Adamawa Journalist Pens Scathing Open Letter to Governor Fintiri, Accusing Him of “Errors of Power” in Education Policy, LG Candidate Selection

By Tgnews Reporter 

A prominent Adamawa-based journalist, Padio Phineas, has released an open letter addressed to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, criticizing what he describes as two major “errors of power” in the administration: the alleged misrepresentation of the state’s education policy as fully “free and compulsory,” and the purported unilateral imposition of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates for upcoming local government elections.

In the letter, dated around the current period, Phineas a former supporter who claims to have played a key role in Fintiri’s electoral victories expresses “sadness, disappointment, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.”

He recounts his personal involvement in defending the governor during past political controversies, including resisting pressure to suppress a sensitive audio recording during the governor’s re-election campaign.

Phineas acknowledges several achievements of the Fintiri administration, including infrastructure development such as roads and bridges, subsidies for secondary school examinations, and the restoration of traditional chiefdoms. However, he argues these do not offset the concerns raised.

Phineas alleges that the governor’s unilateral determination, hand-picking, and effective imposition of PDP candidates is expected to result in all 21 local government chairmen emerging from the ruling party ahead of the May 31, 2026, elections, contending that this violates Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution guaranteeing democratically elected local councils while undermining grassroots democracy by limiting competition and accountability.

Recent local government elections in July 2024 saw the PDP sweep all 21 chairmanship seats a result the governor hailed as a “triumph for democracy” with party primaries and candidate submissions now ongoing for the upcoming polls as of late 2025, though no widespread reports of imposition have surfaced in coverage amid the PDP’s documented dominance in state politics.

The letter also challenges the administration’s claim of providing entirely free and compulsory education, noting that parents still pay N1,300 in PTA levies, representing only a marginal reduction from previous charges and creating a disconnect between official pronouncements and reality that fosters public disillusionment; Phineas references a personal exchange with the governor, in which Fintiri defended the levies as independent of government control.

Independent reports and civil society critiques confirm that, while tuition was waived under the policy launched in 2019, parents continue bearing costs for PTA contributions and essentials, with groups highlighting hidden fees and shortages in materials like chalk in some schools.

Phineas urges the governor to reflect on his legacy ahead of his term ending in 2027, emphasizing the need for restraint in power and adherence to democratic principles.

He frames the letter as a call for correction rather than malice, rooted in the “burden of speaking truth to power” amid surrounding flattery.

The open letter has not yet elicited a public response from the governor’s office. Governor Fintiri, re-elected in 2023, is widely credited with infrastructure strides but has faced occasional criticism over political dominance and policy implementation.

As Adamawa prepares for the 2026 local polls, this intervention from a self-described former ally highlights ongoing debates over democratic depth and policy transparency in the state.