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GPF: Coming clean on the proposed convergence of Northern “elites”: Adamawa Lawyer writes Dr Ardo

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GPF: Coming clean on the proposed convergence of Northern “elites”: Adamawa Lawyer writes Dr Ardo

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Dr. Umar Ardo,
Yola, Adamawa state.

Dear sir,

The above subject matter refers to sir.

Sir, my name is Samson Bukar Mshelmbula, I am a legal practitioner and the convener of the online humble WhatsApp group Adamawa Unity Forum. I am from the beautiful State of Adamawa, and I am from the City of Garkida.

Sir, the desire by yourself and some Northern “elites” to converge a gathering of like minds to tackle evils bedevilling the North is a laudable project and am glad it kicked off. It’s a project long overdue though it’s political meaning your leanings shall be determined by your political character and ideology which defers from one person to another.

Sir, the timing of this congregation, however, is suspect because the Northern elites never called such a meeting throughout the tenure of PMB despite the challenges we had as a region which included banditry and terrorism and our pronounced divide along ethnic and religious grounds and the fear of the minorities against the majorities and vice-versa. The North only seem to get a mind to confront a common evil when a non-Northerner is the president.

Sir, the North muscled its strength when HE Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) was the president with protest and organized unrest against the government and the person of GEJ but suddenly lost steam for the 8 years of the tenure of our own HE Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) and then again suddenly got steam and traction now during the just about 1-year tenure of HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT). I don’t have sympathy for him but I do have for our great nation Nigeria and my dear Northern region.

Sir, I can glimpse from the skeletal and vague objectives of the group that you had called together a congregation of “elites” so-called from the North but you failed to display the names of attendees to the meeting. The names are very important to us to determine from the sideways (we were not engaged) whether or not such personalities have the political and social integrity to represent us in this endeavour. Sir, before I proceed further, let me state that from the wordings of our past leaders, the proper and real elites are the talakawas.

Sir, coming from your serial and continuous castigation of the convergence of the Gongola Peoples Forum (GPF) at its recent outing at the Ribadu Square Yola, Adamawa state, we need clarification and clarity on the purpose of your group. We need to see the names of invitees and attendees to be sure that our interests will be protected and carried along in the new group.

Sir, a few weeks ago, you went viral and suspected the purpose of the gathering of GPF even though its convener were known faces, its invitation was public and the event was publicly held. Today, you are in the process of forming a new shadowy group and according to you, the aim is to pursue a common goal for the evils we face as a region. Although you tagged it political, I am very bold to say that there is NO gathering that is political that can solve our political impasse as a region.

Sir, I recall how some of our Northern brothers and clerics (Muslims and Christians), both real and hired, canvassed for votes for PBAT strictly on the so-called Muslim-Muslim ticket. A lot of hateful literature and social media content was created by influential Northern elements based on religion without recourse to the divergent multi-religious nature of the North. The permutation now is that the North doesn’t want PBAT and is already shopping, underground, for a replacement for him. A certain section of the North seems not to be a beautiful bride for political office but only an object of political use and subsequently abandoned after being raped.

Sir, it’s rather unfortunate that we have reached a point in our political journey that like doubting Thomas’s, we want to first see with our eyes, feel with our hands, perceive with our nose and taste with our tongue and also know what we are dealing with.

Sir, I have been a social critic of HE Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umar Fintiri over certain issues which I don’t want to disturb you with here but it’s also on record that I stuck out my neck out for him when he contested against HE Bindow and I vigorously campaigned for him against the former. I am not a bootlicker and will always come out to criticise any flaw I see and I celebrate him when I believe he needed to do more. HE Fintiri has done well in some aspects of the economy of our state and I insist that he extends his hands to other critical sectors so that we have an all-round success in our journey as a state at the end of his tenure.

Sir, recently I got to know that there is in existence a socio-political group known as the Adamawa Unity Forum (AUF) which is different from my Whatsapp group with a similar name known as Adamawa Unity Forum which I established in 2019. I have used this name as a political group since 1999. I have used it to canvass for political issues. Recall that I requested to invite you to the WhatsApp group about a month ago and you told me that you also formed and run a group with the same name. You obliged my request and joined the group. I am grateful for the indulgence and kindness from you to assent to my request. Thank you, sir.

Sir, thereafter, I decided to investigate and make inquiries about your Adamawa Unity Forum and I unearth so much. Sir, I am aware now that the Adamawa Unity Forum (AUF) was formed by Professor Senator (Col.) Andrawus Pilasar Sawa (Rtd) MFR, the Masani Adamawa and a former presidential candidate, a respected son of Adamawa state. The leadership of the AUF moved through Senator Paul Wanpana Vimtim (of blessed memory), HE Ambassador Wilberforce Juta (also of blessed memory) and others. Today, your acidic and very brutal criticism against the government of HE Fintiri is under the auspices and cover of the Adamawa Unity Forum. I don’t know if that is actually the resolution of the group or just your political bitterness and fight with HE Fintiri. Sir, if it is so, let it remain personal, if it’s a collective decision of the Adamawa Unity Forum let it be clearly stated.

Sir, in the course of my usual desire to get to know more, especially as it relates to the AUF, I was privileged to confer with a lot of people who also expressed their worry about whether you are acting for and on behalf of the AUF in statements you so issued. Who are your executives in the AUF? I am interested in knowing them. Permit me to salute the founder Prof. Senator (Col.) AP Sawa for the courage to form the group.

Sir, we shall discuss further when I get answers to my question as contained in this open letter. Pardon me that my response is public but it’s largely because your statement was public hence my reaction too. Thank you sir for the honor of reading me, talking to me on the phone and also chatting despite our social status distance, age-wise and otherwise.

Accept the regards of my highest esteem sir.

Yours sincerely,
Barr. Samson Bukar Mshelmbula.

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