The Tangale community says it will never surrender its sovereign identity to any government or neo-colonial powers in the guise of a state.
“We know our history and our memory does not fail us”.
The Stance of the people is contained in a statement issued by the General Secretary of Tangale Community Overseas, Lamela Umaru Lakorok, following the recent crowning of what the group called “a puppet of the Fulani Emirate in the palace of the Mai Tangle by Gombe State governor”.
According to the General Secretary of the community which comprises U.S.A, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia as well as the associations across Nigeria, the election of Dr. Musa Idris Mai Yamba by the kingmakers was according to their customs and traditions.
As such. the statement said, “we will render customs and courtesies to Dr. Musa Idris Mai Yamba as Mai Tangle with all the rights and privileges of the position.
“We do not recognize the imposed stooge as our leader and will never acknowledge him as such. The Tangale nation was not created by Gombe state.
“We will continue to pursue legal actions against Gombe State government until justice is given to the aggrieved people of Tangale.
“Since the governor of Gombe state has made clear his ill will towards the Tangale people by his actions, we call on all Tangale people to remember that he is not a Tangale man and therefore, does not care about our safety or security.
“Any emotional reaction will be to the detriment of the Tangale people. We have existed as a tolerant people and practice a plurality of religions in Tangale land.
“We have elected animist, Christian, and Muslim Mais in the past. “We will never let religion divide us now. Since security personnel are going into homes and intimidating women and children, we encourage our women to video-record any incident involving the security personnel.
“We call on all foreign governments, International business organizations, and any company that is considering or are in the process of doing any business with the government of Gombe state under the current administration, to pay careful attention to the oppression of minority tribal groups.
“Any business investment or partnership with Gombe state is an endorsement of the neo-colonial administration of the state. We will perceive such businesses and governments as endorsing the brutal actions of Governor Inuwa Mohammed Yahaya.
“We implore the United Nations, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, Australia, and all governments that care about human rights of minority people groups, to heed the calls of the Middle Belt Forum, Northern Christian Elders’ Forum, the Danjuma Group, and other elder statesmen who have voiced concerns for the preservation of minority indigenous tribes in Nigeria”, the statement concludes.
