Thread by @ShekarauNMT

Press Release

Thread!

MOSQUE DEMOLITION:
Wike’s Condemnable Bahaviour

All rationale and conscious citizens of this great country, Nigeria should join in condemning the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike (@GovWike)...

...for recklessly demolishing the Rainbow Town #CentralMosque located at the Trans-Amadi Area of #PortHarcourt, and for irresponsibly declaring #RiversState a “#ChristianState,” and claiming to owe no apology to anyone.

Muslims and other right-thinking and peace-loving citizens should come together to condemn, in strongest terms, this irresponsible, reckless, rabble-rousing Governor whose apparent aim is to ignite a religious conflagration, the kind of which has never been seen in recent times.

If a Muslim Governor were to come out openly and declare his state a “#MuslimState” and proceed to demolish a church for any reason, all hell would have since broken loose in Nigeria, and sections of the #ChristianCommunity would have since rushed to the “#InternationalCommunity”

...and even the #UnitedNations seeking protection against Muslims.

The action of #GovernorWike is a pointer to his being induced by other than rationale brain waves, as no leader in his right senses would contemplate stoking these embers of discord in a country so religiously,

...ethnically n regionally charged as Nigeria

We must repeat that were a #MuslimGovernor to be reckless to utter even half of what he uttered, the fragile peace holding in this country would've since been jeopardized because of the intolerant nature of a section of the citizenry

Yet here we are, with the added tragedy of a cohort Christian clergy lining up to bless and endorse @GovWike’s action.

Nigeria belongs to all, and no state in Nigeria could claim to be mono religious. It only takes a responsible leadership to carry everybody along.

When I held sway as governor of #KanoState between 2003 and 2011, we encouraged and guided the people to lead their lives according to the tenets of #IslamicLaw (Shari’ah).

But we neither became power-drunk to demolish Churches nor disregarded the provisions of section 10 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to declare Kano an #IslamicState.

Our fair dealings with every section of the community earned us commendation, even from Kano State Chapter and National Body of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), at different occasions. These Christian leaders are a still alive today to attest to my claim.

It may interest @GovWike to learn that Mr. #TalaIlo from #BayelsaState and Mr. #ChrisChibuzorAzuka from #AnambraState, (both, born-again Christians) were special advisers in my administration.

@GovWike’s claim that Rivers is a #ChristianState is pathological.

It suggests that not only are the people of #RiversState 100% Christians, but Muslims and adherents of other religions from other parts of Nigeria cannot make Rivers State their home.

It also insinuates that #RiversState operates a government, a constitution of its own, different from the #NigerianNation. It means Rivers State does not recognize or protect the interests of people like Alabo Mujahid Dokubo Asari, Alhaji Isa Boaima, Alhaji Sani Okiri,...

...Alhaji Ahmed Sani Pe, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Pepple, Alhaji Sulaiman Akani, Alhaji Ibrahim Orlu, Alhaji Musa Brown, Chief Hassan Douglas and Alhaji Mustapha Wakama who are all Muslims and productive citizens of #RiversState.

This is not the first time this Governor would show his reckless side in utterances and actions. It could be recalled that last year, he threatened his own PDP hierarchy that they either hold the party’s convention in #PortHarcourt or, as he vowed, risk his destroying the party.

Rather than risk the wrath of this single, reckless and irresponsible individual, the party’s leaders sheepishly acquiesced and danced to his whims by going to Rivers for their convention.

These actions and utterances of the Rivers Governor manifest the highest forms of irresponsibility by a so-called elected official in this polity. It is an attempt to truncate this nation’s democracy. It is a serious security threat.

We therefore call on the @NigeriaGov at the Centre and all security agencies to call @GovWike to order, and to hold him responsible for any breach of the peace that his actions and utterances could cause in this country.

In the end, I call on the #MuslimCommunity in #RiversState and Muslims throughout Nigeria to remain calm and law-abiding. Let us not copy Wike's despicable attitude and unruly behaviour. Unlike him, other Christians are fair-headed and peace loving.

Let us not lose our sense of decency, as two wrongs do not make a right. We shall however encourage #RiversState Muslim Community to be firm and focused; to pursue their #ConstitutionalRight in the #CourtOfLaw as they did and won their cases in the past.

This time, they will demand the rebuilding of Trans-Amadi Mosque and the payment of compensation. They will also demand Governor #NyesomWike to unreservedly apologize to Nigerians.

Thank you.

#IbrahimShekarau, CON, Sardaunan Kano
Senator, Federal Republic of Nigeria
(Kano Central Senatorial Zone)
August 29, 2019.

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