By Philip B. Adams
A storm of anger is brewing in Adamawa State as political stakeholders, elders, and loyalists of the All Progressives Congress (APC) demand an end to what they have termed “unacceptable insolence” against the revered elder statesman, Alhaji Sadiq Mohammed Walin Ganye.
The controversy, which has now become a full-blown crisis, stems from scathing remarks made by a village boy turned social media commentator, Uba Dan Arewa, on the Facebook-based radio platform Arewa Voice and other media outlets. Dan Arewa has launched a barrage of disrespectful attacks against Walin Ganye, a man who not only serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Peace Commission but is also a pillar of the APC in Adamawa State.
Sources close to the Ganye Chiefdom revealed that the saga began when Walin Ganye, a political heavyweight and major financier of the APC, dared to advocate for his people. According to party insiders, the elder statesman recently demanded that the Adamawa APC consider picking its Deputy Governor from Ganye and pushed for the region’s fair share of political entitlements and infrastructural development.
“Is it a crime for Walin Ganye to ask that the APC should consider producing a Deputy Governor from Ganye Chiefdom? Is it a crime to demand the rehabilitation of the strategic road linking LCCN Junction in Ganye through Mbulo to Jada?” stakeholders queried during an emergency meeting at Aljebs Hotel, Ganye.
Alhaji Sadiq Mohammed Walin Ganye is not just any politician. Widely described as the “political octopus” of Adamawa, his influence has earned him respect across party lines and international borders. His recent appointment as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Peace Commission is a testament to his dedication to humanitarian service and peacebuilding, roles he has handled without discrimination based on ethnicity or religion.
His track record of philanthropy and loyalty to the APC is unmatched. Party leaders have insisted that no individual or group has invested more personal resources in the growth of the APC and the development of Ganye Chiefdom than Walin Ganye.
The Adamawa State gubernatorial flag bearer and the party leadership have been put on notice. Stakeholders are demanding that they publicly distance themselves from Uba Dan Arewa and call him to order before his actions bring disaster upon the APC.
There are fears that if the disrespect is not curbed, it could create unnecessary division within the APC family and cost the party heavily in upcoming elections. Political observers note that the APC is currently navigating a complex political terrain in Adamawa, and the last thing the party needs is a scandal involving a disrespectful sycophant against one of its founding fathers.
The distinction between political disagreement and utter disrespect is clear. Uba Dan Arewa has crossed the line. As a young man who is a son to the elder by age, his vitriol against a man who has built bridges and fed the less privileged is nothing short of a disgrace. The APC must act swiftly to uphold party discipline and protect the integrity of its revered leaders. Alhaji Sadiq Mohammed Walin Ganye is an institution, and he must not be disrespected.
PIONEER NEWS 