…Burning Prayer Rugs, Beads Khimars Kettles For Ablution, Other Intimidation
…Kano Muslim Group, in condemning the immoral act, Mobilises for prayer rugs, beads, khimars and kettles for ablution to Yola as intervention solidarity, commends Adamawa Muslims for maintaining peace, patience, perseverance and refusal to react to intimidation in the spirit of the blessed month of Ramadan…
Some of those who were with him, at the Dougirei Hill, would report to the Periscope Global that Rt Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, a.k.a Fresh Air Governor, who was suffocated with the mirage like electioneering atmosphere-begging for a miracle – against debacle or obstacles – reading success, shelving frustrating challenges, prostrated in supplication, what in Islam is referred to as “Sujood ash-Shukr,” a special prostration that the appreciating Muslim performs before Allah SWA, expressing thanks and gratitude for a specific blessing, in Fintiri’s case, for the official declaration by the INEC, as being returned elected.
However, the somewhat juvenile jubilation that greeted the declaration, miles away from the Dougirei Hill, was with smear, mocking and molestation, smashing windscreens of apolitical motorists who would not chant “4+4,” intimidating the not to be perturbed Muslims with Burkutu bath on the street, close to iftar time, burning of prayer rugs, beads, khimar and kettle for ablution, symbolising either defeat or the end of Muslim leadership in the state; as the liquor would fail to bring to the riotous, juvenile jubilant consciousness that the declared governor elect is a Muslim who would not take it lightly in his heart, mocking and molestation of the faith he assiduously professed and that which he supplicates hopping for salvation.
Worse still, is the killing and roasting of goat, pig and dog in celebration of the declaration and for inviting Fintiri “the Governor Elect,” with the entire Madagali people to join in the feast of the permitted with the slaughtered forbidden.
The electioneering atmosphere of the 2023, more than any other period in the history with the creation of Adamawa state has recorded violent ethnoreligious colouration even though the entire governorship candidates are Muslims.
The Islamo-Fulani as a factor is played prominently understood and/or interpreted differently as much as the influence of the declaration of the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Adamawa chapter, endorsing a particular Muslim candidate as a close approximate, perhaps in tribal than religious affiliation, of and for a choiced candidate who represented and would continue to represent the faith based interests.
The emergence of the lone female governorship candidate in the race, has more than anything, reduced propagation to a mere propaganda, intensified rather incidentally, by the Fulani ethnic she belongs to.
Everything went well during the campaign tour across the 21 local government areas of the state. Distinguished Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, a.k.a Binani, the APC governorship candidate was generally considered as the political heroine, with the record of 91% most popular candidate in the score index, based on the Periscope Global survey.
To bring the detribalised female pastoralist popularity, political prowess and credibility to disrepute, the commissioned Fatwa warriors as was alleged, would have to be factored in but have failed rather woefully in their very persuasive skills, considering the point that the running mate of the PDP governorship candidate is also a female.
The next scheme is to deceive the gullible tribal hate minded, ready to mock and molest the Muslims with the unfounded accusation that the political heroine, a detribalised pastoralist who would insist that there’s nothing religious with the politicians rather than deploying religion as a deceptive device that the electorates should remain wary of.
It would appear that the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the very political party that the female pastoralist is flying the governorship flag, is taken as a tool to denigrate the amazing amazon in spite of her positive contributions to the development of the state and the life of the citizenry in general irrespective of gender, tribe and/or faith. Even the PDP Presidential candidate, the Waziri Adamawa was said not to be spared for being reduced in religio-economic term to the opportunity cost of voting for Peter Obi.
The antagonists lied that she, while with her campaign train in the popular political Furore, composed of different tribes and religions, declared that her leadership would entirely be for the Fulani, in which case, the Muslims. There was and still is however no documented and/or audio visual evidence to suggest such a diatribe. The political heroine, the pastoralist, simply prayed for peace rather than reacting to the venomous libel.
Could she have had a Christian as running mate? Would she have been supported and promoted by the likes of Senator Elisha Ishaku Abbo, a.k.a Baba Ladde, Sen Binta Masi, HE Bala James Ngilari and Sunny Silvester Moniedafe, a highly respected elder Jimeta is blessed to have among others who are devoid Christians, not forgetting the agitating women groups mostly led by Christians who would resist any attempt at short-changing the candidate they hoped would emerge as the first female governor in the country?
The Muslims, for the most part, on the other hand, expressed dismay over what they considered as unfair treatment to their faith and the faithful by the very Fintiri led government and administration, hence lacked the confidence that he would dispense with justice without also humiliating, without just cause, the Fulani he was alleged to be holding malice, should he succeed himself; even though, most of the Fulani political elites are said to be more with Fintiri than having Binani as a Governor.
The point however is, the female pastoralist as a governorship candidate is facing more challenges from some of the political elites, her very tribesmen and immediate family in addition to be opened and closed anti party than the contest with the sitting governor who is said to be enjoying the Binani-hate challenges.
Political pundits would interpret it as unfortunate crossing the line in the celebration with violence, expressing anger against the Muslims who are undoubtedly the majority in Adamawa state, suggested by the fact that the Christians could not produce a candidate from among them to win the governorship election and that the Muslims have the capacity to fly a Muslim-Muslim flag and win overwhelmingly.
Nabhani Mujtaba, identified as the Kano youth group leader that frowned against burning of prayer rugs, beads and khimar in some troubled areas in Yola antagonistic to Islam and Muslims, in celebration following the second declaration by INEC, of another candidate, Fintiri as Governor Elect, calling on the relevant authorities to come out public and condemn the instigation.
“Where are the Fatwa warriors? Should they have to be rented to express dissatisfaction with the mocking and molestation in Adamawa Emirate? Adamawa is prided with knowledge, beauty and peace, irresponsibility and religious intolerance should not be tolerated, it should in totality be condemned,” the group would remark.