Mai Tangle: “I’ll not issue appointment under duress – Gombe Governor
Gombe state governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has stated that the state government will relent in shopping and appointing a constitutionally desired and recommended prince as the new Mai Tangle.
The who held meetings with the state’s Council of Emirs and Chiefs, religious leaders and other non-indigenous community on Tuesday disclosed that his led administration will not succumb to the pressure that is politically or religiously motivated against the constitution of the land.
Gombe was on Friday thrown into mourn state as a protest over who to fill the vacant Mai Tangle’s stool led to the loss of five lives, vandalism burning, and destructions of worshiping center, including markets and other properties in Billiri Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
According to the governor, the act was senseless and motivated by criminal elements, whom he assured that they would be dealt with according to the law.
While governor Yahaya called for peaceful coexistence among multi-religious and ethnic groups in the state, he stated that the appointment of Mai Tangle will not be allowed to divide the state which is known for peace over the years.
He said: “Going back in history, they have been 16th Mai Tangle, this one that would be coming will be the 17th and we will know how they lived peacefully with all, so what happened to them, I think that is a question we all need to answer.
The vacancy of Mai Tangle was as a result of death and instead of people to conduct themselves in a civilized and modern way in spite of their relationship with the outer world they choose to do otherwise,” Governor Yahaya stated.
He added saying: “As a governor, I have to operate under the ambits of laws, I have no right whatsoever to appoint anybody to any position outside the terms I swear an oath to keep, but I will not surrender my privilege or right as a governor”.
“As the governor, am the sole authority to install, appoint or depose any Chief or Emir in Gombe State, this is not my making. We shall not leave any stone unturned until we get to the roots of this matter,” the governor said.
While urging communities and other residents to learn to live with one another and to learn to accommodate each other, Governor Yahaya explained 15 out of the 16 suspects arrested in relation to the violent attack in Billiri have been arraign in court.
Meanwhile, the Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs condemned the Friday’s violence which saw the state government imposing dusk to dawn curfew and called for calm among parties involved
According to the Emir of Gombe Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar II, who doubled as Chairman of the Council, all parties’ needs to shield their sword as the state government would surely do the needful not just in the appointment of the new Mai Tangle but in developing and driving the state to a greater stature as well.
On his part, the northeast zonal Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Abare Kalla, enjoins the state government to be just in appointing the new Mai, while also the Murshid of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Gombe State, Grand Khadi Usman Baba Liman (Rtd) stress the need for peaceful coexistence and called on residents to always verify news and information on social media.