By Jako Keke [Jalingo Times] October 18, 2026.
Former Taraba Governor advocates unity among Yandang, Mumuye, other ethnic groups; announces joint summit for December
Former Governor of Taraba State, Reverend Dr Jolly Nyame, has called on the Yorro communities to embrace unity and collective action, warning that failure to speak with one voice could undermine their political influence and development prospects.
Nyame made the call at the maiden summit he organised in collaboration with the Timusang Development Association (TDA) in Jalingo, with the theme, “The Yandang Man in the 21st Century: Challenges and Prospects.”
The elder statesman stressed that unity remained a critical factor for sustainable development, urging the Yandang, Mumuye and other ethnic groups within the Yorro communities to put aside their differences and work together towards achieving common goals.
According to him, a united community would be better positioned to pursue its collective interests, strengthen its political participation and attract development initiatives capable of improving the welfare of its people.
Nyame expressed appreciation to the Yandang sons and daughters who attended the summit, describing their participation as a demonstration of their commitment to the progress and advancement of the Yorro communities.
He also disclosed plans to convene a joint summit involving the Mumuye and Yandang communities in December to deliberate on their political engagement, shared interests and strategies for accelerating development across their communities.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Timusang Development Association, Evangelist Aminu Oliver Zakariya, said the summit was designed to unite Yandang sons and daughters from Taraba and Adamawa states and build a common platform for addressing challenges confronting their people.
Zakariya described Nyame's initiative as timely, noting that the gathering provided an opportunity for participants to exchange ideas, identify common challenges and explore practical approaches to community development.
He explained that resource persons at the summit had been selected to address critical issues affecting the Yandang people and broaden participants' understanding of the challenges and opportunities before their community.
The TDA chairman commended participants who travelled from different communities in Taraba and Adamawa states to attend the event, urging them to apply the lessons learnt and share the knowledge gained with others in their respective communities.
In his remarks, the Wazirin Kpan Sanwi and Paramount Leader of the Yandang Nation, Pastor Haniel Banti Adamu Bashiru, also called for unity among Yandang sons and daughters, describing collective action as essential to the advancement of their people.
He commended Nyame for organising the summit in collaboration with TDA, saying the initiative demonstrated a commitment to bringing the Yandang people together and encouraging them to work towards a shared future.
Also speaking, a Yandang elder statesman, Dr Alfred Yahya Kobiba commended former Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku for creating the Sanwi Chiefdom, which he described as a significant development in the effort to unite the Yandang people.
Hon Alfred Yahya Kobiba said the establishment of the chiefdom had provided the Yandang Nation with a recognised traditional leadership structure, which he considered an important platform for fostering unity and strengthening the community's collective identity.
He, however, expressed concern over what he described as the growing “rascalisation” of youths, particularly those of Yandang extraction, warning that such behaviour could undermine the community's longstanding reputation for respect for elders and traditional values.
He urged the youths to embrace discipline, respect constituted authority and conduct themselves responsibly, stressing that positive behavioural change was necessary for the progress and development of the Yandang Nation.
In a paper presented at the summit, a scholar of Yandang extraction, Professor James Hamuel Doughari, advocated a deliberate and structured development plan to address the community's challenges and establish clear priorities for its future.
Doughari proposed a seven-point plan as a framework for developing practical strategies to promote the social, political and economic advancement of the Yandang Nation.
The summit brought together community leaders, traditional authorities, elders, scholars and other stakeholders to deliberate on the challenges facing the Yandang people and explore prospects for unity, stronger political participation and sustainable community development.
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