Gombe: Tangale community reaffirms support for Mai Tangle-elect amid succession dispute 

The Tangale Community Overseas, TCO, has reaffirmed its support for Musa Idris Maiyamba as the rightful Mai Tangale, following the Court of Appeal in Maiduguri ruling in favour of Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s disputed position on the chieftaincy.

A statement issued by the group’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Eli Ibrahim Kerek, said, “The Tangale people remain united, law-abiding, and resolute in defending their cultural heritage, dignity, and constitutional rights. Our culture, traditions, and inherent right to determine our own leadership cannot and will not be overridden.”

The leadership of TCO described the Court of Appeal ruling as an attempt to override Tangale customs and silence the collective voice of the people, saying that the community maintains that Dr. Maiyamba, a respected medical doctor, was duly selected by the Tangale kingmakers in 2021 according to established customs and enjoys wide acceptance among Tangale sons and daughters both in Nigeria and abroad.

The statement explained, “The dispute stems from Governor Yahaya’s refusal to appoint Dr. Maiyamba, instead backing an outsider, which TCO argues violates Tangale succession law and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including sections on freedom of religion, equality, and the right to self-determination in traditional leadership matters.”

TCO described this as a pattern of bias and interference by the governor against Tangale leaders and institutions, citing previous cases including the denial of Justice Beatrice Iliya from becoming Chief Justice of Gombe State due to her faith and ethnic background.

It traces a history of resilience among the Tangale people, explaining that the community thrived without a traditional ruler between 1680 and 1700, and again from 1996 to 2001, emphasizing that the current four-year vacancy of the Mai Tangale stool is “nothing new,” and that the Tangale identity is rooted in culture, unity, and shared heritage rather than government recognition.

Kerek stated that TCO also addressed alleged harassment of Tangale Christians during the Mai Tangale saga, including wrongful arrests and labeling by local authorities, saying that these incidents, according to TCO, illustrated deep-seated discrimination, yet the community has responded with restraint, discipline, and continued commitment to lawful processes.

In order to consolidate unity, he explained that TCO recently conducted a historic election of the Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA), with Comrade Danladi Bako elected National President, pointing out that the leadership claims the election reflects the will of the Tangale people nationwide and internationally.

TCO also announced that the annual Pissi Tangale festival will not take place this year, signaling the community’s firm stance on the leadership dispute.

TCO urged all Tangale sons and daughters to remain steadfast in demanding recognition of Dr. Maiyamba as Mai Tangale, warning that political interference will not weaken the community’s resolve and that legal avenues will continue to be pursued to uphold the rightful leadership.

Despite ongoing provocations, the Tangale community pledged continued adherence to peace, non-violence, and constitutional order, while calling on local politicians, traditional leaders, and the clergy to prioritize Tangale interests over personal or political ambition.

It said that the Tangale people are one, indivisible, and unshakable, whether Christian, Muslim, or adherents of their traditional religion, standing together in unity, protecting their heritage and asserting their right to self-determination.

Gombe: Tangale community reaffirms support for Mai Tangle-elect amid succession dispute