The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has strongly condemned groups that have resorted to ‘hate speech’ along ethnic lines.
The Emir, while condemning ethnicity/tribalism, noted that Nigerians must stop thinking along ethnic lines and embrace the creation called Nigeria.
He gave these charges via a series of posts on Instagram on Wednesday.
According to him, “Fulani. My grandfather was an Emir also fulani my uncle and guardian was also the immediate late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero and therefore I represent all that has been talked about this afternoon.
He said the language of the generation older than him was to use regions to refer to themselves, but that he is a Nigerian.
“My grandfather was a Northerner, I am a Nigerian, he wrote.
“The problem with this country is that in 2009, we speak in the language of 1953. Sir Olaniwun can be forgiven for the way he spoke, but I cannot forgive people of my generation speaking in that language.
“Let us go into this issue because there are so many myths that are being bandied around. Before colonialism, there was nothing like Northern Nigeria, Before the Sokoto Jihad, there was nothing like the Sokoto caliphate.
“The man from Kano regard himself as bakane. The man from Zaria was bazazzage. The man from Katsina was bakatsine. The kingdoms were at war with each other. They were Hausas, they were Muslims, they were killing each other.
“The Yoruba were Ijebu, Owo, Ijesha, Akoko, Egba. When did they become one? When did the North become one? You have the Sokoto Caliphate that brought every person from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom. They now said it was a Muslim North.
“The Colonialists came, put that together and said it is now called the Northern Nigeria. Do you know what happened? Our grandfathers were able to transform to being Northerners. We have not been able to transform to being Nigerians. The fault is ours.
“Tell me, how many governors has South West produced after Awolowo that are role models of leadership? How many governors has the East produced like Nnamdi Azikiwe that can be role models of leadership? How Many governors in the Niger Delta are role models of leadership? Tell me.
“There is no evidence statistically that any part of this country has produced good leaders.
“You talk about Babangida and the problems of our economy. Who were the people in charge of the economy during Babangida era? Olu Falae, Kalu Idika Kalu.”
He added, “we talk ethnicity when it pleases us. It is hypocrisy. You said elections were rigged in 1959, Obasanjo and Maurice Iwu rigged election in 2007.
“Was it a Southern thing? It was not. The problem is: everywhere in this country, there is one Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and Itshekiri man whose concern is how to get his hands on the pile and how much he can steal.
“Whether it is in the military or in the civilian government, they sit down, they eat together. In fact, the constitution says there must be a minister from every state.
“So, anybody that is still preaching that the problem of Nigeria is Yoruba or Hausa or Fulani, he does not love Nigeria.
“The problem with Nigeria is that a group of people from each and every ethnic tribe is very selfish. The poverty that is found in Maiduguri is even worse than any poverty that you find in any part of the South.” (Daily Post)
My dear Dr. Mustapha, I don’t know who you are personally, but it is refreshing to hear a view point like yours. You did not so much criticize the Emir (and others like him particularly the clerics) for the things he said but for the things he did not say.
Many people in Nigeria that invoke relugiousity in addressing or combating issues that befall us in the country, always fail to explain in details how religion would help, hurt, or touches on the issues.
It would really be nice for people like you to have a forum to address these issues from the stand point you raised.
Ride on brother and good job.
Cash Ezimako
It is unfortunate for the emir of Kano with double qualifications – a muslim scholar and a leader (although the latter is illegal Islamically) discuss issues not according to the Sunnah of Allah and that of his Messenger. There are two issues. In brief they are:
1. The Muslim Umma has forgotten Islam not knowing that they must pay for it. This is fear and disgrace in this world. The Muslim should have come out to explain what is Islam is in this context and that there was never a time Islam was not a refuge of the hated. For example the 6 Biblical safe towns and the city of Madina. Anyone desiring to live in them must obey the Law of the Lord of the universe. The emir of Kano should have explained the situation in Nigeria from those tentacles and ramifications.
2. Injustice. The Igbos should be bold enough to speak and spell out the injustices matted on them through miss-application of the Shari’a by the Muslim North.
Certainly, no sincere intelligent honest Nigerian Muslim will ever bury the matter in Ad-din not a major factor in our poverty and backwardness. The Muslim Umma has failed to explain the inseparability of the Sunnah of the Holy Apostle with the good deeds and the common good in the Torah and the Injeel. What do you need oil for a commodity threatened to be drained in contrast to a stalk producing 100 heads per stalk? Nigerian Muslim intellectuals are certainly a disgrace to humanity.