Fufore Emirate is Distortion of History
By Umar Ardo, Ph.D
As a historian, I feel inclined to write and rebut the press conference by the so-called Fufore Development Forum purporting to support the creation of a Fufore Emirate. In fact, as the Fulbe would say, Fufore Emirate is ‘fu feure’. Each and every statement and claim made by each and every speaker in that press conference is not only ‘fu feure’ and devoid of historical accuracy but also completely lacking in substance and logic.
2. Specifically, the claims made by Alhaji Muhammad Jidjiwa and his associates are ‘fu feure’ and deceptive, aimed at justifying an illegitimate and ill-conceived agenda of a regime that is bent on destroying the Fulbe people of Adamawa state. The governor said so himself – that he will “break the Fulbe Calabash!” What more can symbolize the “breaking of Fulbe Calabash” than destroying the metropolis of the Adamawa Emirate by the severing of Gurin, Ribadu, Malabu, Daware and Mayine away from Yola? He even created a the Gongola People Forum, a powerful group with anti-Fulbe ideology, championing this diabolical cause.
Related news
Fufore is a story of loyalty not war; residents express strong support for emirate
Fufore Emirate: We Approach the Court Over Fintiri’s Refusal to Listen to Reason – Prof. Abba
My stand on Fombina, Fufore Emirates
3. The assertion of this so-called Fufore Development Forum that the creation of the Fufore Emirate is a long-overdue recognition of Fufore’s identity and heritage is meaningless. The areas of Gurin, Ribadu, Malabu and Yola are not peripheral communities that joined the Adamawa Emirate voluntarily, as Jidjiwa falsely claimed. On the contrary, these areas were the very nucleus of the Adamawa Emirate, forming the strategic and military power base of the emirate since its inception.
4. Unlike the misleading narrative that these communities were not conquered by war, the truth is that they were not conquered because they were the conquerors. These were the very centres from which military expeditions were launched to subdue other areas and expand the emirate’s authority. The Adamawa Emirate was forged through a combination of military prowess, governance and diplomacy, and it is therefore historically inaccurate to portray Gurin, Ribadu, Malabu and Yola as separate from this legacy.
5. Thus, Alhaji Jidjiwa and those present at the press conference have no legitimate authority to speak on behalf of the Fufore people or the traditional institutions they claim to represent. None of them are recognized as stakeholders in the emirate system. They are neither kingmakers, District Heads nor titleholders with any real role in the traditional leadership of Gurin, Ribadu, Malabu or Adamawa. Instead, they are mere political jobbers and mercenaries recruited to push a divisive and self-serving agenda, probably in exchange for financial inducements.
The fact that none of the actual custodians of region’s history – those with legitimate traditional authority – were part of the press conference speaks volumes about its credibility. If this so-called Fufore Emirate had genuine grassroots support, the real traditional stakeholders, including District Heads and titled leaders, would have been at the forefront, not faceless opportunists with no stake in the region’s heritage.
6. To any responsible person, the attempt to justify the Fufore Emirate as a progressive step forward is a blatant insult to the very traditions and institutions it claims to protect. The Adamawa Emirate is a well-established entity with a deep historical and cultural foundation. It does not require fragmentation into artificial and politically motivated creations designed to weaken its authority. Rather than strengthening traditional institutions, the imposition of a so-called Fufore Emirate serves only to sow division and weaken the collective strength of the Fulbe people. This reckless move is driven by narrow political interests, not by any genuine desire to preserve culture or foster development.
7. Also, Alh. Jidjiwa’s assertion that the process leading to the Fufore Emirate’s creation was transparent is laughable. If the process were truly open and followed due process, why were the legitimate stakeholders – the kingmakers, District Heads, Village Heads, Council Members and recognized titleholders – excluded? Transparency does not mean handpicking a group of political mercenaries to rubber-stamp an illegitimate project; it rather means, as the law requires, consulting the rightful custodians of tradition, which clearly did not happen in this case.
8. The people of Fufore have always been an integral part of the Adamawa Emirate, and any attempt to sever this historical bond is an exercise in futility. The claim that the new emirate does not undermine the Adamawa Emirate is disingenuous. Creating an artificial entity under the guise of recognition is nothing more than an underhanded attempt to weaken a time-honoured institution and replace it with an illegitimate structure that lacks legitimacy and historical foundation.
9. Let me conclude by saying that the so-called Fufore Emirate is a political invention with no historical, cultural, religious or traditional basis. Those championing this agenda are not representatives of the people or the traditional establishment – they are nothing more than hired hands picked to push a divisive and illegitimate cause – probably for a fee. The Adamawa Emirate, headquartered in Yola, remains the true custodian of history and tradition in this region. No amount of political maneuvering or paid propaganda can change this fact. The people of Fufore and Adamawa must reject this fraudulent attempt to rewrite history and stand firm in preserving their collective heritage.
11. To this end, I call on all true blooded Adamawa people, especially every true blooded Pullo, to assemble at the Adamawa State High Court premises on Monday, 3rd February, 2025 in anticipation of the hearing of the case instituted by the stakeholders against this illegal act of the state, and on everyday of hearing the matter in the court until justice is served to our people.
Ardo, the convener of LND writes from Yola.
