Attah Willie, Gombe
The Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA) and the Elders of Tangale land have cried out over what they consider the deliberate neglect and marginalisation of their people by the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, insisting that this is why they totally and unanimously reject all forms of coercion to pay homage to the Governor.
They stated these during a press conference delivered by the National President of TCDA, Comrade Danladi Bako, in Billiri, Wednesday afternoon.
According to them, the Tangale people have endured systemic neglect, marginalization, and repeated injustices that threaten not only their development but also the survival of their cultural and political voice.
They said: “Recent developments—including a planned visit to Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and a resolution allegedly issued by the Tangale Traditional Council purporting to speak on behalf of our people—represent direct challenges to the authority, rights, and will of the Tangale people”.
They emphasized that the office of Mai Tangle (the paramount traditional ruler of the Tangale people), is currently being contested in a court of law, stressing that until the constitutional and traditional process is concluded, “no one—individual, proxy, or group—has the authority to act, negotiate, or claim legitimacy on behalf of the Tangale traditional institution. To this end, the outcome of the meeting lacks legitimacy”.
The TCDA particularly highlighted that due to the neglect and marginalisation of the Tangale people, resulting in near absence of Government presence in their land, they had to mobilize resources for community-driven development projects.
They said they have been supporting educational programs and providing school materials to children, are assisting communities affected by attacks or crises, have established healthcare interventions, including health outreaches, preserved cultural practices and promoted conflict resolution mechanisms among many others.
Parts of the statement reads: “We state clearly, neither the planned visit nor the purported resolution reflects the views, consent, or interests of our community.
“Both are deliberate attempts to coerce, manipulate, and bring the Tangale people under the influence and control of external forces.
“In the face of such threats, we speak today to reaffirm our unity, our independence, and our unyielding commitment to the protection of our heritage, self-governance, and rightful place in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.
“There have been attempts to coerce Tangale sons and daughters into travelling to Gombe for a so-called “Homage” to Governor Inuwa Yahaya. The TCDA completely dissociates itself from this event and any attempt to act in the name of the Tangale people.
“We emphasize: the Governor of Gombe State does not deserve homage from the Tangale people. Under his administration, the Tangale community—a minority group in southern Gombe and a vital part of the Middle Belt—has witnessed injustices, neglect, and repeated provocations that continue to affect our social, economic, and cultural development.
“Therefore, any homage staged in the name of Tangale is not only misleading but deeply insulting to our collective history and sacrifices”, the statement stressed.
In a related development, the TCDA, the apex socio-cultural association of the Tangale nation worldwide, has reaffirmed Comrade Danladi Bako as it’s National President.
In a strongly worded statement by leadership of associations in all the seven clans (Tul Mana) of the Tangale nation and the seventeen branches across Nigeria that includes, Abuja, Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, Maiduguri and Jos, among others, the Association categorically rejected Mr. Simon Lamiya, whom it said had been parading himself as leader of TCDA without constitutional mandate.
Tangale natives have ancestral roots in Billiri LGA of Gombe State.
It said Comrade Bako, a former NLC Chairman in Gombe State, was lawfully elected in April 2025 through a transparent and constitutional process conducted by the TCDA General Assembly.
According to the statement, by the clear provisions of the TCDA Constitution, the General Assembly is the highest decision-making authority of the Association and the mandate was freely given by the Tangale people through their recognized branches and constituent bodies.
“Mr. Lamiya does not represent the TCDA, does not speak for the Tangale people, and should be completely ignored by all Tangale sons and daughters,” the statement which was made available to our Correspondent, emphasized.
Part of the statement reads: “We further state that the TCDA is an independent Tangale socio-cultural institution, founded by Tangale people and governed by its constitution.
“It is not subject to the control, endorsement, or recognition of any Local Government Council, or traditional institution outside the will of the Tangale people.
“We, the branches of the TCDA, and the Seven (7) Tul Mana Associations, also fully endorse and stand firmly by the recent Open Letter issued by Comrade Danladi Bako to Tangale sons and daughters.
“That Open Letter accurately reflects the collective position, grievances, identity, and aspirations of the Tangale people, and we adopt it as our common voice”, the statement reiterated.
It called on all Tangale sons and daughters, at home and in the diaspora, to remain united under the TCDA apex body, give full support to Comrade Danladi Bako as National President, and disregard all attempts to divide, misrepresent, or undermine the Tangale nation through impostors or externally sponsored narratives.
It also drew the attention of relevant security agencies to the activities of individuals impersonating TCDA saying, “such impersonation, misrepresentation, and deliberate misinformation have the potential to mislead the public, undermine lawful community leadership, and provoke unnecessary tension within Tangale communities”.
It then called on the security agencies to take appropriate action, in accordance with the law, to prevent impersonation, maintain public order, and ensure that only duly elected and constitutionally recognized leadership structures are allowed to operate in the name of the TCDA.
The Tul Mana Association (Community) chairmen who signed the statement include: Mr. Elkah Lemas, Todi; Major Boyi Uba rtd, Tal; Mr. Luka Bala Amatinga, Nathe; Mr. Paul Malachi, Tanglang; Barr. Abdullahi Magari, Banganje; Mr. Raymond Goje, Kalmai; and Mr. John Maisheru, Biliri (Tangalthon).
