Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri

Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (born 27 October 1967) is a Nigerian politician who has served as governor of Adamawa State since 2019.[1] [2] He was a member of the Adamawa State House of Assembly and served as Speaker of the Assembly. He became the acting governor of Adamawa State following the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako in July 2014, serving until 1 October 2014.[3][4][5]

Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri
Fintiri at Government House Yola.jpg
Fintiri in 2022
Governor of Adamawa State
Assumed office
29 May 2019
DeputyCrowther Seth
Kaletapwa Farauta
Preceded byBindo Jibrilla
Acting
In office
15 July 2014 – 1 October 2014
Preceded byMurtala Nyako
Succeeded byBala James Ngilari
Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly
In office
January 2014 – 5 June 2015
Personal details
Born
Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri

(1967-10-27) 27 October 1967
Madagali, North-Eastern State, Nigeria (now in Adamawa State)
Political partyPeoples Democratic Party
SpouseLami Ahmadu Fintiri
Children3
Parents
  • Umaru Badami
  • Fatima Umar Badami
Residence(s)Yola, Nigeria
Alma materUniversity of Maiduguri
OccupationPolitician

After the collation of results of the state gubernatorial election held on 9 March 2019, Fintiri emerged winner of the election with the highest number of votes. However, the election was declared inconclusive because the number of cancelled votes was greater than the margin between the winner and his close opponent.[6] In the early hours of Friday 29 March, he was declared winner of the by-election having secured 376,552 votes to defeat incumbent Bindo Jibrilla of the All Progressives Congress who polled 336,386 votes.[7]

He was re-elected Into office in the 2023 General Elections. After the collation of results of the state gubernatorial election held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, Fintiri emerged winner of the election with the highest number of votes. However, the election was declared inconclusive. He was later declared winner of the by-election having secured 430,861 votes to defeat his closest rival Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed of the All Progressives Congress who polled 398,788 votes.

The final results were announced by the INEC Returning Officer in the state, Mohammed Mele, He won the supplementary election with 9,337 votes, Aisha Dahiru, popularly called Binani, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who came second in the poll with 6,513 votes.

Political career

In the 9 March 2019 Adamawa State gubernatorial election and upon the completion of 28 March 2019 Adamawa State supplementary election, Fintiri was declared winner of the election, having polled 376,552 votes defeating the incumbent governor, Bindo Jibrilla of the All Progressive Congress, who polled 336,386 votes.[8][9][10][11]

He held a number of leadership positions in the House of Assembly before being elected Speaker, a position he held until 2015. Ahmadu Fintiri has twice been governor of Adamawa State. Following the impeachment of then-Governor Murtala Nyako in July 2014, he was appointed acting governor. He delegated control to Bala James Ngilari after three months.

On 9 March 2019, Ahmadu Fintiri, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was elected governor of Adamawa State. However, the election was declared inconclusive because the number of revoked ballots exceeded the margin between the winner and his closest opponent.

Controversies

High number of Media Aides

In August 2023, Fintiri appointed 47 aides to assist him in media-related matters as Governor of Adamawa state. He was granted approval to appoint 50 special advisers by the Adamawa State House of Assembly in June of the same year.[12] The Governor appointed two Special Advisers, ten Senior Special Assistants, thirty-four Special Assistants on Social Media and Content Creation, and one Special Assistant and Master of Ceremonies Government Events.[13][14]

This move sparked significant controversy nationwide, with many criticizing the high number of appointments, deeming it wasteful and extravagant.[14] Critics pointed out that Adamawa state had a considerable population of 3.44 million people living in poverty, ranking 19th in the nationwide Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).[12][15][16]

On October 6, the governor's spokesperson announced an additional 103 appointments, comprising 37 principal special assistants, 45 senior special assistants, and 21 special assistants.[17][18] This brought the total number of aides to approximately 150, with an estimated monthly cost to the state of 28 million naira, as reported by Daily Trust.[19]

However, the governor's press secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, countered the notion of extravagance, explaining that each media appointee had been assigned specific roles, and these appointments were also intended to address poverty issues in the state. He stated, "There is no need for concern regarding the social media assistants. Their responsibility is to promote government policies and programs. The governor's decision to engage them was driven by the desire for poverty alleviation."[19]

One of the media aides appointed, speaking anonymously to Daily Trust, expressed confidence that their role would not be redundant due to the clear definition of their responsibilities. He stated that the employment of 34 social media assistants would "help sanitise posts on various online platforms."[19]

Personal life

Fintiri is married to Lami Ahmadu Fintiri and they have three children.[20] In 2020, Fintiri lost his mother Hajiya Fatima Umar Badami who died after a long illness at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola[21] His father, Umaru Badami, died after a long illness at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yola. Mr. Badami, 82, left the Army in 1984. He was afterwards buried in the Yola's Damare Muslim cemetery in accordance with Islamic customs.[22]

See also

References
  1. "Breaking INEC Declares PDPs Fintiri Winner of Adamawa Governorship Elections". Punch Nigeria. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  2. "Fintiri restricts tricycles' movements in two Adamawa LGAs". Punch Newspapers. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  3. Tukur, Sani. "Adamawa Speaker, Umaru Fintiri was sworn in as Acting Governor". Premium Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  4. Olaotan, Falade. "EXCLUSIVE: Why Adamawa PDP flag bearer, Umaru Fintiri's name appeared on Buhari's travel ban list". The News Guru. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  5. Musa, Njadvara. "Fintiri, Buni win tickets in Adamawa, Yobe". Guardian. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  6. Channels TV. "INEC Declares Plateau, Adamawa Governorship Elections Inconclusives". Channels Television. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  7. "Breaking PDPs Fintiri Wins Adamawa Governorship Elections". Channels Television. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  8. "PDP's Fintiri wins Adamawa governorship election". 29 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  9. "PDP's Fintiri Wins Adamawa Governorship Election". Channels Television. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  10. "Fintiri win Adamawa Govnorship election". BBC News Pidgin. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  11. "UPDATED: INEC declares PDP's Fintiri winner of Adamawa governorship election". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  12. Apanpa, Olaniyi (4 August 2023). "Outrage greets Adamawa gov's appointment of 47 media aides". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  13. Nabordo, Muhammad Alabira (4 August 2023). "Adamawa governor appoints 47 media aides". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  14. "Outrage as Adamawa Governor Appoints 47 Media Aides - Daily Trust". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  15. "Reports | National Bureau of Statistics". nigerianstat.gov.ng. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  16. Mosadioluwa, Adam (4 August 2023). "'35 content creators, is your government skit?', Nigerians react as Fintiri unveils 47-man media team". Tribune Online. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  17. Francis, Golfa (7 October 2023). "Adamawa State Governor Swears-in 103 Special Advisers". Voice of Nigeria. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  18. Ochetenwu, Jim (6 October 2023). "Fintiri appoints 103 assistants hours after inaugurating 30 advisers". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  19. "Outrage Trails Governors' Bloated Appointments - Daily Trust". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  20. Blogger (30 October 2022). "Fintiri Biography And Net Worth, Age, State, Tribe, Religion, Wife, Children, Education, Political Career". Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  21. Ochetenwu, Jim (29 April 2020). "Adamawa State Governor, Fintiri loses mother". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  22. Blogger (30 October 2022). "Fintiri Biography And Net Worth, Age, State, Tribe, Religion, Wife, Children, Education, Political Career". Retrieved 30 October 2022.
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