The aspiration of the Federal government, INEC and security agencies is to have a free, fair and credible elections devoid of thuggery. However, some chronic sadist-ego-mania pessimists think that the only way to win an election is by intimidating the hopeful opponents using the sword, challenging electoral security.
Stephen Maduwa, one of Governor Fintiri’s ardent supporters in Michika local government fits the descriptive category as expressed in his diatribe against the Muslims and the Kanuri tribe.
Addressing a political gathering in Michika, Maduwa said, “We’re not doing APC. We are not doing Muslim-Muslim ticket. Every Muslim who is my friend respects my faith. Every Muslim whom I don’t relate with, doesn’t respect my faith.
“We don’t see any reason, when the law of our land demands that we live in mutual respect and religious coexistence that Tinubu would play with our intelligence by picking a Kanuri as his running mate. This is unacceptable”.
It is understandable when Maduwa said, they would not do APC. No one expects a card carrying PDP member to support any opposition party by whatever arrangement.
What is rather unfathomable, is why the PDP in Maduwa should interfere in any political arrangement of the APC. Why should flying a Muslim-Muslim ticket as a political arrangement to win presidential elections be anathema to which law of the land, which land and which law that is not applicable to Adamawa state and delimited to Michika local government?
For Maduwa, it is not unacceptable, against mutual coexistence and religious tolerance that both the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Michika local government, where he hailed from, considered as his political diadem are both Christians; talking about Christian-Christain ticket.
Why didn’t Maduwa challenge the Fintiri led government on the seeming anti-Muslim arrangement, when he has Muslims who respect his faith as Muslims. Isn’t such a faith based respect reciprocal?
Maduwa has called on the Christians to be wary, where he alleged that Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate is a gambler and contractor who would compromise votes and would not win election. He called on the church not to deceive the followers in favour of Peter Obi as a Christian candidate.
Maduwa described Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate as Chrislam, where he said that “Atiku is a Christian, Atiku is a Muslim who has made Boni Haruna – an indegene of Michika – from a commoner to a distinguished personality and a governor who is known all over the world.
What makes Atiku to be both a Christian and a Muslim. Does he go to Church and Mosque for worship at the same time when there’s one prophet at a time to a generation, for every revealed religion, which is a religion and the religion as Hamid Anayat would articulate.
Maduwa has assured the gathering that if Atiku become the president, Fintiri would accomplish the Boni Haruna’s small London Michika transformation agenda that was started by Governor Fintiri who executed projects in Michika more than the previous governors.
“Let any bastard come to Michika we’re waiting for him with our sword.
“Tell Titsi Ganama that he has betrayed Michika for being Binani’s running mate. He has never liked Muslim, he has never liked Fulani. Tell him that he isn’t representing Michika but himself. Tell him that we’re waiting for him,” Maduwa said.
What is Maduwa insinuating? Does his vituperations imply that Mickika people hate Muslims and Fulani? Or are Michika people being selective in the kinds of Muslims they would like to cast their votes for?
Why does Maduwa hate Kashim Shettima? Does he hate the Kanuri and/or he only hates the Islam in Shettima and in the Kanuri tribe?
Who does Maduwa intend to go against security of the land to intimidate and harras with the sword for war; apparently, an invitation for political thuggery?
Michika, it can be recalled, hitherto fell under the areas occupied by the Boko Haram insurgency and is gradually recovering from the devastating effects of the loses of lives and properties.
In terms of religious intolerance. Michika was the only local government whose indegenes divided their days of markets along religious lines, where the call for unity was advocated for prior to the insurgency.
Insensitive Mad-uwa’s diatribe against Muslims the Fulani and Kanuri tribes to have advocated for swords against the opposition in the 2023 electioneering atmosphere is simply unfortunate.
It could be recalled that in the early days of Fintiri led administration, Maduwa was in a viral recorded conversation, threatened to eliminate a journalist if he ever wrote anything, either positive or negative about governor Fintiri.
Maduwa is repeating the threat with the sword against the political opponents in the tail end of Fintiri led government.
This sword threat should by the security agencies taken seriously.
…One Nation For Peace, Unity and Mutual Coexistence Group…