Tangale Elders Reject Alleged Homage To Gombe Governor

The Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA), alongside elders of the area, has rejected a planned visit described as a “homage” to Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, declaring it unauthorised and unrepresentative of the will of the people.

In a statement issued to journalists yesterday in Abuja, the president of the TCDA, Comrade Danladi Bako, said the Tangale people were facing coordinated attempts to undermine their socio-cultural institutions and right to self-determination.

He warned that recent developments posed a serious threat to the unity, identity, and collective dignity of the Tangale, a minority ethnic group in southern Gombe State.

Bako stated that neither the proposed visit to the governor nor the alleged resolution issued by the Tangale Traditional Council reflected the views or consent of the Tangale community.

According to him, both actions were calculated efforts to coerce the people and subject them to external political influence.

“The Tangale people do not owe homage to the Governor of Gombe State,” Bako said. “Under his administration, our community has suffered neglect, injustice, and repeated provocations. Any attempt to parade individuals in the name of the Tangale people to offer political allegiance is misleading and unacceptable.”

The TCDA also faulted a resolution reportedly issued after a Tangale Traditional Council meeting held on January 12, 2026, which allegedly directed district heads to dissolve TCDA branches across Tangale land.

Bako described the directive as unlawful, unprecedented, and devoid of any constitutional, cultural, or legal foundation.

He emphasised that the TCDA is a legally registered organisation with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), established by the Tangale people and run by an elected leadership accountable to its members.

“No district head, government official, or imposed authority has the power to dissolve or interfere with the TCDA,” he said, calling on Tangale communities to disregard the directive in its entirety.

On the ongoing dispute over the traditional leadership, the TCDA noted that the office of the Mai Tangale is currently before a court of law, stressing that no individual or group has the legitimacy to act, negotiate, or speak on behalf of the Tangale traditional institution until the judicial process is concluded.

“The manipulation of this process is a direct affront to Tangale tradition and self-respect,” Bako added.

Reaffirming the TCDA’s status as the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Tangale people, the association highlighted its contributions to community development, educational support, healthcare interventions, humanitarian assistance, and the preservation of Tangale cultural heritage.

Despite what it described as sustained intimidation and marginalisation, the TCDA said the Tangale people remained peaceful, united, and resolute in defending their dignity and heritage.

“We will continue to speak for our land and protect our legacy,” Bako declared. “The Tangale spirit cannot be intimidated or negotiated away.”

He, however, called for unity, vigilance, and peaceful coexistence among Tangale people, as the association reaffirmed its commitment to self-determination, cultural preservation, and grassroots development.