Taraba politics of religion, ethnicity

Taraba politics of religion, ethn

icity Many politically conscious Nigerians have followed with keen interest the events that have been taking place in Taraba State since the unfortunate air accident that involved Governor Danbaba Suntai in late 2012. It is on record, that all the intrigues, politics and fight is to control the heart and soul of that North Eastern State in the absence of the beloved Governor of the people, Pharmacist (Capt) Danbaba Suntai, who had to be flown abroad in frantic efforts to save his life. Thank God he survived that terrible air cash.

Interestingly, amidst all these uncertainties and equally difficult and tensed political situation occasioned by the said unfortunate air crash of Governor Suntai, the Taraba State Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar has done tremendously well in keeping the state peaceful and in fine shape while holding brief for his incapacitated Principal. He has provided a very capable leadership in Taraba state in a way and manner that has helped in dousing the tension which would ordinarily have plunged the state into major socio-economic and or political and security crisis. He has endured insults and castigations and ingratitude from many quarters, especially from some disgruntled politicians, who wanted to take undue advantage of Governor Danbaba Suntai’s health condition to perpetuate evil in the state. He has won virtually all the battles for the control of his Principal’s government from certain cabals and continued to keep faith with the foundation laid by Governor Danbaba Suntai to the admiration and amazement of every honest observer of the political situation in Taraba State, including politicians and ordinary citizens of Nigeria and foreigners alike.
It is to the superb credit of the Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar that Taraba State has continued to forge ahead at par with all other states of the Federation towards the overall development of the people.
Unfortunately, while the world is applauding the achievements of the Acting Governor in effectively piloting the affairs of the state, under the obvious precarious situation in which the state has found itself for almost two years, some mischief makers have on their own part continued to look for ways to keep fermenting troubles in the state. They have resorted to another kind of dangerous politics which is capable of polarising the already tensed political environment. Having lost out in their illegal bid to cause permanent problem in the state, and in their delusion to hijack the state government machinery, many of the disgruntled elements and cabals as well as mischief makers within the Taraba State political environment have turned to religion and ethnicity. These malicious men have continued to fan all the negative embers of religion and ethnicity in a state that has enjoyed multi-religious and multi-ethnic harmony for countless centuries till the present moment in time.
Regrettably, this ugly situation just started because Alhaji Garba Umar ascended the leadership of the state as its first Muslim civilian leader, as a result of the temporary incapacitation of Governor Danbaba Suntai. These cabals and mischief makers have tried all sorts of untoward means, all in an efforts to frustrate and unsettle the Acting Governor, who has proven beyond all reasonable doubt that he is very capable of holding forth for his temporarily indisposed Principal in service of the good people of Taraba State in particular and Nigerians and humanity at large.
These religious/ethnic champions and political desperadoes have shown that they are hell-bent on destroying the peace and harmony that have existed between the Muslim and Christian faithful in Taraba State among all the ethnic groups that make up the vast state of Taraba State. They have been canvassing the argument that Taraba State is a Christian State, and should not be governed by a Muslim, and that the Acting Governor is from the minority tribe in the state and several other similar baseless and malicious allegations and insinuations against the Acting Governor, all in an effort to heat up the political environment in the state and make him uncomfortable in the course of his service of the good people of Taraba and Nigerians in the state. They have also by their despicable actions and utterances shown they do not love the state.
It is very unfortunate that they have abandoned the issue at hand, which is the fact that Governor Danbaba Suntai is presently incapacitated, and that because the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as it applies to Taraba State, like any other national constitution on earth, abhors vacuum in political leadership; and this gives the Constitutional powers and mandate to Alhaji Garba Umar, to govern the state pending the full recovery of Governor Danbaba Suntai; and there is nothing anybody or group, no matter how envious or mischievous, malicious and hateful they might be, can do about it; other than to accept the reality on ground, cooperate and work with the Acting Governor for the betterment of all Tarabans until the return of Governor Danbaba Suntai, if they really have the interest and development of the state at heart. But it has become very glaring through their despicable actions and utterances as well as hateful disposition that they do not respect, or have any regard for Governor Danbaba Suntai or care about his welfare, life or the interest of the generality of the citizens of Taraba State; and they must be stopped in Taraba State before they destroy the state, and the entire northern region by their selfishness.
Accordingly, at this juncture, it will be necessary to remind these religious and ethnic bigots that Nigeria is a secular state and does not in any way accord any preference to any religious or ethnic group in the course of the public affairs of the nation or any of its part thereof covered by the national constitution, including Taraba State. So, there is nothing like any Christian or Muslim State in Nigeria. This is more so because during elections, every candidate, Christians as well as Muslims always go out to canvass for votes from all the residents of their various electoral space. There is no candidate that would approach only Muslims or only Christians, rather they all always campaign for, and get votes from all, Muslims and non Muslims; Christians and non-Christians alike within their political environment towards their electoral fortunes. Therefore, it will be very unfair, and even immoral to categorize any state in Nigeria as a Muslim or Christian state, including Taraba State.
Interestingly, this reality has since been imbibed by the successive Northern Leaders since time immemorial, especially since the inception of our nationhood in 1960. A typical example of this historical fact was demonstrated by the foremost Northern Leader, Alhaji (Sir) Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna Sokoto, Premier of the Northern Region, who successfully led the vast region which is presently comprising the current nineteen (19) northern state governments of the Federation spread across the three geo-political zones of the north central, north east, and north west, without any form of discrimination against any ethnic or religious group.
Indeed, in all his actions and utterances, the late Sardauna treated every Northerner equally and allowed all and sundry to grow and pursue their development interests according to their God given potentials. It is on record that many of the closest confidants and aides of the late Sardauna were Christians from far end of the vast Northern Region of his days. Most noticeable of this was the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi from far away present day Kogi State, North Central Geo-political Zone, and who also instructively tilted more as a Yoruba man. It is a well-documented fact that the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi was one of the most notable longest serving Assistants and closest Confidants of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello. According to his testimonies, the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi enjoyed all the privileges of his closeness with the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, and because of such broadmindedness, which he saw in the late Sardauna, he committed his entire life pursuing the collective interest of the northern region, and every Northerner appreciated and supported him for his loyalty to Alhaji (Sir) Ahmadu Bello, and the entire Northern Nigeria till the end.
life and politics, many of the followers of Alhaji (Sir) Ahmadu Bello, who went on to become leaders in their various times reasonably appreciated and imbibed his detribalized posture towards the entire northern region when it comes to public life as well as the collective interests and aspirations of the region. Interestingly, the successive Northern Leaders have always emulated the late Sir Ahmadu Bello in being open minded towards one another at all times when it comes to public issues like politics, especially where the interest of the region is concerned.
Even during the difficult days of the military in the political arena, the Northerners, politicians as well as military, have never allowed religion or ethnic considerations to becloud their sense of judgement and fairness in politics and public life in the course of the region’s socio-economic and political endeavours. For instance, when the second military coup alleged to had been carried out by mostly Northern military officers succeeded in July 1966, the military settled for General Yakubu Gowon, who obviously was from the minority tribe in the North, and a Christian.
The military officers who were Muslims in majority, and who had risked their lives in planning and executing that coup did not argue about the tribe or religion of General Yakubu Gowon. No. They simply allowed reason and fair judgement prevail and settled for the most senior of all available Northern Military Officers back then and this fell for General Yakubu Gowon, who obviously was not part of the initial coup plan to ascend the leadership of the country, and they all supported him all through his nine years in the saddle, especially during the Nigerian-Biafra civil war, and subsequently ensured that he succeeded in one of the most important achievements of the government which was to keep Nigeria as one.
Also, in the course of our current democratic dispensation, all over the northern part of Nigeria, the people have always demonstrated high level of political maturity, without allowing religion or ethnicity hinder their collective aspirations or progress. They have always supported each other without undue tension. For instance, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (Turakin Adamawa) had laboured all through his public service life as distinguished and successful Custom Officer and illustrious businessman spanning over thirty years in building his political structures and very important nationwide network. During the 1999 Adamawa State gubernatorial elections, he brought his very strong socio-political structure on ground, and the good people of Adamawa State, in appreciation of his many decades of service for their good overwhelmingly rewarded Alhaji Atiku Abubakar with an unprecedented mandate during that 1999 gubernatorial election in the state.
However, when the People Democratic Party (PDP) nominated Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the presidential running mate to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, the Turaki Adamawa gladly relinquished his hard earned gubernatorial mandate and strong political structure to his Christian Deputy Governor-elect, Mr. Boni Haruna, who with all due respect, could not had won that election on his own at the time. Furthermore, beside the very massive support and blessing which he got from his then Political Principal, Alhaji Attiku Abubakar, the entire people of Adamawa State, including Muslims with a seeming majority and Christians, all supported Governor Boni Haruna, and ensured that his administration was peaceful and succeeded, and even continued to support him, as he went on to win a re-election bid during the 2003 gubernatorial elections in the state.
It is a fact of history that for eight long years, the majority of Adamawa State Muslims supported and cooperated with the Christian Governor Boni Haruna in leading the people of Adamawa State without any misgivings.
In the same vein, the late Chief (Sir) Patrick Yakowa inherited the political structures which was strongly built and nurtured by Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo when the later was nominated as Vice President by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010. There were no dissenting voices as the greater majority of Kaduna State Muslims fully and wholeheartedly supported Sir Patrick Yakowa and contributed to the success of his administration till the end.
Furthermore, he continued to enjoy the massive support of the greater majority of Kaduna State electorates, which are Muslims in the clear majority in his re-election bid in 2011, which he won comfortably before the unfortunate air accident that took his life in late 2012.
Also, in another northern state of Kwara, during the course of this current fourth republic political dispensation, there have variously been both Christian and Muslim Governors, and all the good people of Kwara State have always supported and cooperated with all of them during the different times they have had the privilege of serving that north central state.
In honest consideration of the above few examples, Taraba State also comes handy. It is on record that of the almost eighteen years of democratic rule in Taraba State since its creation, by General Ibrahim Babangida in 1991, Taraba State Christians have governed the state for over 15 years, and no Taraba Muslim has ever made any issue out of that. They (Taraba Muslims) have always willingly and wholeheartedly supported and cooperated with all the Christian civilian governors including Reverend Jolly Nyame and Pharmacist Danbaba Suntai, towards the overall development of the state.
The truth is that these sudden religious and ethnic champions who are very determined on destroying the unity and harmony of the people of Taraba State, who have hitherto for several centuries been living together in peace should desist from such untoward path, which is the very dangerous ethnic and religious politics which they are currently playing in Taraba State. Let them be reminded that the Muslims all over the northern Nigeria have always supported the Christian politicians whenever necessary, and the Christians have equally done same to the Muslims, and this harmony which have over the years been developed to an enviable height within the northern political environment has, to a very large extent contributed to whatever the region has achieved collectively socio-economically and politically all through the years; and there is need to continue with this kind of spirit, not just for the benefit of the good people of Taraba State, but the entire north and Nigeria.
Please, they should not destroy Taraba State, and the entire northern Nigeria, and by extension the whole country because of their wicked and selfish political ambitions, which are not in any way connected to the welfare or development of the people. They should please let the Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar be. He deserves commendation and support of all Tarabans and Nigerians, as he has effectively managed the difficult situation in Taraba State to the admiration and commendation of any honest follower of the situation in the state since 2012.
Let the truth be told that the amiable and hardworking Acting Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency, Alhaji Garba Umar did not assume the position of leadership of Taraba State as a religious or ethnic exercise, rather it is the constitution that has provided him the platform of service to the good people of Taraba State in particular and the Northern Nigeria and humanity at large. He has done well and no matter what happens in the foreseeable future, which is of course in God’s hands; posterity will remember Alhaji Garba Umar well for all his sincere efforts in service to Tarabans, and for this, Tarabans are very grateful.
Truly, it must be emphasized here that he deserves the appreciation and support of every well meaning Taraban, and all Nigerians in order to succeed in the task of leading the people. No one knows it all, and no one can succeed no matter how small or great the assignment without the support of others.
Finally, let the truth be told that, if the Muslims, who are in majority in Adamawa and Kaduna States supported Mr. Boni Haruna and Chief (Sir) Patrick Yakowa towards the success of their different administrations in Adamawa and Kaduna State respectively; and ensured they won their own elections afterwards, there is nothing wrong if Taraba Christians would support Alhaji Garba Umar, who has so far proven a trusted leader of the people; to also succeed in Taraba State, and if possible win election of his own, if God permits that. If all and sundry, Muslims as well as Christians would support Alhaji Garba Umar, just as all have always supported every other governor of Taraba State, the state would be better for it. That would be unity at work; and that is what Taraba State, the entire Northern Nigeria, Nigeria, Africa and the world need for the development mankind.
•Chris Umeh wrote through
Chrisumeh2013@gmail.com
– 0802 9400 135