The Tagombali Community of Maya District in Demsa Local Government of Adamawa State has called on the state governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, to wade into the community’s chieftaincy tussle that could breed violence and bloodshed should the process for selecting a new king for the community is subverted.
Spokesman of the community, Mr Solomon Newman, in his petition to Fintiri, decried alleged attempts by the paramount ruler in the council, Hama Bata, to install a traditional ruler outside the existing two ruling clans, namely Kangole and Kawuli.
Newman said after the death of the immediate past leader of the Tagwambali people who is from the Kangole ruling class, the next ruling class known as Kawuli is expected to produce the next traditional ruler.
He said, “We have received reports and bribery allegations to influence the process of selection and installation of the traditional ruler of the Tagombali people and whosoever falls to this temptation does so at his own peril.
“Our throne is not for sale, it is for those who merit it. It is quite sad that even before the owners of the throne could start filling applications, the desperate seekers of the throne had met and agreed on their candidate.”
When the comment of Batta was sought on the matter by The PUNCH, the Secretary of the Council, Swade Harrison, said it was wrong to accuse the paramount ruler of a matter he knows nothing about, explaining that the palace has only been officially notified of the death of the chief of Tagombali but is not aware if the traditional rites and burial of the chief had been concluded.
Our correspondent gathered that members of the Tagombali community have vowed to resist any violation of the process to select and install the traditional ruler of the area after realising that an influential group is pushing for a candidate outside the two ruling classes.
