The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has urged the Tangale chiefdom and indeed Gombe state government to respect the popular choice of the people by allowing the successful candidate, Dr Musa Idris Maiyamba, to succeed the 14th Mai Tangale.
The Forum, in a statement issued by its national president, Dr Pogu Bitrus and made available to Blueprint in Abuja ,Thursday, said it “fears that if the planned imposition of an unpopular choice on the Tangale people is not halted, frightening insecurity and tension may force the fragile unity of the Chiefdom to cascade down the valley of conflagration.”
Taking note of the current turmoil and apprehension over Biliri the traditional headquarters of the Tangale nationality on the selection of a new Mai Tangale, MBF said “it is clear that the people are exasperated over attempt by the Gombe State Government to foist an unpopular candidate as the new monarch.”
It stressed that, “Before now, nine Tangale kingmakers had selected Dr. Musa Idris Maiyamba to succeed the 14th Mai Tangale, His Royal Highness Abdu Buba Maisharu,” explaining that, whereas the newly elected monarch had polled a total of five (5) votes, the other two contestants polled two votes each.
“As the Tangale Chiefdom was awaiting formal announcement of the new monarch, reports had filtered in that the state government had concluded plans to announce an unpopular candidate as the new Mai Tangale,” the statement said.
The Forum recalled that during the funeral of the late Mai Tangale, HRH Abdu Buba Maisharu, Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state had promised to stand by the choice of the kingmakers, saying: “Regrettably, after the screening of candidates for the Mai Tangale stool, the plot to supplant the popular candidate with another took a centre stage.
“It is unfortunate that Gombe State Government that is still under the hangover of its refusal to appoint a Chief Judge, who is a Christian lady from the Tangale ethnic group, would again choose to promote discord among the peaceful Tangale people just because it desirous of ensuring a monarch of Muslim faith is imposed on the people.
“The forum is totally opposed to any form of manipulation that would affect the peaceful coexistence in the Tangale nation. For the sake of peace, we call on Governor Yahaya not to temper with the popular choice of the Tangale people,” MBF stated.
