Deputy Governor.

    “This is a further testimony to the fact that the entire process associated with the purported impeachment saga had been just series of acts characterized by extreme illegality and political brigandage.”

    He said members of the House of Assembly were used to perpetrate impunity but the Judiciary ensured justice.

    The statement added: “Buoyed by a system that promotes impunity and abuse of all legal and constitutional procedures, the law makers in Adamawa State took it upon themselves to abuse all known legal norms to enthrone a regime anchored on illegalities.

    “We wish to observe that this is the first step in the judicial process of correcting the wrongs of the Adamawa State House of Assembly.

    “We are confident that the Nigerian judiciary will further confirm the injustices associated with the purported removal of Governor Murtala Nyako, which was done in a manner akin to a civilian coup d’état.

    “The process of the reversal of all the series of illegalities connected with the supposed impeachment saga has only just commenced and will continue until it culminates with the return of Governor Nyako to Government House, Yola.

    “Nyako wishes to congratulate Barr. Bala Ngillari on his success at the court and advises him to take up the responsibilities of his new office with his famed patience and humility.

    “He should be mindful of the nature of Adamawa State as a diverse and plural society and, therefore rule the people with justice, fairness and the fear of God.

    “The new governor is further advised to heal the deep wounds of mistrust and mutual suspicion inflicted on the people of the state by the illegal government of the Acting Governor.

    “Finally we call on the people of Adamawa State to remain calm, law-abiding and to extend all necessary support to the new leadership and to wish Barr Bala Ngillari success and God’s guidance in his new assignment.

    “We also call on the people to pray for the new governor and the state so that peace will be restored and the state returned to the path of progress, harmony and peaceful co-existence.

    “We equally wish to assure the good people of Adamawa State that God willing, and in no too distant future, the courts will return Admiral Nyako as the Governor of Adamawa State.”