Open Letter
We bring you warm greetings.
The Tangale elders and leaders of Tangale bodies comprising Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA), Kwagam Tangle Socio-Cultural Association (KTSCA), and the Tangale Community Overseas (TCO) identify with Tangale people and indeed all Nigerians in the midst of the ongoing hunger and economic hardship in the country, as well as the struggles by families and individuals to acquire basic needs to sustain their livelihoods.
To say the least, we deeply empathize with the severe hardship and frustration the situation placed most Nigerians in.
We are aware of the ongoing calls and mobilization for the national hunger protests and we stand with Nigerians in pressing home the need for government to take positive actions towards addressing the hardship faced by citizens.
While we support expressing grievance to the government in a lawful manner, inclusive of peaceful protests, we are however skeptical of the motive of the national hunger protests.
We note with concern the social media posts designating Billiri as one of the locations for the protests. Report from various quarters are suggesting the possibility of intruders coming in to take advantage of the peaceful protest to turn it into a violent one.
We see this as a calculated attempt to cause havoc and mayhem, and disrupt the peace and tranquility existing in our LGA.
We are reminded of how a peaceful protest by Tangale women in 2021 was infiltrated by hoodlums sponsored to cause wanton destruction in Billiri town. This led to the random arrest of innocent Tangale youths, including a nursing mother who are still in jail without bail or trial for over two years.
With our defiance and rejection of the non Tangale man occupying the Mai Tangle’s Palace, we are optimistic our enemies will device every strategy available to them to send another set of hoodlums to take over the peaceful protest and portray Tangale in a bad light.
For this reason we say no to protests in Billiri.
As lovers of Tangale land, and Billiri Local Government Area, we appeal to all Tangale sons and daughters, and indeed everyone to stay away from any planned protest under whatever guise or name in Billiri.
To those who believe the protest is about hardship, we remind you the current bad state of Nigerian economy did not start from this regime, but the last one. So we ask, why the sudden call for protest over an administration that spent only one year in office.
During the Buhari administration Nigerians suffered hardship and experienced many shades of insecurity leading to many calls for national protests, but the calls met strong resistance. How come some of those who condemned and resisted calls for protests during Buhari regime are the ones promoting the national hunger protests?
Tangale people foresaw Nigeria continuing the path of hunger and hardship, hence our resolve to vote the way we did during the 2023 general elections – we refused to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Inuwa Yahaya. How come those who voted for Tinubu in 2023 are designating Billiri as a centre for protests and asking us to revolt against the government they brought into power? We say no to their scheme.
If we are to name one action of Tinubu that points to hope for the Tangale people and Nigeria, we will be quick to point at the LGA autonomy, which dismantled the powers concentrated at the sub national level and made some governors feel like demigods. The second would be the all inclusive government being run by President Tinubu, where people from minority tribes are holding offices in Nigeria, a clear departure from the Buhari style.
We advise all Tangale sons and daughters, especially those at home to stay away from the protests.
To those designating Billiri as a centre, Tangale people are saying Billiri cannot be a protest location; count Tangale people out and carry your protest to an LGA where President Tinubu and Governor Inuwa Yahaya were voted. They are probably disappointed by the administration; we are not, cause we foresaw this coming.
We call on the Nigerian security agencies to take proactive steps towards preventing protests in Billiri, as well as in protecting the lives and property of all residents of the LGA.
In the light of above and the hardship in the nation, we join well meaning Nigerians in calling on the federal government to urgently embark on economic reforms and cutting down cost of governance to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians. This should be in addition to taking proactive steps towards improving the security architecture to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.
God bless Tangale land!
God bless Gombe State!
God bless Nigeria!
SIGNED
Elder Tele K. Elsa
Secretary, Tangale Elders Forum
Mr. Reuben A. Bauna
Secretary, Tangale Community Development Association
Maj. B. S. Uba (Rtd)
Secretary, Kwagam Tangle Socio-Cultural Association
Mr. Lamela Umaru Lakorok
Secretary, Tangale Community Overseas
July 27th, 2024