By Atoyebi Nike
Ganye, a serene town in Adamawa State, came alive on Saturday, May 31, 2025, as thousands celebrated 25 years of leadership by His Royal Highness, Dr. Umaru Adamu Sanda, the Gangwari Ganye.
The silver jubilee drew dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond, including delegations from Cameroon and Rivers State. The celebration took place at the palace grounds, highlighting Ganye’s growing cultural influence.
A key moment was the bestowal of the honorary title “Gangpaan”—Shield of the Chamba Race—on retired General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma. The respected statesman used the occasion to call for unity, loyalty, and patriotism among Nigerians.
General Danjuma, a proud Chamba descendant, acknowledged the tribe’s historical ties across West Africa. He noted that the Chamba language, though largely absorbed by Jukun in Taraba, remains a unifying cultural identity.
Dr. Sanda became Gangwari in 2000, succeeding his father, the late Adamu Sanda, who first ruled as a 3rd Class Chief from 1972. Under the current monarch’s guidance, the chiefdom rose to 1st Class status in 2004 and expanded from 7 to 36 districts.
Today, Ganye Chiefdom includes the Chamba, Mummuye, Fulani, and other ethnic groups. Addressing the crowd, the Gangwari described the anniversary as a collective triumph of unity and shared progress.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, in a message conveyed by Minister Uba Maigari Ahmadu, praised the royal father’s decades of service and cultural preservation. Ahmadu, also a Chamba man, expressed personal pride in the monarch’s legacy.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa applauded the chief’s leadership, calling him a symbol of peace and development. He cited progress in education, agriculture, and conflict resolution under the monarch’s reign.
Fintiri described the Gangwari as “a father to all” and urged younger Nigerians to emulate his humility, integrity, and commitment to peace. He reaffirmed government support for traditional institutions as vital partners in governance and cultural identity.
