Adamawa Politics

Adamawa Politics: Beneath the Factors that Usually Rise Up

Usman Garba Santuraki

Adamawa politics is so complex. What, really made it so complex is the nature of the state and the calibre of people who are regarded as the serious and the unserious politicians that, the state paraded.

Before, one take a look at the complexity of the Adamawa politics, one needs to look at the people, who are politicians in the post independence Nigeria-like the late Alhaji Mahmud Ribadu who later became the Minister of Defence in the Tafawa Balewa led government, late Yerima Balla an ardent supporter of the Northern Elements Progressive Union, late Alhaji Ahmadu Ribadu, late Jonah Assadugu of the Action Group,late Senator Gayus Gilama, Senator Mahmud Waziri and a host of others.

All these people are indigenes of Adamawa State and of the most top ethnic extraction of the state.Therefore, the politics of Adamawa State always tow along ethnic consideration up to this date. It is rather myopic for one to allude that Adamawa politics does not tow along ethnic consideration.

Also, a times religion takes centre space in the politics of Adamawa State. It is common in Adamawa politics to see the Fulanis rallying around a candidate who is of Fulani extraction likewise a Kilba, Bachama, Chamba, Mbula man solidly standing behind his man of the same tribe whenever, he or she is contesting for election.

This thing does not start today as it played a very prominent role in the first republic when the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) got overwhelming acceptance and votes in predominantly Fulani areas and Northern Element Progressive Union (NEPU) and the Action Group (AG) got acceptance and votes in Kilba and Bachama and Mbula ares.

What made the Adamawa politics so complex is the fact, that the state is made up of at least not less than two hundred different languages and had a ration of 50 : 50 Christian and Muslims population. It is common in Adamawa State to find in a house hold some are Christian while others are Muslims-this can be found in places like Borrong, Michika, Mubi, Maiha, Guyuk, Shelleng etc.

Another factor, that usually played out in the poltics of Adamawa is the quality and quantity of its elites that cut across all the ethnic tribes of the state.

And whenever there is politicking, these set of elites play a major role by influencing their people to vote a particular party or candidate.

This thing is quite playing a major role in the politics of Adamawa State. No amount of enticement or inducement to wiped out this from taking place in the politics of Adamawa State. Politics in Adamawa State is a contradiction. It is different scenerio altogether for one to see the people meeting and discussing as Fulani, Chamba, Kilba, Mbula, Longuda and Kanakuru. This is mainly because the people are well indoctrinated to follow whatever they want to do in politics in the state along tribal consideration by their elites and their politicians. There is no disputing the fact, that the politics in Adamawa has gone sophistication. What really made it to be sophisticated is the calibre of the politicians, that the state had and who, in one way or the other usually have a say whenever there is going to be an election. Each of these politicians had their stooges or surrogates, that they are always pushing forward to vie for elective offices. Mostly, these personalities are heavyweights in all ramification and are willing to spend their last kobo to see, that they planted their stooges, who at the end, would go to any length to massage their ego and at the same time, served and protect their interest that covered wide range of issues. The politics in Adamawa is not that of idealism but, egocentrism. It is even very hard, for one to pin point any politician be it the heavyweight or lightweight doing politics for the sole purpose of transforming the state. That was why, it would take a very long time for the state, to have politicians that are result oriented and those, that would placed the interest of the state first before their personal interest. What we have today in Adamawa politics, are people that shout at the top of their voices while seeking for the popular votes of the people that if, given the chance, they would make the state to be a heaven of sort but, almost immediately they find themselves at the saddle, they turned their back and reneged on what they told the people before finding themselves on the saddle-which is a great pity. The people of Adamawa state needs to be seriously abreast with these set of people as they their politics would not take the state anywhere rather, it would plunged the state into a kind of catch 22 situation where the people of the different ethnic grouping would not trust themselves baded on the indoctrination given to them by their elites and politicians alike Also, the big shots in the politics of the state seriously need to discard the kind of politics, that they play this days which is based on ethnicity and at times, based on religion sentiments. The state belong to all of us and it is therefore, necessary for us to play decent politics that is based on idealism so as the state could catch up.