Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has said that his government fortified the state’s security architecture through fairness and trust-building, not merely by amassing weapons.
We gathered that speaking at the Margi Cultural Unity Day and a civic reception held in his honour on Saturday in Yola, Fintiri said this approach helped position Adamawa as one of the calmest states in the insurgency-ravaged North-East.
“We rebuilt trust between the governed and those who govern. We gave our traditional rulers their voices again, for a society that forgets its elders forgets its soul.
“Today, by the mercy of God, with a deliberately induced resilience, Adamawa stands as one of the most peaceful states in the North-East,” he said.
He urged residents to uphold unity and mutual respect, noting that the Margi ethnic group has long been recognised for its heritage, strength of character and collective spirit.
“Let me categorically state here that I am proud of this ancestral base. I am eternally grateful and proud that I am Margi in all ramifications before I am any other thing else,” he said.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, also paid tribute to the Margi community for their cohesion and praised Fintiri’s leadership style.
He described the Adamawa governor as a unifying figure whose ideas resonate across the country.
“He brings opinions and, of course, initiatives that can be actualised and can be made tangible and touchable.
“Today, I will say without being shy, that whatever we do in Bauchi, I used to copy right from him,” he said.
In separate goodwill messages, Rev. Damin Mamza, former CAN Chairman, and Alhaji Gambo Jika, Chairman of the Adamawa Muslim Council, commended the governor and the Margi people, urging continuous peace and harmony for the state’s progress.
The event also witnessed the unveiling of a new Margi national attire.
