by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
There are heightened allegations of marginalization of Christian community in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria, by the governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, who is rated one of the “finest governors” in the current dispensation.
A statement released to journalists in Kaduna, Sunday, by the Director-General, Center for Justice on Religious And Ethnicity in Nigeria, Rev. Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa, alleged that neither Governor Zulum nor any government official in the state denied the allegations.
Rev. Dikwa’s statement, entitled ‘Press Release on the true position of the Christians in Borno State,’ dated 30th December, 2023, lamented alleged marginalization of Christian community in Borno State.
Proving his allegations, Rev. Dikwa cited the press release of 20 December, 2023, on the marginalization of Christian community in Borno State by Governor Zulum and the appointment of Special Advisers made by governor.
He expressed dismay that attempt to challenge the development was met with strict resistance and attempted attack from Governor Zulum’s loyalist thugs and that of Vice President Shettima crew, respectively.
“The press release on 20 December on the marginalization of the Christian community in Borno State by Governor Zulum was not refuted by either him nor any government official in the state, which affirmed the truth, except his wife that called out few widows to share rice a day after Christmas, purposefully for the media to carry it.
“The only way they refuted was to send thugs after my life, like Barrister Bashir Maidugu, who called me and put a threat to my life and Civilians Joint Task Force (CJTF), who met me on the road and harassed me. But, as usual, God Almighty saved me to continue exposing the truth.
“Let the public court judge. How can a professor and a governor show tribalism, sectionalism and ethnic segregation like Professor Zulum of Borno State? How many are from Southern Borno and how many are Christians among these political appointments?,” he queried.
Rev. Dikwa, who quoted a “Public Announcement” and that of “Appointment of Special Advisers to Borno State Governor,” alleged that only one out of 29 appointed advisers was a Christian.
“The Executive Governor of Borno State, His Excellency Prof. Babagana Gana Umara Zulum, has graciously approved the appointment of the following Special Advisers:
1. Alhaji Ali Makinta Jere
2. Idrissa L Kemdey
3. Tijjani Goni Mohammed
4. Hon Ibrahim Haruna Biu
5. Hon Tukur Digira
6. Engr Kori Shettima
7. Hauwa M Musa
8. Hon Abubakar Tijjani
9. Hon Garba Saje
10. Hon Kester C Oguali
11. Hon Alao Hassan
12. Alhaji Audu Maaji
13. Hon Abba Jato Bama
14. Hon Abba Saje Mohd Nur
15. Engr Musa Gashigar
16. Hon Abba Nguru
17. Hon Bukar Dalatu
18. Hon Idrisa Jidda
19. Shettima Bukar Kulima (Marte)
20. Hon Kaka Adam Mustapha
21. Shettima Lawan Maina
22. Dr Abubakar Hassan
23. Modu Ali Gana Dikwa
24. Sheikh Modu Mustapha
25. Abba Kawu Shehu Abubakar
26. Hon Musa Abbas
27. Alhaji Musa Gwamma
28. Baba Ali Haruna Kukawa
29. Abdullahi Mohd Nganzai.
According to Rev. Dikwa, “Amongst all of the appointees of 29, only
Hon Kester C Oguali is a Christian, from the Eastern Nigeria, an Igbo by tribe.
In the threat by the political thugs like Barrister Bashir Maidugu of the Vice President crew, he categorically said “only four local governments in the state have Christian indigenes – which is a blatant lie from the pit of hell.
“I’m a Kanuri by tribe, from Maiduguri the state capital, and a Christian amongst many Kanuri Christians. Going by the Barrister Bashir Maidugu, I will now ask, have the indigenous Christian from the Southern Borno State relocated to the Igboland (Eastern Nigeria) to get a slot from the 29 appointments or still the marginalization?
“We condemn in a strong terms this total excluding of Christians in the governor’s appointments, and Hon. Kester C Oguali is not representing any Christian in the state but a political strategy to show the world he’s in love with even Christians in the south but marginalized his main duties of inclusive governance.
“Let me talk little for now about the LGA Chairman primaries in the State. A Christian-dominated area like Chibok has 7 contestants in which 4 are Christians and 3 are Muslims. He disqualified the four Christians and told the 3 Muslims to choose one among themselves.
“In Askira Uba, the contestants have the highest – a Christian with 14 votes, followed by a Muslim with 7 votes. However, Zullum imposed the Muslim candidate with 7 and dropped the Christian with 14. Can someone define marginalization for me in different actions than these?,” he lamented.
Confirming the reports, Rev. Dikwa personally revealed that the Borno State Government has discerned several strategies to also marginalize Christians in the state by keeping them away in the neighboring country, adding that thousands of Christians are in Cameroon, Taraba, among other states, while Muslim colleagues returned back to their communities and are benefiting from government palliatives.