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Adamawa State: 30 Years In Nigerian Politics By Zayyad I. Muhammad
The pre and post independent political diary of Nigeria would be incomplete, if the name of Adamawa State is missing; because of the immense contribution of her illustrious sons in the political horizon of Nigeria. There do exist no time, which an indigene of Adamawa State had no played an important role in any government in Nigeria; both civilian and military, though no any political observer can ever grasp the whole events of a political system in action, but more can be learn in a space of time.
This path to glory and consistent influence in the scheme of affairs of the Nigerian nation was achieved to due consistencies and unshaken sincere loyalty to the nation, though only individuals with a pious state of mind can achieved such a fit; as once said by the 18th Centaury French Writer, Montequieu, in his essay on the rise and decline of the Roman Empire "it is not chance that rules the world”. There is no doubt, that the first republic set the track for modern Nigeria, the first Nigeria's minister of defense, Mahmud Ribadu, a son of Adamawa, played an excellent role in the first republic, in the life of that government, he was the minister of defense as well as acting as deputy prime minister, he used that opportunity to locate three air force bases in Kano, Kaduna and Markudi, that was a man, many considered to be behind the scene strongman at that time, the role he played was that of a gentleman with outstanding leadership qualities, soon after his death, things began to change in the Ministry of Defense, friction among top hierarchy of the Nigerian Military Officers which led to the end of the first republic.
The 29 July 1966 counter coup, brought Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon (as he then was) to power; Adamawa indigenes played a prominent role in that Administration. General Jalo was a G. 0. C, IBM Haruna was also a G.O.C. and late Ibrahim Halilu was the Director of Customs i.e. the equivalent of today's comptroller General of Customs. During the Murtala -Obasanjo Military Administration Late Ahmed A. Alfa was the Director of Prisons i.e. the equivalent of Comptroller General of Prisons, they served as good ambassadors of Adamawa People.
After thirteen (13) years of long Military rule, 11 August 1979 presidential election brought back civilian rule to Nigeria. Distinguish sons of Adamawa State played an important role in the Shagari Administration both in his four (4) years first term and the short second term in office. General Gipson Jalo was the chief of defense staff; Dominic Bello Chief of Air Staff, late Adamu Suleiman Inspector General of Police while lya Abubakar and Late Ali Baba were ministers in the Defense and Internal Affairs Ministries respectively. This was clearly a strong representation; as all the position occupied by these individuals are sensitive and important in any government; this has help to portrait the state as a powerhouse in the politics of the second republic.
The 30th -December 1983 military coup marked the end of the third republic and the beginning of nearly fifteen years of military rule. During the Babangida Administration, Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta was the Inspector General of Police, who later becomes the pioneer National Security Adviser (NSA). Admiral Murtala Nyaku was the chief of Naval staff while late Air Marshal Alfa was the chief of Air staff.
People have intrinsic value if their essence is in demand because of their essential contribution to society, the Adamawa people have virtually occupied all the important offices in the Nigerian State, from Military positions to sensitive ministerial appointment; today we are occupying the number two position of the land, the vice presidential position. These are as result of many factors but sound and quality education was the essential factor, but between late 80’s to late 90’s the educational an infrastructural advantage the state enjoyed, slummed to a dismal degree, thanks to the coming of Governor Boni Haruna, who rehabilitated both primary and secondary schools, build a standard university, increase students scholarship from the paltry three hundred and fifty naira to seven thousand and bringing to an end the perpetual temporary site syndrome in the state, by building permanent sites to all tertiary in the state, today the state has bounce back to her hitherto supremacy in the area of education,
Reflecting back on the contribution of Adamawa state in the Nigerian polity and the series of positions held by her people, one might ask what next? The answer of course, to climb the ladder to the presidency.
The Adamawa people quest to clinch the presidency of Nigeria, started 25 years far back, though through democratic means.. In 1979 professor Iya Abubakar contested the presidential primaries of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in Kaduna, In 1992 Bamanga Tukur contested the presidential primaries of the defunct National Republican convention (NRC), while Mahmud Waziri contested the presidential primaries of the defunct social Democratic Party (SDP). After the cancellation of the SDP and NRC presidential primaries by General Babangida and the subsequent introduction of option A4, Ahmed Joda contested the NRC Primaries in Port Harcourt, while Atiku Abubakar contested the SDP Primaries in Jos. What does the future hold for Adamawa, as the much talk 2007 is past approaching?
Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Nigeria zaymohd@yahoo.com
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