…Scanning how the past administrations accused of bringing down the progress of Adamawa state are eventually exonerated by the very same source of accusation…
…Boni, Nyako, Bindow…
The Periscope Global Literati
What is or who are the past “administrations” Adamawa state Governor, Rt Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri accused of causing the backwardness of the state, while glorifying himself as the seeming messiah meant to get the state out of the maze with the popular mandate?
Having saintly singled out self, Governor Fintri was later to vindicate the former Governors Boni Haruna, Admiral Murtala Hammanyero Nyako, a.k.a Baba Maimangoro and of recent, Senator Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla, a.k.a Bindow. The question remains what is or who are those leading the past administrations so accused other than the exonerated?
Fintiri had, during a stakeholders meeting at the government house Yola, in April 2021, where he gave an account of his two years stewardship, accused past administrations for the decay in all facets of the economy he painfully inherited in the state.
He said, “Distinguished stakeholders, I have taken the pain to take us through some of these gloomy indicators so that you can have a mental picture of the situation at hand when we took over.
”I am not lamenting. Far from it. I do know, these are pitiably extraordinary problems created by the wrong people in leadership.
“And your collective anger that you require a true leader to turn the fortunes of the state for the better was the result that brought me on board.
”The sure way to thank you for this decision is to periodically give you a detailed breakdown of what we are doing to reverse the ugly narrative. Where we are now.
”We met a state that was virtually devastated in all ramifications, requiring more than ordinary ingenuity to patch and revamp. Conscious of the task at hand, we went all out, dared distractions and subdued impossibilities.
“Today, the ugly narrative is fast reversing, Adamawa State is changing and our people are happier. This fact is admitted even by our fanatic antagonists.
”We inherited a socially destabilized society with a disenchanted citizenry who lived in constant fear of losing their lives, livelihood and properties; general loss of trust, attendant upon by ethnic and religious suspicions and intolerance was brewing among our plural nationalities.
”Absence of justice and fairness has instituted a culture of identity politics, which was negatively taking its toll on our people…”
Adamawa state was created in the year 1992. She has had 13 governors, both military and civilians form the late Abubakar Saleh Michika to the incumbent governor:
Abubakar Saleh Michika, from 1992 to 1993 (NRC)
Gregory Agboneni, from 1993 to 1994 (Military)
Com. Yohanna Madaki from 1994 to 1996 (Military)
Joe Kalu-Igboama from 1996 to 1998 (Military)
Ahmadu Hussaini from 1998 to 1999 (Military)
Boni Haruna from 1999 to 2007 (PDP)
Murtala Hammanyero Nyako from 2007 to 2008 (PDP)
James Shaibu Barka from 26 February 2008 to 29 April 2008 (Acting)
Murtala Hammanyero Nyako from 2008 to 2014 PDP/APC
Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri from 15 Jul 2014 to 1 Oct 2014 (Acting, PDP)
Bala James Ngilari from1 Oct 2014 to 29 May 2015 (Acting, PDP)
Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow from 2015 to 2019 (APC)
Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, from 2019 to date (PDP)
Barely few weeks after the Adamawa State University, ADSU, Mubi conferred Honorary doctorate degree on the founder and the first visitor to the university, Dr. Boni Haruna – the former governor of the state, holding the traditional title of Makama in the Mubi Emirate Council – Governor Fintiri – who was at the convocation ground with the celebrated former governor Boni – was reported to have accused the past administrations of causing the backwardness of the state.
If Boni Haruna was listed among the culprits of misgovernance could he have been conferred the Honorary doctorate degree?
Or as Yunusa Abubakar, the literary critic would earlier observe, “does it not amount to contradiction that a past governor whose ineptitude contributed in pulling down the progress and development of the state would be so academically honoured with PhD by the state owned university? Jump that.
Fintiri, who as acting governor in July 2014, equality accused the former Governor Nyako of mismanaging N82 billion during his tenure,
According to him, “never in the history of Adamawa State had executive stealing and institutionalised corruption been elevated to the level of statecraft as in the past administration.
“The high level of mindless plundering of the state treasury, the shameless and outrageous executive stealing that took place was on a scale far worse than the ravages that the insurgents had perpetrated in the North East.”
However, in August, 2022, the same incumbent Governor exonerated Nyako from administrative ineptitude, redundancy and diversion where he said, “Governor Nyako is remembered not only for growing the state’s economy and his commitment to expanding the state’s infrastructure during his tenure, but also for his exceptional leadership and direction that are exactly what this generation should try to emulate”.
Fintiri showered the encomium while extending his warmest felicitation to the former governor on the occasion of his 79th birthday. He described the septuagenarian as a quintessential leader and passionate lover of his fatherland.
“Admiral Murtala Nyako deserves all the celebrations as one of the best we’ve had as a nation to date. He is not only a rare breed but also a symbol of unity, whose life is worthy of emulation by every Nigerian.
“Adamawa takes pride in all your achievements for country and state; you proved to be a statesman who sacrificed alot for the betterment of this nation, having distinguished yourself as a fine military officer, democrat and farmer.”
Similarly, Governor Fintiri has in May 2019, accused former Governor Bindow of not only destroying the foundation built by past leaders but also of draining the state’s treasury lean.
Fintiri lamented that Bindow had turned against voters, refused to develop the state and people. He qualified Bindow’s government as an enemy of not only workers but also students based on administrative ineptitude.
The Governor wondered why Bindow’s government was paying salaries on bank overdraft, after the state enjoyed Paris club and bailout worth over N20bn, this is in addition to the alleged debt profile of N115bn as uncovered by Alhaji Aliyu Samaila Numan led transition committee, described Bindow led government as a rotten system that grounded the state.
However, to be able to form an allied force, strong enough to defeat the most popular Tsunami-occupying-Binani-political-space, sweeping with APC unique broom, clearing political parties, smoothening the path to reclaim the Dougirei Hill, ceded by Bindow to his younger brother, as he referred to Fintiri, the former would have to defect or as he would refer to his movement, would like a prodigal son, have to return to his native home, the PDP, after having been the lone APC former governor in the state.
Receiving the delegation of Bindow supporters as returnees, Governor Fintiri had in January, 2019, again vindicated former Governor Bindow of administrative ineptitude, where he was quoted as saying, “I’m indebted to this loyalty. We are coming together to put more energy into the Adamawa project. Bindow has started and we have completed it. The development we have seen today is unprecedented.”
The painted as demons, described as darlings indeed!
Where do we go from here? What do we take? How do we get to access conflicting statements from the same source?
Literary Theorists would refer to it as contradiction, paradox or antimony, explained as “a statement or proposition, which despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems logically unacceptable or self-contradictory.”
The next question still remains the unanswered introductory question: What is or who are the past “administrations” that the Adamawa state governor accused of causing the backwardness of the state?
This takes another story…