Bafarawa and his travails
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- Written by Suleiman Abdullahi Tambuwal
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Erstwhile Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhat Bafarawa, has a way, almost a trade mark, of inflicting injuries on himself and turning round to blame others for his travails. For instance, against common sense and wise counsels, Bafarawa abandoned the ANPP, the political platform on which he twice won election as governor for a contraption call the DPP at very critical moment. The result was a monumental electoral catastrophe but he went about blaming everyone but himself for his misfortune.
It would appear that it was merely another incident of self-inflicted travail at the Sultan Maccido Quaranic Institute, Sokoto on Friday 23rd October, 2009 when some yet to be identified persons hauled missiles at Bafarawa and some people in his entourage. The unsavoury incident was roundly condemned by all right-thinking people within the state and beyond. It was particularly condemned for the fact that it occurred on the Muslim holy day of Friday and, within the precincts of a Mosque. However, more saddening is the way Bafarawa and his agents have been trying to give political motivations, and pointing accusing fingers at political opponents with a view to reaping political dividends out of the unhappy development. The accusation began with Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi in the interview he granted the BBC and other international radio stations on the very day of the incident. He was of course, cautious in his statements which contained veiled and tacit references to perceived sponsors and actual perpetrators of what he very aptly described as “a despicable act”. From Sokoto, the accusers shifted base to Abuja and became more brazen in their accusations under the name, “Sokoto Elders Forum”.
In a widely syndicated article, the self-styled “Sokoto Elders Forum”, accused those they called: “desperate, in disciplined (sic) politicians hiding under the banner of seeking power to tarnish the good name of the people of Sokoto…” Signed by one Dattijo Umaru Magaji Dange, it expectedly blamed a particular opposition political party and even a highly respected Ismalic Scholar, Malam Bashir Gidan Kanawa for “his role in the escalation of such crises as reported by eye witnesses”. While calling on the Sultanate Council and the Council of Ulama to sack Malam Bashir, the group also wants the police to question Alhaji Muhammadu Dangogo, Chairman of the PDP, Sokoto North because, “his utterances were a clear indication that he was privy to the attack”. It is curious that the group is decided to use the name, Sokoto Elder Forum instead of coming out in their names.
To the people of Sokoto, there is only one Elders Forum which consists of genuinelelderly and responsible statesmen who will not use the sorts of gutter language of mudslinging and name calling as displayed in the article in reference. The Sokoto Elders Forum is not a faceless and partisan body but, one that has notable and highly revered personalities in the likes of Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shagari, first Executive President of Nigeria, Ambassadors Hamzat Mulele and Shehu Malami Sarkin Sudan as well as former Ministers such as, Alhaji Bala Sokoto and Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, among others.
Also curious, is the question of what informed decision of the authors, the fake Sokoto Elders Forum to scurry to Abuja to issue their news release, instead of Sokoto which is supposed to be the headquarters of their Forum, the town of the incident on which they were talking about and, a town which, like Abuja, has correspondents of most of the nation’s mass media? It is only logical to conclude that those who authored the article are either a horde of questionable characters lacking in honour, integrity and social standing or they are simply the pitiable remnants of the lackeys of a whimpering beleaguered politician in the throes of extinction.
Beside their false claim of identity however, one must agree with certain views expressed by the counterfeits of the “Sokoto Elders Forum”. For one, it is absolutely correct to say that it is “disrespect to the sanctuary of the holy Mosque.” Two, the group is correct in its call on security agencies to find and bring to book, the perpetrators of the act. In this regard, some suggestions would come handy. For a starter, if it is a fact that the action was “premeditated and planned”, it goes to show that Bafarawa, who doesn’t always reside in Sokoto, must have been boisterously noisy about his coming to town and specifically of going to worship at that particular Mosque on the fateful day. Otherwise, those who planned the attack could not have been so accurate in getting at him. But being the self-destroying person that he has always been, on the day in question Bafarawa had gone to the Mosque with an unruly crowd that went about the solemn act of prayers in the reverse. More like a group on a political carnival, the Bafarawa band were shouting political slogans and his praises to a pitch that drowned the sermon of the Imam even with the loud speakers. The people just got irked.
Tambuwal wrote in from Sokoto
Articles
Bafarawa and his travails
Category: Comments Written by Suleiman Abdullahi Tambuwal Hits: 716
Erstwhile Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhat Bafarawa, has a way, almost a trade mark, of inflicting injuries on himself and turning round to blame others for his travails. For instance, against common sense and wise counsels, Bafarawa abandoned the ANPP, the political platform on which he twice won election as governor for a contraption call the DPP at very critical moment. The result was a monumental electoral catastrophe but he went about blaming everyone but himself for his misfortune.
It would appear that it was merely another incident of self-inflicted travail at the Sultan Maccido Quaranic Institute, Sokoto on Friday 23rd October, 2009 when some yet to be identified persons hauled missiles at Bafarawa and some people in his entourage. The unsavoury incident was roundly condemned by all right-thinking people within the state and beyond. It was particularly condemned for the fact that it occurred on the Muslim holy day of Friday and, within the precincts of a Mosque. However, more saddening is the way Bafarawa and his agents have been trying to give political motivations, and pointing accusing fingers at political opponents with a view to reaping political dividends out of the unhappy development. The accusation began with Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi in the interview he granted the BBC and other international radio stations on the very day of the incident. He was of course, cautious in his statements which contained veiled and tacit references to perceived sponsors and actual perpetrators of what he very aptly described as “a despicable act”. From Sokoto, the accusers shifted base to Abuja and became more brazen in their accusations under the name, “Sokoto Elders Forum”.
In a widely syndicated article, the self-styled “Sokoto Elders Forum”, accused those they called: “desperate, in disciplined (sic) politicians hiding under the banner of seeking power to tarnish the good name of the people of Sokoto…” Signed by one Dattijo Umaru Magaji Dange, it expectedly blamed a particular opposition political party and even a highly respected Ismalic Scholar, Malam Bashir Gidan Kanawa for “his role in the escalation of such crises as reported by eye witnesses”. While calling on the Sultanate Council and the Council of Ulama to sack Malam Bashir, the group also wants the police to question Alhaji Muhammadu Dangogo, Chairman of the PDP, Sokoto North because, “his utterances were a clear indication that he was privy to the attack”. It is curious that the group is decided to use the name, Sokoto Elder Forum instead of coming out in their names.
To the people of Sokoto, there is only one Elders Forum which consists of genuinelelderly and responsible statesmen who will not use the sorts of gutter language of mudslinging and name calling as displayed in the article in reference. The Sokoto Elders Forum is not a faceless and partisan body but, one that has notable and highly revered personalities in the likes of Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shagari, first Executive President of Nigeria, Ambassadors Hamzat Mulele and Shehu Malami Sarkin Sudan as well as former Ministers such as, Alhaji Bala Sokoto and Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, among others.
Also curious, is the question of what informed decision of the authors, the fake Sokoto Elders Forum to scurry to Abuja to issue their news release, instead of Sokoto which is supposed to be the headquarters of their Forum, the town of the incident on which they were talking about and, a town which, like Abuja, has correspondents of most of the nation’s mass media? It is only logical to conclude that those who authored the article are either a horde of questionable characters lacking in honour, integrity and social standing or they are simply the pitiable remnants of the lackeys of a whimpering beleaguered politician in the throes of extinction.
Beside their false claim of identity however, one must agree with certain views expressed by the counterfeits of the “Sokoto Elders Forum”. For one, it is absolutely correct to say that it is “disrespect to the sanctuary of the holy Mosque.” Two, the group is correct in its call on security agencies to find and bring to book, the perpetrators of the act. In this regard, some suggestions would come handy. For a starter, if it is a fact that the action was “premeditated and planned”, it goes to show that Bafarawa, who doesn’t always reside in Sokoto, must have been boisterously noisy about his coming to town and specifically of going to worship at that particular Mosque on the fateful day. Otherwise, those who planned the attack could not have been so accurate in getting at him. But being the self-destroying person that he has always been, on the day in question Bafarawa had gone to the Mosque with an unruly crowd that went about the solemn act of prayers in the reverse. More like a group on a political carnival, the Bafarawa band were shouting political slogans and his praises to a pitch that drowned the sermon of the Imam even with the loud speakers. The people just got irked.
Tambuwal wrote in from Sokoto