Re- Shiites Obstruct Yero’s Convoy in Zaria
On
17th May 2013, Daily Trust reporter, Isa Sa’idu, in a story titled,
“Shiites obstruct Yero’s convoy in Zaria, made wild allegation that,
”soldiers and mobile police later arrested one of the hurras and
retrieved a pistol and a knife from him.”
The
reporter based this allegation on a faceless “eye witness”, whose name
the reporter could not even mention. We believe that, this action has
insidious intent of tarnishing the image of the Islamic Movement in
Nigeria and its leader, a highly respected and revered resident in
Gyellesu area.
The
report is nothing short of attempt to portray the the Islamic Movement
as violent group, which will warrant violent action against it, that
will not augur well for the community, state and the nation at large. It
is a fact that, the Gyellesu community is living peacefully with Sheikh
Zakzaky, and is safe with him as a neighbor.
During
the April election crisis, the area became a safe haven, where the
Sheikh’s followers played important role in curtailing outbreak of the
crisis in the area. Many injured were treated by the Islamic Movement
Medical Association, while Sheikh Zakzaky ordered the distribution of
food items to the displaced and other people that sought refuge in the
area. After the crisis groups, including students resident in the area,
came and expressed gratitude to Sheikh Zakzaky for being the advocate of
peaceful co-existence. This and other peaceful initiatives by the
Sheikh made a Kaduna-based Pastor, Ishaya Buru, to confessed that no
other Islamic scholar can be compared to Sheikh Zakzaky in peace
advocacy.
For
the Daily Trust reporter to have come up with this story was a clear
fallacy. The police was in a better place to say what was recovered from
those members allegedly arrested, and not a faceless eye witness. The
reporter, we also believe, was in a hurry to fuel sectarian violence
with the constant use of “Shiites” to described members of the Islamic
Movement, hence his twist of Resource Forum of the Islamic Movement in
Nigeria to “Shiite Resource Forum”.
It
worth knowing that, what ensued between the Governor’s entourage and
the security guards managing the Gyellesu community gate was a clear
case of understanding of the situation prevailing in the area, which
made the Governor to have exhibited high sense of magnanimity, alighted
and trekked to where he intended to visit. The caliber of people living
in Gyellesu calls for security caution and check up. This was why the
community demanded for a gate at the entrance. The community sought
Sheikh Zakzaky’s assistance, which he agreed. He offered his assistance
all the way to its construction and management. Therefore, the gate is a
community initiative, and not gates “that Shiites use in stopping
people from entering Gyellesu”, as narrated by the reporter’s faceless
eye witness.
In
every situation mob action cannot be overruled. The fact that some
elements were angry that the Governor had to trek to his destination and
therefore pulled down the gates, was a clear case of mob action that
the Governor tried to stop through his clear understanding of the
situation on ground in the area. The mob action was also an attempt to
mar the Governor’s foresight, and the Daily Trust reporter tried in his
on way to promote and further compound the situation.
Dr. Abdullahi Danladi
RESOURCE FORUM OF THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA
