TANGALE COMMUNITY OVERSEAS
Members of the press,
Today, we jointly address you as leaders of the Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA), and elders of the Tangale community—the recognized custodians of the tribal sovereignty, cultural heritage, and enduring dignity of our people. We come before you at a critical moment in the history of Tangale land, a time when our community faces coordinated attempts to undermine our socio-cultural institutions, disrupt our self-determination, and compromise the collective identity that has sustained us for generations.
As a minority tribe in southern Gombe State and a proud part of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, the Tangale people have endured systemic neglect, marginalization, and repeated injustices that threaten not only our development but also the survival of our cultural and political voice. Recent developments—including a planned visit to Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and a resolution allegedly issued by the Tangale Traditional Council purporting to speak on behalf of our people—represent direct challenges to the authority, rights, and will of the Tangale people.
We state clearly: neither the planned visit nor the purported resolution reflects the views, consent, or interests of our community. Both are deliberate attempts to coerce, manipulate, and bring the Tangale people under the influence and control of external forces. In the face of such threats, we speak today to reaffirm our unity, our independence, and our unyielding commitment to the protection of our heritage, self-governance, and rightful place in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.
- Rejection of Unauthorized Homage
There have been attempts to coerce Tangale sons and daughters into travelling to Gombe for a so-called “Homage” to Governor Inuwa Yahaya. The TCDA completely dissociates itself from this event and any attempt to act in the name of the Tangale people.
We emphasize: the Governor of Gombe State does not deserve homage from the Tangale people. Under his administration, the Tangale community—a minority group in southern Gombe and a vital part of the Middle Belt—has witnessed injustices, neglect, and repeated provocations that continue to affect our social, economic, and cultural development. Therefore, any staged or forced homage by a group of people in the name of Tangale is not only misleading but deeply insulting to our collective history and sacrifices.
We remind the politicians who are bent on forcing our people that political power is transient. Leadership positions come and go, but the dignity, judgment, and rights of the Tangale people are permanent. We will not allow any individual, group, or government to exploit our name for personal or political gain. Any attempt to misrepresent Tangale support for political figures is dishonest, historically inaccurate, and will be firmly rejected.
- Threat from the Resolution of the Tangale Traditional Council Meeting
We have noticed a resolution, circulated online and allegedly issued by the Tangale Traditional Council on January 12th, 2026. This document instructs district heads to dissolve TCDA branches across Tangale land. This directive is unprecedented and has no basis in our constitution, customs, or any recognized legal framework.
We state without ambiguity: the TCDA was established by the Tangale people, for the Tangale people. It operates under a constitution registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and its leadership is elected transparently and accountable to our members. No external authority—whether a district head, government official, or imposed ruler—has the right to dissolve, suspend, or interfere with our leadership.
Attempts to coerce district heads into enforcing this resolution represent either a profound misunderstanding of the TCDA’s purpose or a deliberate effort to undermine our authority. Such actions threaten the stability, unity, and communal cohesion that the TCDA has worked to build over decades. We therefore call on all Tangale people—and all institutions that respect the rule of law—to disregard these unlawful directives. The people issuing them lack the power to do so. Whatever action they take is null and void.
- The Office of Mai Tangale
The office of Mai Tangale is currently being contested in a court of law. Until the constitutional and traditional process concludes, no one—individual, proxy, or group—has the authority to act, negotiate, or claim legitimacy on behalf of the Tangale traditional institution. To this end, the outcome of the meeting lacks legitimacy.
Any attempt to manipulate this process is provocative, illegitimate, and a direct affront to Tangale tradition, order, and self-respect. We remind everyone that our traditional institutions are not merely ceremonial; they are the backbone of our culture, governance, and community cohesion. Efforts to subvert this process not only insult the Tangale people—a minority community in the Middle Belt—but also threaten the stability of our society.
- The TCDA: Custodian of Tangale Culture and Development
The TCDA is the recognized apex socio-cultural organization of the Tangale people. It was founded by our communities, not by any government, district head, or imposed ruler. Its leadership and structures exist solely to serve the interests of the Tangale people, safeguard our cultural heritage, and coordinate development initiatives that improve the quality of life in our communities.
The Association was formed through the collective will of our people, guided by our customs and recognized by law. Leadership is elected transparently, accountable to our members, and the General Assembly serves as the highest decision-making authority. Every branch, from local units to the national body, reflects the participation, consent, and aspirations of Tangale citizens.
No external authority has the power to override the TCDA constitution, dissolve its leadership, or dictate the conduct of our affairs. The TCDA is the embodiment of Tangale self-determination, communal unity, and the continuity of our cultural heritage.
- TCDA’s Role in Unity and Development
Since its inception, the TCDA has played a pivotal role in promoting unity, progress, and development across Tangale land. Working hand in hand with community elders, youth leaders, district heads, and other socio-cultural organizations, the TCDA has:
- Mobilized resources for community-driven development projects
- Supported educational programs and provided school materials to children
- Assisted communities affected by attacks or crises
- Established healthcare interventions, including health outreaches
- Preserved cultural practices and promoted conflict resolution mechanisms
All our initiatives are guided by the principle of self-determination: the Tangale people, through elected leaders and respected elders, remain the ultimate custodians of our cultural and developmental agenda. These efforts have built trust, cohesion, and resilience within our communities, and they continue to benefit generations across Tangale land.
- The Tangale People Remain Resolute
Let it be recorded: the Tangale people remain unbroken, unbowed, and resolute. Despite provocations, sustained injustices, and calculated attempts to destabilize our land throughout 2025, our people stood firm. We have remained faithful to our core values: self-respect, courage, hard work, and peaceful coexistence.
The TCDA reiterates, without ambiguity: we will speak for our land, protect our heritage, and preserve our legacy for generations yet unborn. The sacrifices of our fallen heroes will never be forgotten. The Tangale spirit cannot be intimidated, suppressed, or negotiated away. As a minority tribe in the Middle Belt, our resilience is a testament to our enduring identity and determination.
We urge all Tangale people to remain vigilant, security-conscious, and united. Let us pursue peace without compromising our dignity, or heritage. Discipline must guide us, unity must strengthen us, and truth must anchor us. We must remain our brother’s keeper and stand together against intimidation, deception, and division.
Signed:
Comrade Danladi Bako
President, Tangale Community Development Association
On behalf of TCDA Leaders and Tangale Elders
