TODAY THURSDAY 25TH
FEBRUARY 2021
1. Ladies
and gentle of the press; the fourth realm of the estate, hope of the oppressed
and democracy, fellow Nigerians, it has become imperative that we present our
position at this critical moment of our journey as a Nation.
2. “Conscience
is an open wound, only Truth can heal it” These are the exact words of Late
Othman Danfodio (1804). Nigeria is on the precipice as a result of the handwork
of few religious bigots and tribal chauvinist under different guise; some as
politicians, others as clerics and others as monarchs.
We observe with dismay and
nostalgia the unfortunate but avoidable circumstance that led to
demonstrations, destructions, killings and imposition of curfew in Billiri,
Gombe state by Governor MohammaduInuwaYahaya. 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 Tangle
people the right choice to their ancestral throne.
3. On
Monday 15th February 2021, the nine (9) out of ten (10) kingmakers
of the Tangle Royal stool voted. Dr. Musa Idris Mai Yamba was voted with five
votes to become the new Mai Tangle elect. The other two contestants,
AlhajiDanladiMaishanuMaidoki got two votes and Mallam Ahmed Magaji got two
votes. Rather than doing the needful in accordance to the Gombe state chieftaincy
law 2021 part VI number twenty (20) sub sections one (1), the governor
travelled to Abuja and directed that AlhajiDanladiMaishanuMaidoki with two (2)
votes out of the nine (9) be declared as the new Mai Tangle.
The above was the scenario that led
to an earlier peaceful demonstration in Billiri before the breakdown of law and
order.
4. However,
on Wednesday 17th February 2021, the Tangle Intelligentsia movement
promptly wrote the governor of Gombe state. Also, the Tangle community overseas
wrote an open letter to the governor appealing that the wishes and desire of
the Tangle ethnic people be upheld in accordance to their tradition, norms,
rights and history. Unfortunately the governor reneged.
5. Despite
the provocation leading to the crises in Billiri being precipitated by Governor
MuhammaduYahaya, he had the audacity to reel out his dictator’s riot act
through a broadcast on Saturday 20th February 2021.
It is unfortunate that the Governor
a Fulani Muslim chose to arrogate to himself the right to impose a paramount
traditional ruler to an ethnic people who are over 90% Christians. Item five
(5) of the governors broadcast reads thus; “Let it be clear that it is within
my power as governor to appoint any of three recommended candidates to become
the new Mai Tangle” This is unfortunately the types of people we have as
democrats in Nigeria!
6. Apart
from the immediate past Late Mai Tangle, Dr. Abdu Buba Mai Sheru II being one
of the paramount rulers of a major Northern ethnic group and Chairman of the
Northern Nigerian Christian Monarchs, he is also one of the grand patrons of
the Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIPA).
7. The
Governor of Gombe State, AlhajiMohammaduInuwaYahaya should be held responsible
for whatever happened in Billiri and Gombe State with regards to the
enthronement of the new Mai Tangle. The Bible is clear on leaders as Parents
not to provoke their children to wrath, (Ephesians 6:4) because there is
consequence(s).
The infringement on minority
righty, and ethnic nationalities with regards to territorial space,
appointments, other constitutional rights and practice of religion as well as
imposition of alien religious philosophy are unacceptable to Nigerians.
8. While
the A.P.C government distraughtly rode her way to power amidst questionable
circumstance using the change security mantra, the reality on the ground
experienced by Nigerians is different from the government propaganda and
narrative.
The Kankara
school children abduction in Katsina, the most recent Kagara school abduction
in Niger state and the highly suspicious and questionable negotiation and
settlements with public funds to Islamist criminals is no longer acceptable.
These have come to confirm the obvious; a network of terrorists recycled as
bandits or Fulani herdsmen with the agenda of empowering Islamist who do the
dirty job for some clerics and Islamic government apologists.
9. It
is evident that there is a nexus between the terrorists, Fulani militia, the
bandits and with some security personnel as well as politicians.
The Office of the National Security
Adviser (ONSA) and the new service Chiefs know what to do unless if they are
also going to play the ethnic or religious card to Nigerians while hiding under
a smokescreen that have since been unveiled. While upholding the Islamic cleric
sheik Mahmoud Gumi earlier, his diplomatic shuttle to the forests for a second
time exposes the weakness of the security forces all led by Muslims also rise more questions.
10. The
statement credited to Gumi that “attack on them (the terrorists/bandits) was
carried out by Christian soldiers to cause division amongst them (Muslims)” is
not only inciting but is culpable. Again the news on Hausa newspaper
circulation to the effect that Sheik Ahmad Gumi said, “Boko Haram is a blessing
to Muslims in Nigeria” is rather despicable.
We therefore, find it difficult to
know where the respected Sheik Gumi belongs to. It is either he is loyal to
Nigerian’s unity or sympathetic to criminal elements who are also Muslims.
The respected cleric should allow
the military and other security outfits do their job in accordance to their
oath and as recently directed by the Commander in Chief and confirmed by the
new Chief of Army Staff.
11. Cash
settlement for terrorist, Fulani militia or bandits and prisoner swap for those
abducted is unacceptable in view of this blown business and racketeering
between politicians and criminals. Unless if there is double standard or
complicity by government and the security operatives, this should seize
forthwith.
12. Just
as the statement from Governor BalaAbdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi state
encouraging Fulani herdsmen to carry guns is disheartening so is the statement
of Bello Matawalle the Governor of Zamfara state that, “Not all bandits are
criminals” appalling and disgusting. Perhaps the governor has another
definition of banditry in his lexicon or state where sharia law was first
introduced in Northern Nigeria. Unfortunately despite the introduction of Shria
in Zamfara state like most Northern states, they have the highest illiteracy,
poverty, criminal elements as well the highest mortality rate.
13. The
statement from Nigeria’s immediate Army Chief, General TukurBuratai that “The
Army cannot defeat Boko Haram” leaves so much to be desired of him.
Unfortunately, the Presidency nominated the former Army Chief and his likes who
have failed to protect Nigerians as they swore allegiance to be ambassadors of
Nigeria overseas.
However, we understood the
perspectives of the former Army Chief from spiritual prism. In reality, governance
and security in Nigeria from the mass of our spiritual security intelligence
have been hijacked hence the statement from the former Army chief. In truth
there is a correlation in the failure of the political class and the security
as a result of the spiritual manifesting in the physical.
14. The
former service chiefs should be answering questions from an inquest committee,
yet in a brazen disregard to their failure and an insult to Nigerians, this
administration of President Buhari chose to nominate a breed of failed army
officers to represent Nigeria and Nigerians overseas as Ambassadors.
It is obvious that the system that
hide and protects criminals as senators after being governors or looters being
governors and ministers will also protect failed service chiefs under
diplomatic immunity as Ambassadors. It is obvious to Nigerians that the
Kangaroos legislatures will eventually endorse the president’s nominees as they
did while we were consulting to make this press statement.
15. Unless
the drumbeats of war is sweet to those whose desire is to impose Islam on
Nigeria, impoverish our common estate or dominate other Nigerians, they must
terminate every form of infringement of ethnic minority rights and all forms of
persecution against non-Muslims and as well as the imposition of sharia.
The legislative arm of government,
executive and indeed the security architecture under Muslims should swallow
their pride of intent, religious sentiments and ethnic jingoism to expunge
every clause promoting Islam above our collective interest and Constitution.
16. It
is evident that for decades, imminently qualified northern Hausa Christians and
northern Fulani Christians have deliberately been denied opportunity to serve
Nigeria at both State and Federal levels.
Let it be on record that we are
aware of the Islam in Africa organization (I.A.O) and the Abuja declaration of
1989 which was build up to the global Islam agenda of the Organization of
Islamic Countries (O.I.C) conference in London in 1990.
The nepotistic and religiously biased
appointments by the President and indeed the All Peoples Congress (A.P.C) with
regards to the President’s recent key appointments further confirms the
obvious. It is therefore, not a coincidence
that there are nine Northern Muslims as to the two southerners in the
National Security Council.
17. In line with our objective for a greater
secured and prosperous Nigeria, we have commenced building an alliance with
Hausa, Fulani, Northern ethnic nationalities. We call on the southern Nigerians
to rise against this charade and impunity of corruption, marginalization,
nepotism, bigotry, insecurity, persecution, injustice and oppression of the
minorities.
18. We
stand for justice. It is a fact that amnesty for terrorist, bandits or any form
of criminal elements deny their victims and citizens the right to justice. Both
Islam and Christianity implore all to stand for justice. The holy Quran in
surah An-Nisa is clear on the subject of
justice in chapter 135. Unless if President Buhari’s A.P.C
government interprets the Holy
Quran and Hadith in compliance to the dictates and Jurisprudence of global
jihadist, Boko Haram and the bandits,
the government should proscribe and deal decisively with Fulani Militia
under any disguising name(s). It has been proven that negotiations, settlement
and amnesty to terrorist and bandits have been a failure.
On all the occasions that the
former Governor of Zamfara State AlhajiAbdulazizYari granted amnesty including
sending bandits and criminal elements to mecca for holy pilgrimage, they have
come back to be worse or transformed into some form of criminality at a
different level of operation
19. To
compare the South West’s Odu’a People’s Congress (O.P.C) and the South-South
and South East’s Niger Delta Defense Frontier, IPOP to either Boko Haram,
Fulani militia or the northern bandits is an insult to the intelligence of
Nigerians. What if the Christians, the middle belt or ethnic minorities front,
initiate and arm their own criminal elements, bandits or terrorist?
To transfer money running into
billions from the common wealth of a state or nation to terrorist or northern
criminal elements as kidnap or negation ransom to northern Muslim criminal
elements by this government, either at the State or Federal level is a criminal
disservice to Nigerians that must be accounted for.
20. The
recent closure of Christian schools in Kwara State for disallowing Muslim girls
to use hijab is not acceptable! Operating a dual Constitution cannot function
in a democratic Nigeria hence the over-heating of the polity in view of the superiority
by some adherents of Islam and islamization.
Unless the Nigerian Muslims and
politicians are telling Nigerians that the Constitution is inferior to Sharia
law, we must expunge the 1999 Constitution smuggled in by the fraudulent
military government under retired General AbdulsalamiAbubakar in 1999. He did a
great disservice by being part of Nigeria’s problem today.
Imposition of
Sharia Laws and standards anywhere on Nigerians by deceit or default is
unacceptable. Rather than Northern politicians focusing on the ravaging
poverty, illiteracy and insecurity on the north, they chose the path of
inglorious failure through religious bigotry and ethnic sentiments.
21. The
greatest shame of our generation in the north is that, despite more years of
Northern Muslims clinging to power than Southern Christians from military to
civil rule since 1976 the north continues to suffer worst as a result of
corruption, religious sentiments and general gross failure in leadership.
22. However, we have questions for the proponents
of Sharia, Islamization and the perpetual control of power by the Northern
Muslim politicians who saw power as their exclusive birth right:
1. Since
the introduction of Sharia in Zamfara state over ten years ago by Ahmed Sani
Zamfara and the blind adoption of same by some Muslim governors through
inducement of Arab Petro-dollars, how far have the north fared?
2. Did
Dubai, China, or Korea and other emerging economies greater than Nigeria
achieved their fit as a result of sharia or any form of religious adherence?
3. What
will happen to the freedom and rights of Muslims and adherents of other faith
should predominantly Christian states in the north like Plateau, Benue, Taraba
or Southern states like Ebonyi, Cross rivers, Enugu or AkwaIbom just to mention
a few chose to impose a Christian cannon law in addition to the Constitution of
Nigeria?
23. Todays emergence of ethnic and religious
jingoist as politicians under fraud using religious clerics and regional tribal
champions is unacceptable as we forge new alliances with true patriots for a
greater, secured and united Nigeria.
We are therefore poised to change
the narrative from now, 2023 and onwards by networking and mobilizing to elect
credible leaders as the new breed of Nigerian leaders towards a prosperous
secured, greater nation.
24. In
conclusion, we demand that the procedures of selection and appointment of
monarchs and traditional rulers in accordance to their cultures, traditions and
history should be legislated into the Constitution of Nigeria to avoid impunity
and flagrant abuse by State Governors, the likes of Governor
MohammaduInuwaYahaya of Gombe state. This will forestall imposition or
deposition for religious or political reasons and will as well safeguard the
ethic peculiarities of ethnic nationalities with regards to their identity,
cultures, norms and traditions.
25. Lastly,
following Nigeria’s slide into being a failed state and on the precipice of
anarchy, absence of social justice, the rule of law, denial of minority rights
and freedom of practice of religion as well as persecution coupled with absence
of institutions to check government abuse or to uphold the tenets of democracy
we hereby make the following request;
a. We
kindly request that the United States Government through the appropriate
process assign a special envoy to Nigeria with immediate effect to forestall a
total break of law and order leading to war.
b. We
also call on the United Nations to assign a special rapporteur to review,
monitor and report back with regards to human rights abuse, matters concerning
minority and ethnic people’s rights, religious persecution and denial of other
rights contrary to the United Nations charter.
c. We
commend the lifting of curfew in Gombe State from 24hrs to dusk to dawn by the Governor,
AlhajiMohammeduYahaya. However, we put him on notice that should any harm
befall the Mai Tangle elect, Dr. Musa Idris Mai Yamba, or further infringement
on the right of the people to choose their paramount ruler, the governor will
be held responsible in view of the information with regards the threat to the
person of the Mai Tangle elect. The Federal Government and the international
community should take note.
d. We
call on all true Nigerian patriots and nationalist of all faith, ethnic
nationality and region to join us in building a new safe, united and prosperous
Nigeria.
God
bless Nigeria and expose all evil and conspirators against our collective peace
and security in Jesus name, Amen!
Rev.
Luke Shehu
ACIPA
Chairman
CC:
President and Commander, Federal Republic of Nigeria
-
Executive Governor of Gombe State
-
Governor Simon Bako Lalong, Chairman
Northern Governors Forum
-
Office of the National Security Adviser
(O.N.S.A)
-
All Service Chiefs
-
All Legislatures
-
All Clerics: Muslims and Christians
-
National Director, D.S.S.S
-
Nigerian Christian Elders Forum
-
I.N.G.O’s and N.G.O’s
-
United Nations Secretary General
-
United States Secretary of State
-
United States Legislatures
-
British Parliament
-
African Union General Secretary
-
ECOWAS General Secretary
-
Common Wealth General Secretary
-
Governor Simon Bako Lalong, Chairman
Northern Governors Forum
-
Media Organizations.
