Fintiri hails courage of Margi people in emotional homecoming address
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa delivered an emotional and heartfelt address on Saturday, drawing thunderous applause from a crowd filled with traditional rulers, community elders and admirers, as he paid tribute to the courage and resilience of the Margi people.
In a speech rich with cultural pride, the governor described the Margi heritage as “a story time cannot wash away,” a legacy built on courage, faith and endurance. “Our fathers worked the earth with bare hands and brave hearts,” Fintiri said, “and our mothers carried homes upon their shoulders and raised nations from their wombs. From them, we inherited dignity — not measured by wealth, but earned through honest labour.”
Fintiri reaffirmed his deep personal connection to his roots, insisting that he is “Margi before anything else” and would choose the same identity again if given another life.
Reflecting on his rise in public service since 2019, the governor credited his people for giving him the “platform and wings to fly,” saying their support gave him the strength to confront every challenge along the way. Leadership, he reminded the cheering crowd, “is not about power, but responsibility.”
Looking back at the early days of his administration, Fintiri recalled a state weighed down by insecurity, crumbling schools, weak hospitals and fading faith in government. Peace, he said, had to come first — and it did, through justice, cooperation and renewed trust in traditional institutions.
Today, Governor Fintiri proudly declared Adamawa one of the most peaceful states in the North-East, attributing the transformation to massive investments in education, infrastructure and healthcare. Free and compulsory schooling, payment of WAEC and NECO fees, refurbished hospitals, new diagnostic facilities and job creation for youths and women, he noted, were central to restoring dignity and rebuilding the state.
Closing his speech, Fintiri vowed to continue steering Adamawa toward progress. “We march forward united,” he said, “determined to build a stronger and better tomorrow.”