The religious assault on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, by Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, of Kaduna, has been denounced by a group of elders from the north.
Gumi's attack was "unprovoked, malicious, inciting and a deliberate misinterpretation of our history," according to a statement issued by the elders under the umbrella organization, North-East Consolidated Peoples Forum (NCPF), and signed by Alhaji Mohammed Abba Liman, the spokesperson for the group. The elders expressed their displeasure with this development by calling the priest a "divisive element" and characterizing the attack as a "unhealthy and inciting statement." Additionally, they denounced the unwarranted religious sentiments expressed by those they labeled as "misguided elements and their sponsors" regarding the Israeli-Hamas conflict, stating that "such does not represent the collective view and interest of the North, and certainly not Nigeria's interest."
Last week, Gumi, a controversial cleric, apparently, taking side in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war, had described the FCT minister as “satanic” for receiving the Israeli ambassador, Michael Freeman, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office Tuesday. The visit occurred days before the Hamas’ attack on Israel and the consequent and continued retaliation by the Jewish nation. The cleric equally accused the government of President Tinubu of pursuing Christian agenda against Muslims, and that Christians cannot be trusted with power.
Groups in the north kick But the clergyman was not in agreement with the Northern elders, who are composed of both statesmen and women. "We completely denounce such an inconsiderate and poisonous remark from a polarizing faction that aims to undermine the harmony and peace of our beloved nation, Nigeria, for self-serving ends. It is offensive and ought not to be embraced by any honorable and rational individual who cherishes peace and our Nigeria," they declared.
Liman states that "any Nigerian irrespective of tribes, religion, and political affiliation is empowered and entitled to be appointed to any position of power as long as that person operates within the limits of our law" under the Federal Republic of Nigeria's Constitution.Nigeria currently needs to solidify its growth, unity, and peace. We issue a warning to those who benefit from race and religious extremism, as well as to those who sow discord and instability, to stop now.Therefore, we support Chief (Barr) Nyesom Wike and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
We do, in fact, support Nigeria and the Nigerian Constitution in our quest for improved governance for the whole country.PANDEF supports Wike. In a related development, Wike has received encouragement from the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) to fulfill his ministerial duties impartially and for the good of all people, regardless of political affiliation, religion, or tribe. Wike has been urged not to be sidetracked by the divisive actions of a minority.
Dr. Ken Robinson, the forum's national publicity secretary, issued a statement on behalf of the organization, saying, "It is important to highlight some basic facts that Sheikh Gumi is ostensibly ignoring: Abuja is the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, not a sectional capital; furthermore, it was and is still being developed with the primary resources of the Niger Delta, which is the home of Nyesom Wike."It is well known that contractors building Abuja's infrastructure, notably the Aso Rock Villa, were paid with crude oil swaps rather than cash. Nobody mentioned Abuja being a part of any certain ethnic group at the time.Indeed, throughout Shehu Shagari's government and General Babangida's rule, the federal
"We remember that in 1988, our young people participated in the '2 Million Man March' in Abuja to support General Sani Abacha's bid for self-succession. They witnessed firsthand how resources from their land were being used to build roads, bridges, and other amazing structures, while their communities, entwined in an environment ravaged and degraded by oil and gas exploration activities, were deprived of such 'wonders.'"
The inconsistencies the young people witnessed sparked new unrest in the Niger Delta, which resulted in the crisis that followed and the "Kaiama Declaration" for Resource Control and Justice in December 1988. "It is sufficient to say that any Nigerian, regardless of their nationality—North, South, East, or West—should be considered for appointment as a minister in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)." Remarkably, Nyesom Wike is the first African American to be appointed as a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister in 47 years, and the 17th overall.
Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, who recently died at the age of 96, was the first Southerner and the first Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under General Obasanjo's military rule from 1976 to 1979. All fifteen of the former FCT ministers are from the northern region. The recordings are visible to everyone!Strangely, Musa Yar'Adua, a Northerner and one of the country's founders and the father of the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, held the position of Minister of Lagos Affairs during the First Republic from 1963 until the First Republic was shortened by the military in 1966. Then, no one voiced complaints!
We applaud President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his political resolve and patriotism in naming a Southerner—the former governor of Rivers State—as the Federal Capital Territory's minister after more than forty years. In the sake of the country, he declared, "it is necessary that all patriots and true lovers of the nation, particularly of northern extraction, denounce the dangerous diatribes of Sheikh Gumi and those of his likes, without hesitation."
Wike brushes off untrue hints Speaking about the contentious remarks, FCT Minister Wike denied any suggestion that he was endorsing Israel against Palestine, calling them erroneous and unfounded. The minister stated that the President and Commander-in-Chief had all authority to decide Nigeria's diplomatic ties with foreign nations, and he did not have such authority under the constitution. During a recent meeting with the Abuja National Mosque Management Board leadership, he provided the clarifications. "I've heard from a number of social media outlets that we held a meeting and that we're doing this and that with Israel," he stated. As the President's delegate, I am here in my official capacity.
I am unable to ascertain the nature of a country's connection with another. Therefore, it is impossible for anyone to declare, "I'm doing this, I'm doing that." "Any foreign body that wishes to interact with Nigeria should write to me and say that these people are interested in seeing me; it's that easy." And it's my job to tell them, when they arrive, that we would want to work together. For example, if you are entering the agricultural industry and we would like to collaborate, we will provide the precise location. According to him, the sole purpose of his meeting with the Israeli ambassador was to discuss agricultural cooperation in the FCT's farmers' best interests.
The majority of them have cultural farms here in Abuja, and we say, "Look, we want to support anyone who wants to invest in Abuja, especially in agriculture, so that we can create jobs for our people and earn more money." It is unrelated to another nation. That is not how it operates. "When people start thinking from other perspectives, others might not see that it is incorrect. I want to take this opportunity to emphasize that we need to communicate with our people. Actually, we have to coexist peacefully. To ensure that progress is encouraged, we must coexist," said Wike.
