. . . Wants DSS To Invite Group Leader
A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adamu Modibbo, has condemned the call by the Arewa Christians Association (ACIPA) requesting that United States of America and the United Nations should send a special envoy to Nigeria.
Modibbo described such a call as baseless and insensitive.
He said, at a time when the country need concerted efforts to fight the enemy of the progress and development of Nigeria, some disgruntled individuals are hiding under the guise of religion to cause more harm to the peace and stability of the country.
Modibbo said, ACIPA citing the recent uprising by some unpatriotic elements in Gombe state as an example is a baseless and insensitive appeal at a time when all hands are expected to be on deck to finding a lasting solution to the insecurity bedeviling the country.
According to Modibbo in his statement, he quoted the Chairman of group, Rev. Luke Shehu as saying, the current issue in Gombe state, where the governor is bent on subverting the will of the people by imposing a monarch on the locals against their wish is the height of religious bigotry.
Modibbo who accused the Chairman of the group said, in a press briefing monitored in Jos, the capital of Plateau state, Rev. Luke Shehu had said: “we observe with dismay the unfortunate but avoidable circumstances that led to demonstrations, destructions killings and imposition of curfew in Billiri, Gombe state by Governor Mohammed Yahaya. Against all odds and advice from major stakeholders and prominent Nigerians the Governor chose the cheap side of religious bigotry and ethnic sentiment in despising and denying the Tangale people the right to their ancestral throne.”
Meanwhile, in his swift reaction, Modibbo said: “I want remind Rev. Luke that governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, is the chief security officer of his state and as the chief security officer he cannot fold his hands and see a section of his state being turned to a no go area by some disgruntled people with the like minds of Rev. Luke to cause harm to innocent citizens and passersby.
“Luke should also know that the governor reserved the right to choose any one from the list of three contestants that were sent to him by the Tangale Kingmakers.
“You should also know that the Mai Tangale throne that you are ignorantly talking about belong to the two major religions ie Islam and Christianity in the Billiri and in the history of the throne there was never a time where the issue of religion came in to divide the good people of Tangales than now that people with the like minds of Luke came into the affairs of our state and want to decide for us how we live our lives.
“The late Mai Tangle Dr. Buba Maisharu, a Christian, took over from a Muslim and he ruled for almost twenty years and there was no any rancor from the Muslims or anybody within or outside the family who raised any religion issue.
“The violence that took place in Billiri was orchestrated by some unpatriotic individuals who thought they could blackmail the government into announcing their preferred candidate.
“There is nowhere in the Nigerian constitution that says you must be a Muslim or Christian before you become a leader of the people and if it so, the call by Luke and his Christian Association is baseless and condemnable, most especially at this crucial time when the country does need people with little knowledge of the world like Rev. Luke shehu to be meddling in the affairs of the country.
“There is no reason for any rancor between the Muslims and Christians in billiri or any other part of Gombe state. History has it that the people of Gombe state are peace loving people and we should remain so. Nobody, however, powerful from any part of the country should interfere in our affairs and divide us, we are one united people and so we should remain. Rev. Luke Shehu, should look for other place to orchestrate his divisive mission and certainly not in Gombe state.
“As a people, known for our cherished peace and stability we want tell Luke and his like that Violence, sectarianism and extremism have no place in our culture and tradition in Gombe state, hence, those conflict merchants who sought to profit from the violence by setting brothers upon brothers, families upon families, and communities upon communities, are not our lovers and they can never be one.
Let us get one thing clear from the beginning, the appeal by Rev. Luke and his Christian Association to send an envoy to Nigeria was an overreaction and to a certain extend overzealous that want to make cheap publicity and unnecessary noise that is not justifiable by any right thinking mortal.
“My point here is that the business of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds is impolitic. And Luke action was highly inappropriate, an abysmal disregard to constituted authority, lacking discretion and common sense tantamount to cause disaffection and hatred among the good people of Gombe state and the country at large. It is unethical on the part of Rev. Luke to venture into an affair that he knows little about. You cannot dish out fabricated stories and distorted facts as opinion. As a leader you should speak well of the people and always preach peace and tolerance. Those who sow in the wind will reap the whirlwind.
“I am calling on the DSS to invite Rev. Luke Shehu for questioning, to avert the possible breach of peace and order in our state and the country at large. A religion man best tools are decorum, decency, belief, tolerance and passion for peace and peaceful coexistent.
“I want to register my sincere personal appreciation to Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, of Gombe state for taking the bold step of imposing time curfew on Billiri to forestall the possible reoccurrence or escalation of the violence to other part of the state.
We should at this critical time of our survival be more concern with issues such as education, healthcare delivery, infrastructural development, food security, industrialization of the north and human capital development are address with an open mind without sentiments.
“I therefore, seek to appeal to Rev. Luke Shehu and other people who share such destructive minds to be cautious in their utterances and actions so as not to provide the oxygen for the exploitation of our fault lines to the detriment of our region and country at large. A leader should be more concern with identifying, isolating and punishing crime without regards to who commits it rather than resort to labeling and generalization which shields the criminal and generate tension for innocent and law abiding citizens.
“Our leaders should be able to take step on how best to create opportunities for our youths to strive and contribute their quota to the development and progress of the society and certainly not to incite them.”
