Opinion

North, Shiites and Quest for Tolerance

Published

3 years ago

October 30, 2021

By Adamu Tilde

Today in northern Nigeria, we live in critically challenging times, with our cultural harmony rapidly disappearing and our political unity fast disintegrating, leaving social and political vacuums that are now hotly contested by two mutually-rejecting, nihilistic tendencies, each equally vicious and destructive. One does not require a Mensa IQ to conclude that our society is dangerously tethering on the edge of the precipice, heading inexorably towards a disaster. Our culture, our history, and our civilization are under threat. The way we handle those existential challenges today determines how posterity will treat us tomorrow.

This piece is conceived in fear and borne out of desperation. Fear over the north’s steady descent into sectarian abyss, and the desperation to arrest this slide before it is too late, before we are all consumed by it. Therefore, in diagnosing our problems and proffering solutions, I do not intend to surrender ourselves to the self-imposed tyranny of political correctness that often characterize discussions such as this.

The recent sectarian mob violence targeted against the northern Shia minority should enrage any believer in justice and freedom. That appalling display of lawlessness and barbarism must be unreservedly condemned by everyone. It is bereft of any legal, moral or social justification. Those angry mobs who cheerfully lynched their fellow citizens and torched and looted their properties have desecrated the very religion (or values) they are claiming to protect, and the clerics who silently or loudly abetted such travesty have betrayed their calling as men of peace.

It is beyond the scope of this piece to trace the historical root of the Sunni-Shia antagonism in Nigeria, but the Shia-military clashes of 2014 that led to the death of Zakzaky’s three children is a watershed in the timelines of events that led us to where we are today. That tragic encounter set the stage for a more tragic one the year after, that saw hundreds of Nigerians perished and billions worth of properties damaged, further deteriorating the already fragile sectarian stability and bringing our peoples closer to sectarian civil war.

I do not intend to make light of the Shiites crimes and transgressions, both real and imagined. Granted therefore, that the Shiites stand guilty of sectarian incitement, provocation, road blockage and wanton disregard for law and order, but no Nigerian sect or party can claim innocence on all those charges, and under our laws and norms, none of those crimes carries the price of a death penalty. Human life, according to all secular and religious conventions, is sacred, and no one has the right to take any life without recourse to law, to judicial due process, except in cases of obvious self-defense. But in Nigeria, putting the sacred tag on each soul does not prevent the next Shiites from being lynched in our streets, or the next petty thief from being lynched in our markets. Extrajudicial killings have become a Nigerian hobby and our failure to do anything qualifies as acquiescence, as an indictment on our collective humanity and pretend religiosity.

More disheartening however, is the tendency of Nigerians to view crimes through partisan and sectarian prisms. The Shia clashes of 2014 and 2015 are two cases in points. Our partisan social media commentators found it politic to describe the tragic Shia clashes of 2014 as a Jonathanian massacre of defenseless Shiites by the genocidal Jonathanian army, but the more tragic one of 2015 as a Shia provocation against the almighty Nigerian army. To them, justice and fairness is directly proportional to the prevailing political reality and not facts on ground. And therefore, those who condemned the tragedy of 2014 become the staunch legitimizers of the travesty of 2015. Nothing can be more absurd!

If the political partisans are guilty of reducing human life to a political commodity based on defined exigencies, the sectarian partisans are even worse, for they not only legitimize the violence against the Shia minority, they also equate every sympathy for the victims and any criticism against the perpetrators to a sin resembling apostasy. In doing that, they succeed in silencing every dissenting voice for justice and fairness and provide a veneer of popular support to their acts of treacherous inhumanity. Many have tried to strike a balance between condemning the Shiites and the actions of the military by drawing an imaginary ethical equivalence between alleged lawbreakers (the Shiites) and constitutionally mandated law-enforcers (the security agencies). But there is no moral equivalence nor ethical symmetry. There is only one denominator here, which is that of Nigerian lives being wantonly wasted without any recourse to judicial process or rule of law, and that a sizeable majority of Nigerians are either happy or indifferent. And the fact that such violence finds support among educated northerners speak volumes about our appalling bigotry and intolerance.

This culture of hate, intolerance and inter-sectarian suspicions bodes ill for interfaith and intrafaith relationships. As Sunnis, our children are taught to hate the Shiite-other, and Shiites are taught to hate the Sunni-other. Those indoctrinations subliminally paint the other as violent, conspiratorial and demagogic, and therefore incapable of peaceful coexistence and undeserving of our respect, tolerance and understanding. By doing this, we forget or negate one of the basic principles of our own faith where diversity is seeing as a manifest of a divine design and guidance as a function of divine will.

The Shiites, like every other religious sect, have their peculiar problems and shortcomings. Their contempt for secular authorities and open disregard for law and order are affronts to their constitutional obligations and to the fundamental rights of other citizens. However, to shun all other sides and tell the world that the Shiites are the most violent and intolerant speaks well of our ideological hypocrisy. Because, statistics have shown that violence against the Shiites are more than those perpetrated by the sect. But because of our inherent bias, there is the tendency to underreport violence against them and amplify those perpetrated by their adherents, and thereby exaggerating their villainy and watering down the facts of Shia victimhood.

It is easy to condemn the Shiites as being misguided, forgetting that religious text and injunctions are subject to interpretation. The solution therefore, lies in scholarly discourse and not scholarly scorn because the problem is rooted in the erroneous belief that it is only our interpretation that is correct and legitimate, foreclosing the chance of further dialogue.

We can achieve this by practicing our religions with “… Lakum dinukum wa liya deen: To you your way, and to me mine” on our mind, by believing in what we believe without calling each other names and declaring each other heretics/apostates or wanting them dead, by living in peace, harmony and understanding with one another, through mutual respect, and without belittling each other’s belief system.

We should let our education and training not only reflect our social media profiles and professional citations, but also reflect our character and behavior. Because, education is meant to free us from our own prejudices, from our own insanities. Education should not only make us employable and rich, education should make us a better, loving, and peaceful people. Education should help us embrace and respect all humans regardless of race, ethnicity, ideology or religion; we should work towards making the world a better place, not ruining it by our actions and inactions.

Therefore, we must all rise up against this sectarian challenge. We must dismantle all barriers to dialogue and eliminate all those factors that promote sectarian tension and radicalization, especially for our youth. De-radicalization, like charity, must begin at home, with the very clerics whom their respective sectarian adherents look up to for guidance and inspiration. With dissension and rebellion being part of the Shia DNA throughout its troubled history, the IMN, as the largest representative of Nigerian Shiites must re-evolve itself and commit to conducting its activities in a legally responsible and socially constructive manner.

Above all, government should be concerned about the types of ideologies openly preached. We must strike a balance between fundamental human rights and collective national interests, by working towards entrenching justice and respecting and protecting the fundamental human rights of all Nigerians, irrespective of the God they worship or ideology they profess, in a way that does not harm the collective peace and stability of our people. Unless we achieve this, Northern Nigeria will be on the path to sectarian chaos, the path of Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. Through education and dialogue, agreeing with Nelson Mandela, we can be able to achieve that peaceful, accommodating, developing, flourishing and promising [Northern] Nigeria. Like minds, let us embark on this mission in every possible way we can. It will take a long time to complete, but let us remember Lao Tzu’s epic one-liner: a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

First published October 2016.

– Adamu Tilde can be reached at adamtilde@gmail.com

Opinion

2027:Why Fa’izu Alfindiki Is Municipal’s Best Choice For Reps

Published

16 hours ago

April 10, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

From Danlami Gandun Albasa

There is no doubt that the former Chairman of Kano Municipal Hon Fa’izu Alfindiki (Jundullahi) can make a better candidate for the position of House of Representatives, in the forthcoming 2027. His name alone rings bell and sends fear to the ears and hearts of his political opponents. Kwankwasiyya especially and their hidden supporters.

It is very clear for all to come to term with me when I argue that Alfindiki is not only composed, but he has clear understanding of voters behavior in his constituency, Municipal local government and other Metropolitan areas.

I have my concrete reasons why Alfindiki stands better chance to be the candidate for House of Representatives seat from Kano Municipal, in 2027.

Let’s have a simple look at those reasons. See below for your perusal :

1. Apart from being the immediate past local government Chairman, whose understanding of grassroot politicians (yan dangwale) their needs and behaviors, become part and parcel of his political experience, his relationship with many categories of people gives him an edge over many others, who recently indicate their interest,

2. Alfindiki’s visibility in the social media, as both active user and active contributor in political discussions in the social media means a lot for his breakthrough,

3. Coming from Bakin Kasuwa side of the Municipal local government, will give headache for Kwankwasiyya or NNPP people. Who are densely populated there. So when Bakin Kasuwa politicians see their son contesting for the position, they will rally behind him for popular support and endorsement at all cost,

4. Fa’izu has no hidden relationship with Baba Ganduje’s enemies and political opponents. You cannot pinpoint any figure within Kwankwasiyya circle and get any link with him or her and Fa’izu Alfindiki. He is always straightforward,

5. Alfindiki has no history of abusing our pillars within APC or their families. He still believes, our pillars, ranging from Baba Ganduje, Abdullahi Abbas and the like, are still reliable and dependable. Nowhere in his political history, where he resorts to abusing the families of our leaders, at whatever rate and range,

6. Alfindiki is always up and doing in coordinating all parts of our great party APC to be strong and reliable political platform, and

7. Without any fear of contradiction, Alfindiki is responsible without pretending. He unifies supporters and does not believe in creating factions within the larger body of our great APC

TO BE CONTINUED

Opinion

Letter To IGP On Reaffirming Respect For Traditional Institutions And The Role Of The Nigeria Police Force In Upholding Justice

Published

17 hours ago

April 10, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

Sir,

We acknowledge the Nigeria Police Force’s recent decision to withdraw its invitation to the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II PhD, in connection to an incident during the Sallah celebration in Kano on March 30, 2025. While this move is appreciated, it is important to highlight that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is a noble institution revered for its commitment to maintaining law and order.

As such, we believe that the leadership of the NPF, particularly the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), should not be utilized as a tool for actions that could be construed as undermining this esteemed institution. The primary responsibility of the NPF is to maintain law and order in society, not to engage in actions that sow division or disrespect for the country’s revered institutions.

We wish to respectfully draw the attention of the IGP to certain issues that require immediate attention. First and foremost, addressing an Emir without the appropriate protocol is a sign of disdain, not only to the individual Emir but to the entire traditional institution. An Emir, whether alive,deposed, or deceased, should never be referred to without the prefix “Emir” or “His highnerss. Referring to the Emir as “Alhaji,” “Mallam,” or “Dr.” without the appropriate title raises concerns and may lead to suspicions regarding the position of the NPF toward the Emir, His Highness, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II PhD.

Additionally, we believe that the question of whether the NPF’s press release, demanding that the Emir provide a statement, was necessary is a matter of concern. The state police command had already made arrests and issued an invitation to Sallaman Kano, the most senior aide in charge of palace affairs

This action should suffice for the continuation of the investigation without the need to escalate matters by seeking the Emir’s direct involvement. Further engagement with the Emir, if necessary, can be carried out through appropriate channels, in line with the traditional and legal protocols.

While we appreciate the IGP’s prompt action in withdrawing the invitation, we would like to emphasize the importance of maintaining respect for the traditional institution and ensuring that police actions do not inadvertently politicize or disrespect any parties involved. We trust that the IGP will take this into account as the investigation progresses and that professionalism, neutrality, and justice will guide the NPF in handling this delicate matter.

In conclusion, we hope that the NPF continues to uphold its role in a manner that respects the traditions and laws of our nation. It is essential that such matters be handled with the utmost care, respecting both the rule of law and the sanctity of the traditional institutions.

Tijjani Sarki
Vice President
Human Rights Watch and youth empowerment foundation, Kano, Nigeria
7th April 2025

Opinion

Encomia As Hajara Ali Exits NECO

Published

1 day ago

April 9, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

By AbdurRaheem Sa’ad Dembo, anipr

Let me begin this piece with the words of the Famous American Obie Award Winning Actor and Writer, Patrick Foley, “…Retirement is a chance to redesign your life into Something new and different”.It is never the end of the road but an opportunity to start a new life.

On 25th March, 2025 Hajiya Hajara Ali retired from the service of National Examinations Council (NECO) meritoriously as a Director.

She was a mother to all within the Council. A very pragmatic, hardworking, and thorough civil servant.

But I can’t say it all, so I had to reach out to those who have worked closely with her and others within the Council.

Mrs Mary Esezobor opines “Hajiya is a mother, she is free with everybody and has a listening ear.She is friendly, one can enter her office anytime.Many people believe that once a woman is in position of authority, power intoxicates them but that was not the case of Hajiya”.

Similarly,Mr Msughter Igbalaga is a member of staff, who worked with her, explained that “she is naturally simple because she is not the material type. Anything flamboyant Hajiya dislikes it even as a Director. She would come and sit down in the midst of some members of staff to discuss official issues. She values ideas from her staff and abhors laziness.”

Mrs Ebele A. Egbosimba also described Hajara Ali as a friendly and accommodating personality. She asserts ” If you work with her,she would guide you appropriately. She doesn’t engage in discrimination. Her yes is yes, while her No is No.She fights for justice and loves doing the right thing”.

Her Secretary, Mrs Hafsat Shehu Yusuf said, “She is simple and nice. She’s friendly and hardworking.She is a good mother”.

Furthermore, Mrs Sunday A. Nike, who also worked with her captures her personality thus:” She is a mother to me. She is straightforward and generous.There is no challenge you take to her that she would not help you to address it. she is very accommodating and does not discriminate against religion or tribe”.

Husseini Amodu has worked with Hajiya for years, here is his submission about her: “To every objective assessor, Hajiya Hajara epitomizes diligence, discipline, foresight and empathy. She is an advocate of peace, industrial harmony, dedication to duty and servant leadership. Her humility is rare and she is distinctively accommodating. She carries out her tasks with absolute passion and precision, upholding the tenets of exemplary leadership. There is no doubt that her sterling qualities will propel her for higher responsibilities in our beloved country in no distant time, God willing”.

Essentially, Lukman Ahmed is a member of staff and the former Special Assistant On Poverty Alleviation to Kwara state Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has this to say about her:

“Hajia Hajara Ali (Our Mother) is a paragon of hard work, selfless service and dedication.

“We celebrate a Mother who has set a high standard of leadership, demonstrating that with vision, courage and determination, even the most daunting challenges are being surmounted.”

“We celebrate an exceptional Woman, Mother, Teacher, Mentor, a beacon of hope, whose impressive achievement in office has left an indelible mark in the history of the Registration Department.”

“Her versatility will be missed “.

Most importantly, Hajiya Hajara Ali is not only religious but pious. Her attitude to work is superb. On the day she retired I went to her office and I met a lot of staff members who came to congratulate her.She made a statement on that day while advising them and it kept knocking on my mind. She said she took her job diligently because she knew she would account before the Almighty about her approach to work and the people around her. She admonished staff members to always do the right thing for the sake of the Council and accountability.

*Her Educational background*

She hailed from Dala Local Government Area of Kano State

Hajara Ali completed her primary school at the Cathedral Girls Primary School, Freetown, Sierra leone in 1977.She attended Government Girls College, Dala,Kano and had a GCE O’ Level WAEC in 1982.

She later proceeded to Bayero University, Kano and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSC) Chemistry in 1989.She had a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the same institution in 1996.

In 2005 she obtained Diploma in Computer Science Education at Cornerstone Computer Institute, Ilorin

In her quest to acquire more knowledge and qualification she went to Bayero University, Kano (BUK) again to study Education at Post graduate level, and she obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education in 2009.

In 2012 she bagged Msc Analytical Chemistry in Bayero University, Kano

Hajiya Hajara Ali worked with the Kano State Ministry of Water Resources and served as Senior Research Officer between 1990 and 1999.She later joined the service of the National Examinations Council in 2000 when NECO was established.

Until her retirement,she was the Director of Registration at the NECO Headquarters in Minna, where she made appreciable impact through innovation of ideas and commitment to work .

On 7th April, 2025 during the send forth ceremony organized for her by the staff of the Council at the NECO Conference hall,she received a lot of gifts and accolades from members of staff,and that was a testament to her dignity,hardwork, simplicity and integrity.

Hajiya Hajara Ali is retired but not tired, a woman of such impeccable character should be engaged in higher responsibility.

Against all odds she will navigate the earth and the sky will be her limit just as the former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has said “Where there are no ceilings, the sky is the limit”.

I pray that Allah guides and protects her as she approaches the new phase of life