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Judging Izala Muslims On Extremism

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Na’Allah Muhammad Zagga

I don’t agree with the argument that every Muslim inspired by Wahhabist ideology of the Sunni branch of Islam is a automatically a violent extremist that believes in the Boko Haram campaign of indiscriminate violence innocent people, Muslims and non-Muslims. I don’t also accept the argument that every Izala sympathiser is automatically sympathetic to Boko Haram poisonous and violent ideas. This assumption is not supported by any compelling evidence.

Sheikh Albani Zaria and Sheikh Jafar Adam paid with their lives for criticising and opposing the Boko Haram violent ideology. Dr. Ahmad Gummi also escaped death with the skin of his teeth for opposing Boko Haram. Being an Izala member doesn’t automatically make everyone else within the group a sympathiser of Boko Haram. It’s like making every Muslim guilty by association because violent extremists happen to be Muslims. Again, being a devout Muslim doesn’t automatically make one a violent extremist. The two terms are not synonymous.

I don’t like conspiracy theories that rely on superficial assumptions. The fact that Whahabism inspires today’s violent extremists doesn’t make every Wahhabist a terrorist or a terrorism supporter. Of course, 15 of the 19 September 11 terrorists were Saudi citizens, but that is not enough to declare every Saudi guilty by association. Why didn’t the Bush administration declare war on Saudi Arabia because most of the 9/11 terrorists were Saudis? It couldn’t have done so because not Saudis and not all Wahhabists should be held accountable for the action of fringe Muslim groups, regardless of the ideology that motivates them.

Former President Bush didn’t declare war on Afghanistan because he believed all Muslims were responsible for 9/11. He launched military attacks on the Taliban rulers because they rejected US demands to hand over Osama Bin Laden for giving his support to the perpetrators of the 9/11 atrocity. Bush acted within international law. You can’t harbour my enemy that caused me massive harm without being guilty of hostile behaviour, posture or action. So, Bush didn’t go to Afghanistan because he was convinced that every Muslim should be responsible for the action of violent extremists inspired by Wahhabist ideology. Majority of the victims of terrorism were Muslims, regardless of which ideology motivated the attackers.

As you can’t hold every white person accountable for the violent actions of white nationalists, it’s also wrong and unfair to blame Muslims for the consequences of Wahhabist teachings. No white person should be judged by the action of Adolf Hitler. Conjectures, coincidences and assumptions shouldn’t be presented as gospel truth, especially when the perceived truth is merely a superficial effort to pass a guilty verdict on particular believers because of the ideology of any group. That Mohammed Yusuf, the Boko Haram founder, was an Izala sect member doesn’t mean all Izala followers agree with his activities and teachings. Evil has amazing fascination; that is why even bad guys attract gullible followers like a moth to the flame.

Na’Allah Muhammad Zagga is a public affairs commentator

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NNPC Ltd Clarifies Lagos Depot Fire Incident

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to clarify that the fire incident at a tank farm in Marine Beach, Apapa, Lagos, was at a depot belonging to HOGL Energy Ltd (Honeywell Depot), and not an NNPC Retail Ltd.’s facility as circulated by early responders.

The fire, which has since been extinguished, was as a result of petroleum products spillage within the perimeter of the tank farm.

Meanwhile, NNPC Ltd and other depots in the area have resumed loading activities.
NNPC assures that the incident will, in no way, affect petroleum products supply and distribution across the country.

This was contained in a statement signed by Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Ltd Olufemi O Soneye in
Abuja

 

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Frontfoot Media to host its 5th Media Audit Reporting workshop in Gombe

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By Asile Abel,Jos

FrontFoot Media Initiative has concluded plans to hold the fifth edition of its Audit Reporting Training programme for journalists to be hosted in Gombe State.

Statement by the Front Foot Media Initiative Training Coordinator Mr Chido Nwakanma said previous trainings were held in Benin, Awka, Abuja, and Lagos state.

He added that, FrontFoot Media Initiative will hold the training under the auspices of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism and the sponsorship of the MacArthur Foundation.

Mr Emeka Izeze, a director of FrontFoot Media, said “The Gombe programme will feature participants not only from Gombe but also from the neighbouring states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau, and Taraba, a testament to the inclusivity and reach of Front Foot’s training initiatives. We look forward to training about 40 media personnel, each of whom plays a crucial role in our media landscape.”

Adding to the statement, Gombe State Governor, Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya would address participants in line with his agenda of openness and accountability.

Frontfoot Media Initiative also announced that Mr Ismaila Zakari, a past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, an Internal Auditor of Premium Pensions Abuja, and an ICAN Fellow, will lead the training supported by Mr Yusuf Doma, a Fellow of ICAN and Internal Auditor at Premium Pensions Abuja. Their expertise and guidance will ensure a high-quality learning experience for all participants.

The media and capacity building NGO described the programme as “a flagship capacity development programme of FrontFoot Media Initiative. It is a Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability project.

“In this effort, FrontFoot teams, accompanied by experts in the field, work in pre-selected states where they conduct free training for journalists. Participants learn how and where to locate the relevant reports, interpret the material, and write engaging news stories and features that enlighten, stimulate, and empower the electorate, and discourage impunity.” the statement added.

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Babangida’s Military Contemporary, Lt. General Garba Duba, Passes On at 82

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A military contemporary of Nigeria’s former military President, Lieutenant General Garba Duba, has died.

General Garba Duba died at the age of 82. A native of Kontagora, Niger State, Duba held several positions during his military career, including serving as Governor of Bauchi State in 1978 and as Governor of Sokoto State during Buhari’s regime.

An impeccable source told NIGERIAN TRACKER that the funeral prayer for the late Duba was held today, Friday, after Jumuat prayer at the National Mosque in Abuja.

Governor Muhammad Umar Bago of Niger State and legislators from the state attended the funeral prayer.

He joined the army as a Cadet Officer at the Nigerian Military Training College Zaria in 1962, presumably a course mate of Ibrahim Babangida. At the beginning of his career, he was at the Indian Military Academy. Duba was one of the northern officers who participated in the Nigerian counter-coup of 1966 which led to the death of General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi. During the Nigeria Civil War, he was a Captain, commanding a squadron of armored vehicles. As military governor of Bauchi state, he provided infrastructure in the form of residential accommodation and offices, including secretariats for the newly-created 16 local government areas.

In 1993, he retired from the military and went into private businesses where he held positions like chairman, New Nigerian Development Company (NNDC), chairman of SGI Nigeria Limited, director in First Bank of Nigeria, non-executive director of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc and chairman of the board of Leadway pension fund.

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