Story from Kalmana AFSA
The Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA) in Gombe State on Thursday expressed displeasure over the alleged injustice meted out on them by the governor of Gombe state.
The association expressed displeasure over what they described as a hijack of the reconstruction of the Billiri market by members of the Kano business community, declaring it as fraught with injustice.
Recall that Billiri local government stalls were gutted by fire on February 19, 2021, in Billiri town mayhem, which occurred as a result of mishandling of the appointment of one Danladi Sanusi Maiyamba for the position of “Mai Tangle” (Traditional Title), a development which is still being contested in the Court.
Addressing a press conference at the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Bauchi, a member of TCDA Board of Trustees, Dr Daniel Maddo, alleged that businessmen from Kano wanted to execute the project without involving Billiri indigenes.
Maddo said this was tantamount to mortgaging the future of the Tangale nation.
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He said Mallam Danladi Sanusi, who was assuming the position of the Mai Tangle, had no power to institute such a project, declaring that it was purely within the purview of the local government council, the owner of the market.
He informed that TCDA, which he said was established to promote economic and social wellbeing of the indigenous culture and customs of the Tangale people, among others, held a joint meeting of the Board of Trustees and Board of Elders on the 26th August 2021 and 2nd October 2021 respectively, where it was noted that the Kano businessmen discriminated against Christians who are in majority in the community.
He added that the meeting was dismayed with the N500 million compensation paid by the Gombe State government in respect of properties lost to owners of stalls burnt during the mayhem.
According to Maddo, “The forum noted with dismay the religious bias exhibited by the delegates of the Kano business community who came with relief materials and distributed them only to our Muslim brothers in a community where over 90 percent are Christians and members of both faiths were affected by the disturbances.
“The forum also observed with dismay the compensation paid by the government in respect of properties lost to the tune of over N500 million to owners of stalls burnt during the mayhem.
“It was established at the Commission of Inquiry set up by the government that all the stalls belong to the local government, save for 12 owned by the Pangurus but hired to mainly, non-indigenes.
“Video evidence presented by the state Muslim counsel also showed that most of the non-indigenes had packed their good’s from the stalls before they were burnt.”
He lamented that the decision of the state government to pass the cost of about 80 percent of the compensation to Billiri Local Government Council, declaring that this was an indictment of the Billiri people.
“Most disturbing and unheard of governance was the resolve by the state government that 80 percent of the bill for the compensation would be borne by Billiri Local Government.
“In effect, therefore, the government of Gombe State under His Excellency, Mohammed Yahaya, found the people of Billiri local government guilty before receiving the report of his own commission of enquiry and gave them collective punishment.
“Equally disturbing is the over-bloated compensation that was paid which was not commensurate with the loses incurred,” he said.
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