There is unease and outrage in Gombe State as a result of the stoppage of mosques’ projects proposed by the senator representing Gombe central Senator Danjuma Goje in Pindiga Emirate.
Our correspondent reports that the senator proposed to provide new central mosques in Pindiga and Tumu communities of Akko local government area by demolishing and reconstructing the old ones.
It was alleged that the state governor Inuwa Yahaya via the Pindiga emirate council stopped the project due to the endemic political rivalry between the senator and the governor.
The Discoverer recalls that the political conflict between Inuwa and Goje had been lingering for over two years when violence erupted during the senator’s first visit to the state resulting to injuries and deaths of several persons.
This is happening despite the fact that the two leaders are from the same political party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The matter unleashed tension and the national secretariat of the party led by the then national chairman Abdullahi Adamu came to the state with a high powered delegation with a view to reconciling the dou.
However, there was no any respite as the two politicians have been fighting each other spiritedly. During the last 2023 general elections, the political animosity of the present governor Inuwa and the former governor, now senator Goje impacted on the party. APC lost presidential election, two out of three senatorial seats and five out of six house of representatives seats respectively.
Goje had won his seat and the party accused him of working only for himself and doing anti party in all other elections. Moreso, the party suspended him from ward and state level. The senator went to the court but at last, the national secretariat cancelled the suspension.
Recently, the hostility between the two political leaders resurfaced following the prevention of the senator from embarking on the reconstruction of the central Mosques in Pindiga emirate.
An aide to Senator Goje, Adamu Mohammed Manga alleged that the Emir of Pindiga Ahmed Seyoji Mohammed told them that if he allowed the Mosques’ projects, Governor Inuwa would dethrone him.
On its part, the Pindiga Emirate council has asserted that the Mosques’ projects in Pindiga and Tumu proposed by Senator Goje are all needless projects. According to the council, the two Mosques are in good shape, condition and do not need reconstruction.
They added that these are not the priorities of the community, that was why they stopped it and demanded that Goje should execute another projects instead of the Mosques.
According to a press release issued by the emirate, it says “The Pindiga Emirate Council is determined to inform the entire good people of Pindiga Emirate that it undertook an emergency meeting with its Council and all other relevant stakeholders over the prevailing rumour of the motion to demolish the two Central Masjids (Mosques) of, Pindiga and Tumu by Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje in order to build new ones.
“During the meeting, fair hearings were given to all the District Heads, King Makers as well as other relevant stakeholders. It was unanimously agreed that the two Masjids of Pindiga and Tumu are all in good conditions and up-to standard, and therefore should be left as they are.
“Instead, anybody who is eager to benefit the community should look for other important projects that will equally contribute to the development of our people.
“Therefore, all the citizens of Pindiga Emirate be well informed and acquainted by the decision reached with regard to this rumour and conduct themselves in orderly manners. They should also avoid engaging in any action that will cause or tend to cause confusion among our people.
“With all due respect and honour, we are notifying all the appropriate authorities of our stand that “our people rejected the demand of Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje to demolish the Central Masjids of Pindiga and Tumu” for now”, the statement signed by the secretary of Pindiga Emirate council Mohammed Audi reads.
However, aggrieved by the stoppage of the Mosques’ projects, some members of Tumu community of Akko local government area have filed a lawsuit against Gombe state governor, Inuwa Yahaya, Emir of Pindiga Ahmed Seyoji Mohammed for allegedly stopping the senator from reconstructing the central mosque of the area.
Others joined as defendants in the suit were; the state’s Attorney General and the Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs.
A group of the residents under the auspices of “Tumu Concerned Residents” filed the suit on behalf of the community to express their grievances over stopping the reconstruction of the Central Mosque.
Residents of the Community who were aggrieved by the denial of the Mosque’s reconstruction projects, Mohammed Yero, Bello Ali Tumu and Danjuma A. Mukhtari filed the suit on behalf of community, requesting the Court to restrain the defendants from depriving the community of the development initiative.
