Tension in Adamawa over alleged plans to remove Emir

• Governor Denies Allegation
Alleged plans to remove the Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Isa Ahmadu, by the state government has caused panic in Mubi, the commercial nerve of Adamawa State and hometown of Governor Muhammed Bindow.

The emir controls the entire northern Adamawa comprising five councils, which were taken over by Boko Haram in 2014.

The Guardian gathered that Bindow, who had been at war with the emir since he became governor, was miffed by the monarch’s alleged support for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates to the detriment of his party.

A palace source told The Guardian that the crisis started when the emir advised Bindow against non-payment of council workers, pensioners and students’ scholarship in the state.

The source, who preferred anonymity, said the governor was furious and abandoned his garment in the palace without a word to the emir.

According to the palace source, the second issue that triggered the alleged plan by the governor to dethrone the emir was when the governor instructed the emir not to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari’s in-law, Alhaji Mahmoud Halilu, who was contesting the governorship on APC platform with Bindow, but the emir flouted the order.

The governor, through his senior special assistant on media, Macaulay Honuhashi, denied the allegation, describing it as malicious and an attempt to cause crisis in the emirate.

Part of the statement read: “My attention has been drawn to a story that is trending on social media alleging that I, the governor of Adamawa State, Mohammed Bindow, has threatened to dethrone the Emir of Mubi, HRH Alhaji Isa Ahmadu, in the event of his preference for another political party to the APC.

“I find this concocted work of fiction not only disturbing and misleading but regrettably malicious, with the tendency to course grievous dissatisfaction and ill-feeling among the peace-loving citizens of Adamawa.

“For those who would want to know, as the holder of the traditional title of Sardauna Mubi, my first port of call any time I visit my ancestral home of Mubi is the emir’s palace.

“I have great respect for him as a traditional leader, community leader and father and would find it preposterous to issue any kind of threat to such a highly revered monarch.

“Rather than resort to casting aspersions, mudslinging and concocting well-garnished stories that would malign my good name and integrity, I urge such carriers of fake news to desist by showing maturity in their conduct.”