By Tgnews
A wave of social media attacks has recently sought to tarnish the image of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, branding him a religious bigot and male chauvinist.
The smear campaign has intensified since the death of Fufore Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Shaibu Babas, on April 23, 2025, with critics alleging that Fintiri delayed swearing in Vice-Chairman Mrs. Peace Samson Audu due to her Christian faith or gender.
Dr. Edgar Amos Sunday, Fintiri’s Chief of Staff, has dismissed these claims as baseless, accusing detractors of exploiting the situation to incite religious discord and undermine the governor’s legacy of inclusivity.
In a strongly worded statement issued today at 11:45 AM WAT, Dr. Sunday, who has worked closely with Fintiri for six years—first as Head of Service and now as Chief of Staff—defended the governor’s character and record.
“I am in a vintage position to state categorically that His Excellency is neither a religious bigot nor a male chauvinist,” he asserted. “He is not influenced by religious or parochial sentiments.”
As a Christian himself serving under a Muslim governor, Sunday highlighted his appointment as evidence of Fintiri’s impartiality, noting that it positions him as a close confidant privy to the governor’s decision-making process.
The controversy erupted following Babas’ death, with some questioning why Mrs. Peace Audu, a Christian woman elected as vice-chairman alongside the late Muslim chairman, was not immediately sworn in as his successor.
Many of these critics had previously accused Fintiri of being overly pro-Christian during the 2023 election buildup, despite his Muslim faith—a stark contrast to their current accusations
Dr. Sunday acknowledged that genuine concerns may exist among some, but argued that the loudest voices—many tied to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and supporters of Senator Aishatu “Binani” Dahiru from the 2023 gubernatorial race—are driven by mischief and political vendetta.
“These same individuals did not vote for the Babas/Peace ticket in Fufore,” he pointed out, “and now hide behind constitutionalism to peddle lies.”
Sunday cited an instance involving Senator Ishaku Abbo, who allegedly misrepresented a private conversation with him in a “jaundiced” Facebook post, further fueling the narrative against Fintiri.
Ironically, he noted, many of these critics had previously accused Fintiri of being overly pro-Christian during the 2023 election buildup, despite his Muslim faith—a stark contrast to their current accusations.
If he wanted, he could have backed a Muslim-Muslim ticket in Fufore
Under Fintiri’s leadership, inclusivity has been a cornerstone of governance, Sunday argued. The selection of Mrs. Peace Audu as Babas’ running mate exemplifies this, as does the governor’s support for diverse tickets across the state—such as Christian-Christian pairings in Guyuk and Numan.
“If he wanted, he could have backed a Muslim-Muslim ticket in Fufore,” Sunday remarked. He also pointed out that Christians and women have previously chaired Fufore, debunking claims of unprecedented bias.
Legally, Sunday clarified that Mrs. Audu is already functioning as acting chairman with full authority, as per the Adamawa State Local Government Establishment and Administration Law No. 4 of 2000, Section 22(1).
Mrs. Audu is already functioning as acting chairman with full authority
The law mandates that the vice-chairman assumes the chairmanship upon a vacancy—such as Babas’ death—without specifying a timeline for swearing-in. “There is no vacuum,” he emphasized. “Mrs. Audu is on the saddle with all the powers and privileges of the office.”
Fintiri’s broader record reinforces this stance. His deputy governor, Professor Kaletapwa George Farauta—a Christian woman—was his personal choice as running mate, a decision Sunday hailed as proof against bigotry or chauvinism. Across appointments, empowerment programs, contracts, and religious pilgrimages, Fintiri has maintained equity between Christians and Muslims, men and women, Sunday insisted.
“Only mischief-makers would deny this.”
The Chief of Staff lambasted the “morally-bankrupt characters” and “frustrated elements” exploiting religion for political gain, calling it a tragic ploy unworthy of Fintiri’s stature. “Governor Fintiri is above that,” he concluded, urging the public to see through the “veneer of lies” and recognize the governor’s commitment to unity and fairness.
Governor Fintiri is above that
As the Fufore succession debate rages on, this rebuttal from one of Fintiri’s closest aides aims to quell the storm and refocus attention on his administration’s achievements. Whether it silences the “religious yahoos” remains to be seen.
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