Adamawa's Balancing Act
In Adamawa, the gubernatorial race is defined by the battle between a prosperous minority, the Hausa/Fulani and the indigeneous majority who control political power. Having held power for so long will the majority now concedes the throne to the Hausa/Fulani in 2007? The answer to this will determine teh fate of Alhaji Bello Tukur, loyal deputy Governor of Adamawa state in 2007. asks, Abel Orih in Yola.
The evolution of Adamawa people dates to pre-1804 era. There are many ethnic groups with over 25 different languages spoken all over the state. Their languages and culture are very distinctive in nature.
The people, who now co-habit with many other non-native tribes from all over the country and beyond also hosts the Hausa/Fulani ethnic groups who dominates other non-tribes in the state.
The Hausa/Fulani penetrated the state right from the period of Jihad war in 1804 when they conquered the area and instituted the feudal traditional rulership in the area.
The presence of the Fulanis following the Jihad, enabled them to dominate the leadership of pockets of other ethnic groups who are regarded as indigenes of the state due to their literacy in Islamic culture, been able to write in Arabic language, though they constitute minority in numerical strength.
The colonialists who equally found themselves in the state shortly after the Jihad, found the Hausa/Fulani more useful because they need to keep records and therefore, appointed them as leaders in most of the places and they became record clerks, a position the indigenes of Adamawa then could not hold due to their inability to read or write in any language.
Before now, only the Hausa/Fulani who had already dominated the leadership of the state could be found as Emirs, Sarkis (Chiefs) or District Heads as monarchs, while the proper indigenes of Adamawa were made followers even as some of them were made to become Muslims to enjoy privileges.
As a result of the expanding dominant roles enjoyed by the Hausa/Fulani who are all Muslims, their children acquired more of western education, more enlightened and privileged.
Things however, changed in the late 60s and 70s when the people started gaining western education as they went to schools all over the places. This gave them the opportunity to imbibe the idea of teaming up for numerical strength and challenge the ever growing domination of the Hausa/Fulanis, and fight for their rightful positions. The domineering posture of the Hausa/Fulani especially in oligarchy is now seen as the greatest factor responsible for the prevailing threat to peace in the Northern and Central parts of Nigeria. Those who now felt matured enough, just like the people of Adamawa State, have now come together making up as majority to reassert their positions.
When talking about minority in Adamawa state, the Hausa/Fulani cannot be regarded to be one when compared with team of pockets of ethnic tribes in the state who would always come together for numerical strength when the need arises, and so they are the majority over the Hausa/Fulani.
The history of the state has never proved the supremacy of any Hausa/Fulani candidature over a candidate of the indigenous tribes during any governorship election. The indigenous candidates have always won due to united efforts of the different tribes to boost up numerical strength against the Hausa/Fulani candidates who are minority in the state.
The state has witnessed four elections for the governorship race but the Hausa/Fulani minority hardly survive the duels due to poor numerical strength, although they command such monumental domineering posture in the state. The first civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Barde was voted into power not because he is a Muslim but just because he is one of the closest of the natives, from Zing Taraba State.
The minority Hausa/Fulani could only always get to the second position or actually acquire the second position during every governorship election. At the moment, the deputy-governor of the state, Alhaji Bello Tukur is a Fulani from the minority tribe. He has proved his loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the governor and Atiku, as he has never been found in any controversial or disappointing position with his superiors.
However, the fear now is whether the government of the day can actually carry the people along till the end of its tenure so as to earn itself the acceptability of the people to continue through Alhaji Bello Tukur.
|
