Date Published: 09/02/09
JOEL MADAKI: WHAT KIND OF ELDER IS THIS?
By Aminu Baba Gaji.
Following the publications in Nigerian Compass, Vol. 2 No. 443, Tuesday August 11, 2009. page 43, entitled CRISIS BREWS OVER LAND DISPUTE in Adamawa page 43 and in Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo, a Hausa version of New Nigerian LITININ 24 Zuwa Laraba 26 GA Augusta 2009. Page 10, which translates, truth is better than money and the title Yan Sanda
NA NEMAN YAN BANGA – Police look for Vigilante – the fact of the matter is that some people do not want the truth especially Chief Joel Madaki, an Elder in the Bagale community and a former gubernatorial candidate in 2007.
For a longtime, Chief Joel Hamman Joda Madaki, his full names has been a land speculator. In the past he has been associated with amassing more than twenty farmslands; besides other six farms in the surrounding villages in Digino, Dulo, Girei, Wurroboki, Hamdala and Bagale, where he comes from. This time around having seen that Alhaji Umar Njidda Pariya an aide to the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has legally acquired the certificate of occupancy to the land he has bought from Alhaji Lawal Digino for twenty seven years, he is peeved that this Youngman is able to buy such a large farm. Therefore, he Chief Joel Madaki, Habila Babayi, Elisha Abba and others have been inciting, instigating and urging the Bagale Community to revolt and go for a fight. Investigations reaching this desk reveal that traditionally part of the land has been in the possession of Umar Njidda Pariya from 1977, until he got a local certificate of Local Government Area dated 9 th March 1987 from Fufore Local Government in former Gongola state. Alhaji Ardo Iya Abba wrote a letter of consent to the Ministry of Land & Survey dated 13 th April 2006 to the state Government for conversion, where the Ministry of Land and Survey dated 5 th May 2006, and the Governor signed it that is the former Governor Signed on 18 th May 2006.
Alhaji Umar Njidda Pariya collected it 19th May, 2006. I know all these facts, because I am an indigene of this place and we know how Chief Joel Madaki and his Batta people have been harassing the Fulani and the Hausa, if they acquire Land, even Legally, Alhaji Ahmadu Digino can testify in all these cases.
Therefore we want the High Court in reference with the case in question ADSY/47/2008 gave an injunction restraining Chief Joel Madaki and his group on 19 th May, 2009 – they still went head to harass security men and other former workers and they had to defend themselves. Subsequently the security on the farm land and farm workers had to look for quick immediate intervention. The Land in Digino Jubawo belonged to the forefather’s of Alhaji Lawan Digino, who is from a Royal family lineage. At the time Alhaji Lawal Digino’s forefathers settled at the foot of the Bagale hills, the Batta people had not descended from the Bagale hills – they were already up on the hills and around Hamdala. They did not come down until after the Jihad of Modiwo Adama, which is two hundred years today. Now therefore for Chief Joel Madaki to go around inciting the people, instigating them to go for war is un-patriotic. This is a man who wants to govern the state. This is man who is an elder in the Church and is suppose to be a man of peace. And by his going to the press when the case is in the court, what does it tantamount to? If we cannot tolerate our neighbors, that we have co-existed for hundred of years, who then can we tolerate? If the Batta and the Fulani cannot endure their weaknesses and persevere to understand each other, then who can?
What Chief Joel Madaki and his Batta Brothers are doing is provocative. Moreover, Alhaji Umar Njidda Pariya has bought the farmland, lawfully legally following due process, from original owners to Fufore LGA and to State Ministry of Land and Survey and the former Governor duly signed. Either Chief Joel Madak1 is selfish, envious or he is being mischievous.
Why ever involve the former Governor Boni Haruna and former vice-president’s name in all private affair?
Therefore, Chief Joel Madaki must be stopped from these incendiary actions that can bring about loss of life and the unquantifiable loss of property. To me, he is unscrupulous and the authorities concerned in Yola either on the part of judiciary or government must act swiftly.
By Aminu Baba Gaji,
No. 7 Biu Road, Opposite Abubaka cinema,
Gombe Town , Gombe State .
E-Mail: aminu. babagaji @ yahoo. com
