Chamba Elders Urge Tinubu to Release Namdas’ BCDA Appointment Letter
ISSN: 2354-4481
By Ladoje Sunday Akumi
YOLA, Adamawa State — The Chamba Elders Council (CEC), Ganye Chiefdom, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to release the appointment letter of former House of Representatives spokesperson, Hon. Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas, as Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA).
The elders made the appeal on Tuesday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Yola, expressing concern over the delay in formalising the appointment more than six weeks after the Presidency reportedly announced Namdas as the new head of the agency.
The council said the delay had created uncertainty over the leadership of the BCDA and called for an immediate clarification of the situation.
Reading the council’s resolution, Elder Mohamed Garba Laweso said the Chamba community appreciated President Tinubu for selecting one of its sons for what he described as an important federal responsibility.
According to the council, other officials announced alongside Namdas had received their appointment letters and commenced their duties, while the former federal lawmaker was yet to receive his formal documentation or assume office.
The elders described the appointment as significant to the Chamba people, noting that Ganye Chiefdom and other Chamba communities are located within border areas that face peculiar security, infrastructure, migration and economic challenges.
The council comprises Chamba elders from Ganye, Jada, Toungo, Mayo-Belwa and Fufore Local Government Areas of Adamawa State.
The elders also commended Vice-President Kashim Shettima for his support for Ganye Chiefdom, recalling his representation at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Gangwari Ganye.
They said Namdas’ background in public administration and legislative affairs could be useful to the BCDA, citing his two terms in the House of Representatives and his service as chairman of the House Committees on Media and Public Affairs and Army.
The council also referenced his previous membership of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, where he represented the North-East Zone, as well as his earlier role as Chief Press Secretary to former Adamawa State Governor Boni Haruna.
The elders argued that his experience in government and familiarity with issues affecting communities in the North-East would position him to contribute effectively to the agency if allowed to assume office.
However, the council raised concerns about the current administrative situation at the BCDA.
It alleged that the agency’s immediate past Director-General, Dr. Dakorinama George, who reportedly resigned from office to contest an elective position in Rivers State, had continued to perform functions associated with the agency after the Presidency’s announcement of Namdas’ appointment.
The allegation could not be independently verified from the information made available by the council. The elders nevertheless urged the Federal Government to clarify the leadership situation to prevent confusion within the agency.
They also appealed to Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to support efforts toward resolving the matter.
The council said a prompt resolution would benefit the Federal Government, the BCDA, Adamawa State and communities located along Nigeria’s borders.
The elders further linked the matter to the political significance of Ganye, describing the area as a long-standing stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC). They said resolving the appointment would help strengthen confidence between the Federal Government and the Chamba community ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The council maintained that its appeal was primarily about administrative clarity and respect for due process, rather than political patronage.
It urged the Federal Government to complete the necessary formalities if the Presidency’s announcement of Namdas’ appointment remains in force.
The Chamba elders said the release of the appointment letter would bring clarity to the leadership of the BCDA and allow the agency to focus fully on its mandate of supporting development in Nigeria’s border communities.
