From our correspondent
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the political atmosphere in Adamawa state is hotting up as tension brews between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s camp and that of the incumbent Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri which political pundits viewed as a battle for the soul of the state’s political landscape.
A renowned political associate of former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Umar Bello Jada, alias “Calculate” berated the state government under the stewardship of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri over alleged insensitivity and being intolerant to constructive criticism in governance.
Umar Calculate while talking to the media in Yola accused Fintiri’s administration of attempting to silence perceived critics alleging that his personal house has been marked for demolition to due political difference between Atiku Abubakar and Fintiri which pundits viewed as taking a dangerous dimension.
Recently, Calculate had upped the ante of his critique against Fintiri, his government and major supporters over disagreements arising from Fintiri’s suspected ‘open betrayal’ of Atiku despite his unwavering support culminating in his victory in the highly controversial governorship election in 2023.
Calculate was recently involved in heated exchanges with foremost Fintiri’s associates and political appointees including Hamza Madagali, governor Fintiri’s close associate and political friend, and Commissioner for Environment, Bala Kalu over some thorny issues.
In a surprising twist, the ministry of environment which Bala Kalu heads as commissioner earmarked the house of Calculate for demolition for conversion to refuse depot without prior notice even as it gives conflicting information by backdating the demolition notice to 4th of May 2025 an information the government only provided on the 27 May, 2025 when it pencilled down the structure for demolition.
The marking of Calculate’s house for demolition on a flippant excuse has introduced a dicey chapter into the state’s political equation an Atiku’s associate, Musa Buba Jada said.
He expressed surprise that “this action is taken in bad faith. It has introduced a new chapter of primitive display of raw power by the executive arm to frighten real and perceived enemies. It is an ill wind that will usher our state to another dark era.
“It beats my imagination that despite a large virgin land almost four times the size of Calculate’s house, two houses away, the government only decided to demolish a house belonging to a law abiding citizen for exercising his democratic rights of free choices and expressions. This is the height of primitive vendetta.
“This is a new low in Adamawa State. Let Fintiri recant from this drift to authoritarianism before it is too late. Adamawa State is known for peace. Therefore such very rash action and drift to dictatorship is alien and unacceptable to us.”
But reacting over the development in an interview with our reporter, Calculate said he is never perturbed with such brazen show of impunity adding that he will never be cowered to rescind his political activism.
“When I started this struggle I have made up my mind to pay the ultimate price for the sake of liberating my people. I promise to continue this struggle with the last drop of my blood. It is said that when the going gets though, the tough gets going. The spectacle is just starting and I’m ever ready to walk the full course,” Calculate said.
