Fulanization, Islamization of Nigeria; wild goose campaign – DG PGF

Tom Okpe, Abuja

Director General, Progressives Givernors’ Forum of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) Salihu Moh Lukman has stated that insinuations of Fulanization and Islamization of the country is nothing but, wild goose campaign against the present administration, led by President Muhammdu Buhari.

Lukman said wild goose campaign against ‘fulanisation’ and ‘islamisation’ as Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue would insist or allegations that government, including the presidency are the sponsors of Boko Haram and bandits as Commodore (Rtd), Kunle Olawunmi would want Nigerians to believe are part of major highlights of the campaign by political opposition in the country.

Speaking through a statement he signed and made available to Daily Times in Abuja on Wednesday titled, “Narrow Politics and Questions of Democratic Development,” the former labour leader buttressed that: “some unsubstantiated and meaningless allegations dominate political debates in the country, without any specific proposal on how to resolve our national challenges.

“May be, anger has taken the best out of people opposed to the APC and its government to the extent that presentations are reduced to amplifying challenges to demonstrate failure of APC and President Buhari.”

He noted: “Sensationally, both Governor Ortom and Commodore Olawunmi argued that they have evidence to prove their allegations.

“But coincidentally, sometime in September 2020, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria similarly alleged that a serving Northern Governor is the sponsor of Boko Haram.

“While making the allegations, he also claimed to have proof, but, after interrogation by the security, Dr. Mailafia was reported to backtracked, saying that he ‘did not really mean to say that the government was part and parcel of the killings.’

“Since Commodore Olawumni has already began meeting with the security, hopefully the details of his evidence will come out, Lukman said.

He further stressed that it is more worrisome when a serving Governor could attempt to substantiate allegations of complicity against political leaders, especially President Buhari with argument about ‘fulanisation’ and ‘islamisation’ agenda in the country.

“What does ‘fulanisation’ and ‘islamisation’ of Nigeria mean, although it is possible to convert people from other religions to Islam, could anyone who is not a Fulani be conscripted to become Fulani? Maybe it means that every Nigerian will be forced to have a Fulani tribal mark. What will be such a mark? In addition, Fulfude may become the lingua franca of Nigeria.

“With respect to so-called ‘islamisation’, is it possible to force everybody in Nigeria to convert to islam? Maybe ‘islamisation’ means that shari’a law will be imposed on the country.

“Will that be possible, often, those who carry out this campaign based on narrow agenda have short memory.

“As recent as 2000, when Zamfara State under Ahmed Sani Yerima, made a questionable political declaration adopting shari’a law, thereby triggering a campaign in many parts of the North to make similar declaration for shari’a law.

“How many states in the North succeeded in making such a shari’a declaration? In Kaduna State, it was resisted, which led to a big crisis that consume many lives. If it wasn’t successful in Kaduna, how can it succeed in Nigeria? Even as tales by moonlight, how conceivable could Governor Ortom’s allegation be,” he quried.

The Director General however, posited that if this campaign were coming from a primary school pupil, like the way all the diehard opposition campaigners in the country arè campaigning against, so-called ‘fulanisation’ and ‘islamisation’ agenda, one can excuse it because at that level of innocence, everything could appear possible.

“The fact that a serving Governor is one of those exhibiting manifestations of ‘morbid symptoms’ calls for urgent review of leadership recruitment processes in the country, shouldn’t be a partisan matter, but, be taken serious by all political parties in the country.

“As part of that reality, the case of wild goose allegations, should be a challenge, which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should take and make an important priority.

“There is no reason why Governor Ortom should not disclose the full details of the APC and President Buhari’s ‘fulanisation’ and ‘islamisation’ agenda.

“Already, it is arguably very clear that Ortom’s passion for the so-called campaign is not about developing the country or even Bunue State.

“For a public servant as highly placed as that of a Governor, retired public servant, security personnel, it portends a big danger, which, if overlooked can produce a cult mentality in the country with all the ethnic and religious hatred associated with it.”

Lukman pointed that as the nation move closer to 2023, the pangs of ethnic and religious hatred will have its strong manifestation inside the PDP saying; “once PDP is not able to moderate campaign of ethnic and religious hatred of so-called ‘fulanisation’ and ‘islamisation,’ it will be weak in controlling how it manifest itself internally in PDP.

“There is therefore the urgent need for political parties in Nigeria to take steps, discourage ethnic and religious campaign of hatred,” he said.