From Segun Babatunde in Bauchi
The Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA) and Board of Elders has rejected in totality the hijacking of the reconstruction process of the Billiri local government market stalls by members of the Kano Business community, saying that the whole process is fraught with injustice.
Recall that Billiri local government stalls was gutted by fire on February 19, 2021,in Billiri town mayhem, which occured as a result of mishandling of the appointment of one Danladi S. Maiyamba for the position of “Mai Tangle”, a development which was being contested in the Courts.
A member of the Board Of Trustees (BOT) of the Tangale Community Development Association, Dr Daniel Maddo who stated this while addressing a press conference at the NUJ Press center in Bauchi, said that the Tangale Community Development Association was established for the purpose of promoting the economic and social well-being of the indigenous culture and customs of the Tangale people amongst other reasons.
He said that the association which had a joint meeting of the board of Trustees and Board of Elders on the 26th of August and concluded on the 2nd of October 2021, noted that the Kano Business Community are attempting to execute the reconstruction project in Billiri local government without involving members of the community, a development which the association said is tantamount to mortgaging the future of the Tangale Nation.
The Chairman said that Mallam Danladi Sanusi who is assuming the position of the “Mai Tangle” has no power to institute such a project which was purely within the purview of the local government council that owns the market.
“The forum noted with dismay the religious bias exhibited by the delegates of the Kano Business Community who came with relief materials and distributed them only to our Muslim brothers in a Community where over 90 percent are christians and members of both faiths were affected by the disturbances”
“The forum also observed with dismay the compensation paid by goverment in respect of properties lost to the tune of over N500 million to owners of stalls burnt during the mayhem.It was clearly established at the Commission of enquiry set up by the government that all the stalls belong to the local government save for 12 owned by the Pangurus but hired to mainly non-Indegenes”
“Video evidence presented by the State Muslim counsel also showed that most of the non-Indegenes had packed their goods from the stalls before they were burnt Most disturbing and unheard of governance, was the resolve by the state government that 80 percent of the bill for the compensation would be borne by Billiri local government.
“In effect therefore, the government of Gombe state under his excellency, Mohammed Yahaya had found the people of Billiri local government guilty before receiving the report of his own commission of enquiry and given them collective punishment.Equally disturbing is the over bloated compensation that was paid which was not commensurate with the loses incurred” he said.