By Emmanuel Kwada
The Gongola Peoples Forum (GPF) has launched a bold, non-partisan statewide campaign to promote inclusivity, dismantle divisive politics, and secure justice and equity for the over 85 indigenous ethnic nationalities of the Gongola Valley in Adamawa State.
Teams deployed across the state for sensitization and the inauguration of interim ward- and local government-level structures have consistently emphasized that GPF transcends political affiliations. “GPF is for all,” the teams declared. “Partisanship belongs to politicians, not to GPF.”
According to the Forum, its vision and mission far exceed partisan interests: to unite the diverse ethnic nationalities of the Gongola Valley, enshrine justice and equity, and guarantee every group; no matter how small, the right to self-determination and autonomy over its destiny, free from domination by any single power or culture.
Speaking during a sensitization rally in Demsa, Chief Medan Fwa, National Financial Secretary of GPF and leader of the team, declared that this long-frustrated dream of genuine unity has persisted for over a century. “The time has now come for this unity to be realized,” he asserted.
Chief Fwa commended Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for setting a high precedent through courageous steps that have already begun yielding results.
He urged the people not to allow partisan politics to derail the mission, warning that “our forebears laid down their lives for this cause, and we must not only let it thrive but sustain it.”
He expressed alarm that the distinct identities of more than 85 indigenous ethnic nationalities are at risk of being completely erased by a foreign culture aggressively seeking dominance in the state.
The GPF leader highlighted the Forum’s readiness to collaborate with all existing pressure groups in Adamawa, particularly the Adamawa Unity Forum (AUF) to achieve the collective objective of enabling indigenous peoples to reclaim leadership of their cultures and ancestral lands.
“Politics in the past divided our people and prevented the realization of this all-important dream,” Chief Fwa stated. “Today, we are using politics only as a stepping stone to demonstrate our resolve to take leadership not on a partisan basis, but on an all-inclusive basis.”
He further vowed to dismantle the religious fault lines long exploited by “divide-and-rule” actors to control the destinies of the people.
“Our brothers and sisters from both faiths have now come together to ensure that indigenous peoples take their rightful place in the society they have inhabited since 1750, long before certain groups arrived and began laying claim to power,” he said.
Describing the moment as a historic turning point, Chief Fwa called for a collective indigenous call to duty to “take back our land.”
In a direct appeal to the people, he advised them to reject inducements disguised as political largesse.
“Take their money, because the money they are bringing is actually yours but shock them by voting against those who seek to deceive and divide us again,” he urged.
The Gongola Peoples Forum’s ongoing tour and grassroots mobilization signal a growing movement determined to prioritize ethnic unity, cultural preservation, and inclusive leadership over partisan and religious manipulation in Adamawa State.
The Gongola Peoples Forum (GPF) is a socio-cultural organization in Nigeria that serves as an umbrella body for indigenous ethnic nationalities primarily from the old Gongola State region.
This region historically encompassed what are now Adamawa and Taraba states, with extensions or affiliations to related groups in parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and Borno.
The forum focuses on promoting unity, peace, social cohesion, cultural identity, and shared heritage among its member ethnic groups.
It aims to foster development, preserve traditional cultures, and encourage reconciliation in the region.
Join our Telegram group and receive breaking and trending news updates directly on your phone.
Join for News Updates ✕
