Political Revolt Brews in Adamawa as Indigenous Groups Allege Gongola State ‘Gifted’ to Minority, Block Fair Play

“….The best way forward is to register en masse and be prepared to vote and defend your votes,….Desist from taking corrupt money from lying politicians to sell your birthright.”.

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By Emmanuel Kwada 

‎Political Tensions are rising in Adamawa State as indigenous ethnic communities, the ‘original inhabitants’ of the former Gongola region, accuse past military administrations of arbitrarily renaming and restructuring the area to favor a small ethnic minority, effectively sidelining the majority population from political power and equitable governance.

‎The Gongola Peoples Forum (GPF), a socio-cultural organization advocating for unity, justice, and equity, has been conducting statewide tours across all 21 local government areas to sensitize residents and amplify these long-standing grievances.

‎During these visits, community members consistently expressed deep resentment, claiming that the 1991 division of Gongola State into Adamawa and Taraba States, along with the adoption of the name “Adamawa”—derived from Modibo Adama, a 19th-century Fulani leader—was imposed without consultation or referendum.

‎”No one asked us. It came by fiat,” residents reportedly told GPF teams, asserting that the state, originally part of the broader Gongola entity, was “handed over as a gift” to a “tiny ethnic group” (widely understood in local discourse to refer to Fulani elites and their allies), rendering the numerical majority—including groups such as Bachama (Bwatiye), Sukur, Kilba, Marghi, Chamba, Mumuye, and others—politically marginalized for decades.

‎The core complaint centers on alleged manipulation of electoral processes. Communities claim this privileged group has consolidated control, “picking and choosing” candidates for elections and appointments while blocking fair competition.

‎”Anyone who dares them is pushed away from power with impunity,” one group reportedly stated. They further lamented that major federal institutions and the state’s name honor an individual from this minority, symbolizing ongoing exclusion.

‎The allegations intensified in Girei and Yola North local government areas during engagements led by Professor Kaleb Fili, head of the GPF team.

‎In these areas, the mood was described as solemn, with residents drawing parallels to past incidents. In Yola North, they accused authorities of renaming the local government from Jimeta to Yola North, denying the Larka people their identity.

‎They also referenced the 2023 gubernatorial experience involving Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, alleging interference by figures like “Hudu” that disadvantaged their preferred candidates.

‎In a strong warning, communities declared they would abandon any political party that continues to obstruct fair electoral opportunities for their sons and daughters.

‎”We couldn’t have forgotten in a hurry the experience inflicted on our son Governor Fintiri in 2023 by Hudu,” they said, signaling potential mass defections ahead of future polls.

‎Responding to the outpouring of frustration, Prof. Kaleb Fili urged calm and unity amid the pain. He advised residents to channel their grievances through legal and democratic means, emphasizing mass voter registration, vigilant vote defense, and rejection of inducements from politicians.

‎”The best way forward is to register en masse and be prepared to vote and defend your votes,” he said. “Desist from taking corrupt money from lying politicians to sell your birthright.”

‎He highlighted recent gains achieved through collective action, such as the establishment of seven new chiefdoms and emirates under the current administration, crediting united support for Governor Fintiri.

‎”They stood by their son Gov Fintiri and how their united action worked and today they have seven Chiefdoms and Emirates without sweat,” Fili reminded the crowds.

‎Adamawa State, one of Nigeria’s most ethnically diverse with over 100 groups, has long navigated complex dynamics between indigenous farming communities and pastoralist populations, including Fulani herders.

‎While the GPF’s campaign focuses on equity and self-determination rather than direct confrontation, observers note it echoes broader calls in some quarters for reverting the state’s name to Gongola—a proposal the group has previously championed.

‎As the sensitization drive continues, the movement risks deepening ethnic divides unless addressed through inclusive dialogue.