Mai Tangle: Group seeks international support to enthrone Dr. Musa Mai Yamba
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Tangale Community Overseas, has said it will not surrender the community’s sovereign identity to Government, urging the international community to help protect the rights of the minority group.
According a press statement issued by the group’s General Secretary, Lamela Umaru Lakorok, he described the recently proclaimed Mai the 16th, Danladi Sanusi Mai Yamba as “puppet of the fulani emirate.”
The group further warned investors to be mindful of dealing with a Government that lacks respect for democratic dictate, adding that doing so means endorsing wrong precedents.
The statement partly stated, “In view of the recent crowning of a puppet of the Fulani Emirate in the palace of the Mai Tangle by Gombe State governor, we make the following statements.
“The Tangale people will never surrender their sovereign identity to any government or neo-colonial powers in the guise of a state. We know our history and our memory does not fail us. The election of Dr. Musa Idris Mai Yamba by the kingmakers was according to our customs and traditions. Therefore, we will render customs and courtesies to Dr. Musa Idris Mai Yamba as Mai Tangle with all the rights and privileges of the position. We do not recognize the imposed stooge as our leader and will never acknowledge him as such. The Tangale nation was not created by Gombe state.”
The group stressed it will continue to pursue legal actions against Gombe State Government until justice is given to the people of Tangale.
“Since the Governor of Gombe state has made clear his ill will towards the Tangale people by his actions, we call on all Tangale people to remember that he is not a Tangale man and therefore, does not care about our safety or security. Any emotional reaction will be to the detriment of the Tangale people. We have existed as a tolerant people and practice a plurality of religions in Tangale land. We have elected animist, Christian, and Muslim Mais in the past. We will never let religion divide us now. Since security personnel are going into homes and intimidating women and children, we encourage our women to video-record any incident involving the security personnel.
“We call on all foreign governments, International business organizations, and any company that is considering or are in the process of doing any business with the government of Gombe state under the current administration, to pay careful attention to the oppression of minority tribal groups. Any business investment or partnership with Gombe state is an endorsement of the neo-colonial administration of the state. We will perceive such businesses and governments as endorsing the brutal actions of Governor Inuwa Mohammed Yahaya.
“We implore the United Nations, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, Australia, and all governments that care about human rights of minority people groups, to heed the calls of the Middle Belt Forum, Northern Christian Elders’ Forum, the Danjuma Group, and other elder statesmen who have voiced concerns for the preservation of minority indigenous tribes in Nigeria,” the statement added.
