By Emmanuel Kwada
Dr. Umar Ardo, a prominent political figure and former governorship candidate in Adamawa State, has issued a scathing condemnation of what he describes as a “rotten system” perpetuated by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and his allies.
In a passionate statement, Ardo expressed solidarity with Calculate, a victim of alleged political intimidation, vowing to support him in his legal battle against the state government’s abuse of power.
“I sympathize with Calculate and will help him in this fight. He should know he’s not alone in this. Injustice to any must be seen as injustice to all,” Ardo declared.
“This is the price all those who stand against the rotten system the Governor and his cohorts are operating in Adamawa State must pay.”
I sympathize with Calculate and will help him in this fight. He should know he’s not alone in this. Injustice to any must be seen as injustice to all
Ardo recounted his own experience as a victim of Governor Fintiri’s alleged abuse of power during the factionalization of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in April 2020, when he led the formation of a rival faction, the Reformed-PDP (r-PDP).
He described a violent attack on his residence by thugs allegedly led by Fintiri’s associate, known as Dogo. “Six cars were destroyed, my house doors, windows, and roofs broken, and individuals hurt,” Ardo revealed.
Despite reporting the incident to the police, providing names, phone numbers, and addresses of the perpetrators, no action was taken against them.
This is the price all those who stand against the rotten system the Governor and his cohorts are operating in Adamawa State must pay
Instead, Ardo alleged, the police, acting on the governor’s orders, targeted his faction. The police commissioner dispatched a team to Kojoli, 125 kilometers from Yola, to shut down the r-PDP office, remove its flags, and arrest its factional chairman, Mr. Phillip Buji.
Buji was detained in Yola, along with a lawyer sent to secure his bail and Ardo’s personal assistant, who was merely delivering food. “Their offense? The police claimed a petition was written against us by the governor’s factional PDP, accusing us of creating a faction,” Ardo said. He noted that the petition was never served to them.
In a further twist, Ardo revealed that, despite a nationwide court closure ordered by the Chief Justice of the Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Fintiri allegedly instructed the Adamawa State Judiciary to open a magistrate court. There, Ardo and the arrested individuals faced trumped-up charges, including terrorism.
I had to show the police commissioner and the governor that I was not their mate
“I was in my house in Asokoro, Abuja, but was charged in absentia in a magistrate court in Yola of terrorism,” Ardo stated.
Ardo’s response was swift and decisive. “I had to show the police commissioner and the governor that I was not their mate,” he said.
The charges were withdrawn, the detained were released, and the police commissioner was removed from the state.
“I showed them that Nigeria is a country under law, where all of us, including the governor and police commissioner, are subject to the law,” he emphasized.
Drawing parallels to Calculate’s situation, Ardo described the governor’s tactics as rooted in “violence and intimidation.” He urged Calculate to view his ordeal as a “sacrifice for the cause of democracy in our state.”
Nothing of this sort would the governor do that will surprise me
In a show of solidarity, Ardo pledged to assemble a team of lawyers to defend Calculate and ensure the rule of law prevails.
“Nothing of this sort would the governor do that will surprise me,” Ardo concluded. “This is his way. We will ensure that justice is served, and Calculate’s fight will not be in vain.”
The controversy has sparked renewed debate about political violence and the misuse of state power in Adamawa, with many calling for accountability and transparency.
As the legal battle unfolds, all eyes will be on how Calculate’s case tests the state’s commitment to justice and democratic principles.
