ADAMAWA POLITICS: BENEATH THE FACTORS THAT USUALLY
RISE UP
Adamawa politics is so complex. What, really made it
so complex is the nature of the state and the calibre
of people who are regarded as the serious and the
unserious politicians that, the state paraded.
Before, one take a look at the complexity of the
Adamawa politics, one needs to look at the people, who
are politicians in the post independence Nigeria-like
the late Alhaji Mahmud Ribadu who later became the
Minister of Defence in the Tafawa Balewa led
government, late Yerima Balla an ardent supporter of
the Northern Elements Progressive Union, late Alhaji
Ahmadu Ribadu, late Jonah Assadugu of the Action
Group,late Senator Gayus Gilama, Senator Mahmud Waziri
and a host of others.
All these people are indigenes of Adamawa State and of
the most top ethnic extraction of the state.Therefore,
the politics of Adamawa State always tow along ethnic
consideration up to this date.
It is rather myopic for one to allude that Adamawa
politics does not tow along ethnic consideration.
Also, a times religion takes centre space in the
politics of Adamawa State. It is common in Adamawa
politics to see the Fulanis rallying around a
candidate who is of Fulani extraction likewise a
Kilba, Bachama, Chamba, Mbula man solidly standing
behind his man of the same tribe whenever, he or she
is contesting for election.
This thing does not start today as it played a very
prominent role in the first republic when the Northern
Peoples Congress(NPC) got overwhelming acceptance and
votes in predominantly Fulani areas and Northern
Element Progressive Union (NEPU) and the Action
Group(AG) got acceptance and votes in Kilba and
Bachama and Mbula ares.
What made the Adamawa politics so complex is the fact,
that the state is made up of atleast not less than two
hundred different languages and had a ration of 50 :
50 Christain and Muslims population. It is common in
Adamawa State to find in a house hold some are
Christain while others are Muslims-this can be found
in places like Borrong, Michika, Mubi, Maiha, Guyuk,
Shelleng etc.
Another factor, that usually played out in the poltics
of Adamawa is the quality and quantity of its elites
that cut across all the ethnic tribes of the state.
And whenever there is politicking, these set of elites
play a major role by influencing their people to vote
a particular party or candidate.
This thing is quite playing a major role in the
politics of Adamawa State. No amount of enticement or
inducement to wiped out this from taking place in the
politics of Adamawa State.
Politics in Adamawa State is a contradiction. It is
different scenerio altogether for one to see the
people meeting and discussing as Fulani, Chamba,
Kilba, Mbula, Longuda and Kanakuru. This is mainly
because the people are well indoctrinated to follow
whatever they want to do in politics in the state
along tribal consideration by their elites and their
politicians.
There is no disputing the fact, that the politics in
Adamawa has gone sophistication. What really made it
to be sophisticated is the calibre of the politicians,
that the state had and who, in one way or the other
usually have a say whenever there is going to be an
election.
Each of these politicians had their stooges or
surrogates, that they are always pushing forward to
vie for elective offices. Mostly, these personalities
are heavyweights in all ramification and are willing
to spend their last kobo to see, that they planted
their stooges, who at the end, would go to any length
to massage their ego and at the same time, served and
protect their interest that covered wide range of
issues.
The politics in Adamawa is not that of idealism but,
egocentrism. It is even very hard, for one to pin
point any politician be it the heavyweight or
lightweight doing politics for the sole purpose of
transforming the state.
That was why, it would take a very long time for the
state, to have politicians that are result oriented
and those, that would placed the interest of the state
first before their personal interest.
What we have today in Adamawa politics, are people
that shout at the top of their voices while seeking
for the popular votes of the people that if, given the
chance, they would make the state to be a heaven of
sort but, almost immediately they find themselves at
the saddle, they turned their back and reneged on what
they told the people before finding themselves on the
saddle-which is a great pity.
The people of Adamawa state needs to be seriously
abreast with these set of people as they their
politics would not take the state anywhere rather, it
would plunged the state into a kind of catch 22
situation where the people of the different ethnic
grouping would not trust themselves baded on the
indoctrination given to them by their elites and
politicians alike
Also, the big shots in the politics of the state
seriously need to discard the kind of politics, that
they play this days which is based on ethnicity and at
times, based on religion sentiments. The state belong
to all of us and it is therefore, necessary for us to
play decent politics that is based on idealism so as
the state could catch up.
BY
USMAN GARBA SANTURAKI,
WRITES FROM HOUSE NO 74, TAFIDA STREET,
JIMETA-YOLA.
E-mail:usbaturaki@yahoo.com
08036180958