If you observe Nigerian politics without bias, you will admire some governors even during one of the worst political eras of our time. One such governor is Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, who won federal government awards twice while in the opposition. Fintiri performed so well as a PDP governor that most political analysts wondered why a frontline leader, seen as Mr. Fixer, would leave his party for a ruling party that he had virtually destroyed in his state.
A Hero of the People
Sources explain that Fintiri became a hero to his people by demonstrating exceptional political skill, consolidating his support base into a unified majority. One way he achieved this was by liberating many tribal minorities from decades of cultural bondage. History shows that these minorities are actually the numerical majority in the state, but they had been suppressed for so long that the sudden freedom granted by the governor swept them away like a whirlwind, making them see him as a savior. However, this came at a price.
The price was a defining moment in the governor's political turnaround. The people quickly embraced him but extracted a powerful political commitment: that one of their own would continue to occupy the state's highest political office. In return, they promised unsolicited support for Fintiri as the leader of the majority, who insist they are the only indigenous peoples of the state. Facts show that these indigenous groups, comprising over 85 ethnicities, have lived in what is now Adamawa since 1750.
The Calculated Move to APC
Despite this political clout, which enabled his party, the PDP, to sweep all opposition aside in the state, Fintiri moved the entire PDP structure to the APC—a party that was almost nonexistent in Adamawa. This left pundits wondering about his calculation. While analysts scratched their heads, President Tinubu himself welcomed Fintiri into the APC as the party's leader in the state, shocking APC chieftains like NSA Sani Ribadu and Binani.
The question is: did Fintiri walk into a trap? Today, the governor is caught between his enormous support base, which demands he keeps his promise to hand over power to one of their own, and a tiny but powerful clan that has long entrenched itself in the corridors of the Nigerian presidency, manipulating to grab the governorship and consolidate its hold on the state.
Tension Mounts Over Primaries
This is politics; you never know when it will turn sour. The question is: who will blink first? Will Fintiri succumb to the powers in the presidency, or will he keep his word to his overwhelming supporters, who are unwilling to let power slip back into the hands of those they consider their traducers?
If you watch carefully, tension has already started mounting over the primaries. The ethnic nationalities are saying democracy is about the majority—it is not bought, it is not about race, and it is not about primordial legacies. They argue that they are in the majority and enough is enough. The APC must exercise restraint because Adamawa has had its fair share of political misdemeanors that could explode uncontrollably. In 2023, there was an attempt to forcefully snatch power from the incumbent. What the people fear most today is a repeat of that dastardly act during the primaries.
Already, there are whispers that the primaries have been fixed with the consent of Mr. President. President Tinubu must diffuse this rumor by insisting that the leader of the party in the state—who is not contesting the governorship again—should ensure a level playing field for all candidates to test their popularity. As it stands, some are gathering legitimacy as the majority, minorities are on edge, while the powerful small minority are flexing muscles and taunting.
Uke Junior is a columnist and media expert.
