The trending video that surfaced after President Buhari attended the UNGA in the New York, showing an unprovoked assault on some people that are considered “Hausa-Fulani” or “Northern Muslims” by their provocateurs on account of their facial countenance and or the apparels they wore is a perfect example of the deep-rooted hatred and obsession bedeviling many people in some parts of this country.
It is even very possible that these two or three people in the video, who were being verbally assaulted share no cultural or ethno-linguistic affinities with Fulani.
This sort of ignorance has historically also manifested in the ‘Aboki’ and ‘Gambari’ ethnic slurs these people used with a profound contempt.
But the striking irony is that, there are many people here in the north or even residents of Daura (hometown of Mr President) who might have felt disillusioned with the Buhari’s administration.
But the danger of this is that it could provoke ethnic and religious sentiments during elections and make people to rally around a maligned candidate- whether he is the right choice or not, in terms of capacity and ability to deliver.
This same thing played out during GEJ, when some clannish zealots ostracized the entire country, but South South.
The victory of APC in 2015 and 2019 was therefore a combination of many factors including the use of sentiments.
And this will continue to play out if this attitude continues.
Mukhtar Maigamo is a Chief Information Officer with the Kaduna State Government
