Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya has found himself at the centre of a controversy as the Tumu Community in the Akko local government area of the state sues him for allegedly halting the reconstruction of a central mosque in the state.
Joined as defendants in the suit are the Emir of Pindiga, Ahmed Seyoji-Mohammed, Attorney-General Zubairu Umar, and the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Abdulkadir Muhammed.
The mosque reconstruction project, initiated by Senator Danjuma Goje representing Gombe Central Senatorial District, was abruptly halted.
The plaintiffs, who are residents, are displeased with the directives of the governor to halt the reconstruction, and sought to restrain Governor Yahaya or any other party from interfering with or stopping the reconstruction of the mosque, expressing their dissatisfaction with the directive to halt the project.
Representatives of the Tumu Community, Mohammed Yero, Bello Ali-Tumu and Danjuma Mukhtari, have requested various reliefs from the court, including an order preventing the defendants from impeding the community’s development initiative.
Adamu Mohammed-Manga, an aide to Senator Goje, alleged that the state government, in collusion with the emir, is frustrating the project.
He claimed that the emir halted the reconstruction out of fear of repercussions from Governor Yahaya, stating, “The Emir has told me unequivocally that if he allows the project to be done by him, Governor Inuwa will dethrone him.