2027: Mosque demolition, profiling allegations against Obi mere propaganda — Northern Community in Anambra

n n

Recalls free education, agricultural loans, Hajj sponsorship during his tenure

n

By Vincent Ujumadu

n

Awka — Leaders of the Northern Community in Anambra State have dismissed allegations that former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, Peter Obi, discriminated against northerners during his tenure.

n

In separate interviews with reporters in Onitsha and Awka, the leaders also dismissed allegations by Obi’s political opponents that he ordered the demolition of a mosque during his tenure as governor.

n

They described the allegations as politically motivated, saying they were intended to damage Obi’s reputation ahead of the 2027 general election.

n

According to them, northerners in Anambra maintained a cordial relationship with the Obi administration and benefited from several of its programmes, including free education, agricultural loans and sponsorship for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

n

Those who spoke included the Secretary of the Northern Community in charge of Anambra and Delta states, Mr Mahmud Ibrahim, a lawyer; the traditional ruler of the Hausa Community in Awka, Alhaji Garba Haruna; and the Chairman of the Northern Community in Anambra State, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki.

n

Ibrahim, who said he had served as secretary of the community for decades, explained that the mosque at the centre of the controversy was demolished before Obi became governor.

n

“Our relationship with Mr Peter Obi during his tenure as governor and even now is cordial. We want to make it clear that the rumour that he demolished our mosque while he was governor is untrue,” he said.

n

According to him, the mosque was demolished in February 2006 during a reprisal attack linked to the Sharia crisis, while Obi became governor in March of the same year.

n

“In fact, it was Obi who visited us at the Army Barracks in Onitsha where we were staying as refugees. He later escorted us back to the mosque and donated money towards its rebuilding. So, we do not understand where this story is coming from,” Ibrahim said.

n

He also dismissed the allegation that Obi compelled northerners to obtain identity cards as a condition for remaining in Anambra, explaining that the identification cards issued by the northern community were an initiative of the community to facilitate the identification of its members.

n

“As for the identity cards, it was the Northern Community in Anambra State that came together and decided that we would issue identity cards to our brothers for identification. The ANIDS card was different. It was for everybody in Anambra State. The governor, his commissioners and everyone else had theirs, including myself,” he said.

n

Also speaking, the traditional ruler of the Hausa Community in Awka, Alhaji Garba Haruna, dismissed claims of discrimination against northerners during Obi’s administration.

n

“I never witnessed or heard of any policy that created a distinction between indigenes and non-indigenes under Obi.

n

“Our relationship then and even now remains cordial. My children benefited from the free education programme, and I personally benefited from his sponsorship for Hajj,” Haruna said.

n

He added that Obi had maintained his relationship with the northern community after leaving office.

n

“He still relates well with us. He comes here for our functions and sends us gifts during Salah celebrations. If there is any former governor who is close to Obi, it is Ngige, who still comes here today despite no longer being governor or seeking any position,” he said.

n

The Chairman of the Northern Community in Anambra State, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, also recalled his experience as a beneficiary of Obi’s agricultural loan programme, saying he received N10 million under the scheme.

n

“The way they gave the loan to me was the same way they gave it to others. There was no discrimination. We are even surprised that before Obi left office, he repaid the outstanding loans on our behalf,” he said.

n

Sidikki also recalled that his son, who benefited from Obi’s free education policy, is currently pursuing a PhD in China.

n

“I came here about 40 years ago. I had all my children here, and today I have five graduates. So, I cannot say that Anambra has not been good to me,” he said.

n

The leaders said their experiences under Obi’s administration were inconsistent with the allegations being levelled against him.

n

They described the claims as politically driven and said they would mobilise members of the northern community resident in Anambra State to support Obi when political campaigns for the 2027 election commence.

n

They also expressed optimism about Obi’s chances in the election, particularly in view of the anticipated political partnership involving former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, whom they described as “our brother.”

n n