Protest as Adamawa Assembly begins process to create new districts

From Umar Dankano,Yola

The Adamawa state House of Assembly’s public hearing on the creation of more traditional districts has commenced with sharp division for and against from stakeholders in the state.

Some of the stakeholders welcome the development as long awaited opportunity for their people to have an entity in their areas while some accused the Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s led administration stage managed for political considerations as other queried the timing due to festivities at hand.

In an interview with journalists at Duragi Hotel (Venue of the public hearing) in Yola Friday, a leader of group and Former Managing Director of African Bank Plc.Muhammad Njiddah Kassim expressed gratitude to the traditional institution and the state Assembly for the opportunity.

Kassim said his people have been waiting for this golden opportunity since an attempt towards that direction by previous administration in 1992 noting that the effort is commendable and people oriented.

But leading a protest against the move,Professor Caleb Wunisari of Madibbo Adama University Yola accused the organisers of being insensitive to the needs of their people faulting the timing and lack of proper consultations.

Professor Wunisari representing over 40 groups under the auspices of Gongola peace Initiative decried that they were only given one day notice lamenting that the Assembly attempted to shortchange stakeholders through short notice and exclusion.

“We are here for the new districts creation but we must say the date is not feasible and timing is wrong because it is convened during Christmas and new year festivities .

“We are in support of the move but if the conveners want to succeed,there must be proper timetable and wider awareness must be advanced for people to be fully in the know “.Wunisari added.

Responding to these concerns before declaring the public hearing open,Speaker of the Adamawa state Assembly,Aminu Iya Abbas told the stakeholders that the state government has no hands in the creation of more districts .

Abbas stated in categorical terms that the Assembly’s action was informed as a result of calls and yearnings by Emirs and Chiefs on the need for more districts in the state.

“The state Government is not behind the proposed creation of the new districts.Districts are responsibilities of Emirs and Chiefs.

“They are under local governments and their finances come from the local governments.the state government does not give them money except if there is need for assistance and you can not create more burden for them”.The speaker explained.

Collaborating on the matter at the occasion,Chairman of the Adhoc committee on the creation of new districts,Hon.Hammantukur Yettisuri said the exercise was meant to satisfy clamour by communities to have more districts.

Yettisuri who doubles as the Majority Leader of the Adamawa Assembly denied any involvement of the state government promising that thorough considerations would be accorded to deserving communities.

He stated that the gesture was informed to address population explosion as well as the needs and aspirations of communities adding that three days have been set aside for the exercise.