Re: Bigotry on the Plateau

Inspite of the frenzy in some of the reactions, we crave the indulgence of all and sundry that we need to understand and tolerate the peculiarities brought to bear upon us by divine decree or nature. The life-span of man on earth is so precious and too brief to be spent on wanton destruction of innocent lives and property. The best of mankind, according to the Prophet (SAW) is “he that brings benefit to humanity”. Peace is ultimately the pinnacle of every benefit that man could bring to a people.  The responses are as follow:

“Your article was with the best of intentions but full of inaccuracies. You need to crosscheck your facts and be balanced. We all need peace, please”. 08033833057

“Re-Bigotry on the plateau! Thank you very much for telling the bitter truth. May Allah (SWT) answer all your prayers and reward you abundantly”. (M. S. Kano) 08098996033

“Excellent job. Allah shi saka da alheri. Mallam, your column really soothed me because I lost an uncle, three brothers, eight children and two house helps. He (my uncle) was the Sarkin Tim-Tim and he ruled the village for more than thirty-six years”. (from Sani Sulen-Jebu, Jos). 08037001834

“Re-Bigotry on the plateau! May Allah reward you. Tell them, so that perhaps, they will understand”. (Umar Sokoto) 08053013797

“Well-done Mr Ndagi! More grease to your elbow. I have gone through your article on plateau crisis”. (From Ussy) 08036109713

“All the witchdoctors and sorcerers of Agaie and Kutigi, and the promiscuous Mallams of Bida who pretend to be Muslims cannot transfer any part of plateau to the Hausa. Rather, the Hausa should emulate the Etsu who though a Fulani has adapted fully to Nupe norms and traditions with honor”. 07084212408

“Every day, I read Daily Trust….Mr Ndagi, if I may ask: Is it only the Hausa that are Muslims in Nigeria? Bauchi, kano, Maiduguri, Adamawa, have all in the past clashed with…modern Hausa/Fulani… (?)…Please, northerners, leave Islam alone because Islam is not violence. Islam is peace. An Ethnic group like Yoruba who practice Islam correctly never fought anybody for one day in the name of religion. Even though I am not in support of the killings, the problem of Jos is not religion because no human being can fight for God. Rather He (God) is to fight for us”. 08036900456

“Salam, I just went through your article. Sorry for your loss. I was also born and bred in Plateau but we are now leaving the town for good. Kudos! Keep writing!! (Mami) 08136415580

“It may interest you to know that the Jos people are not ethnic or religious bigots as you painted in Weekly Trust of yesterday (January 30, 2010). Seven of the twenty councilors in Jos North Local Government Council are Hausa/Fulani Muslims; the deputy speaker of Plateau House of Assembly is also a Hausa Muslim; the member representing Bassa/Jos North in the National Assembly is also a Hausa Muslim. This is beside other appointments. Then, why the bias report?” (Daku in Abuja) 08024323095

“Power, they say, intoxicates. Let Governor Jang and his co-conspirators serve their selfish interests. But they should bear in mind that nothing is secretive and hidden under the shinning sun”. (From A. K. Idris, Kano city). 08098684450

“So you may know the pains when Christians are summarily exterminated in parts of northern Nigeria”. 08060819174

“Assalamu alaykum, Good afternoon sir. I just want to tell you that your column is informative and beneficial. It is always the first or second I read every time I open Weekly Trust (newspaper). I enjoy it much. Thank you so much. May Almighty Allah continue to bless and have mercy on you. Allah ya kara baka sa’a, ya kara budi, amin”. (Aisha Umar) 08036850850

“It is a sorry game for northern hegemony. Obasanjo has beaten them twice (Chinese). Their “myopism” (?) has occluded their pathological self-interest pursuit……..” 08022072211

“You said the Jos crisis is between Hausa/Fulani Muslims and Berom Christians, why were the Ibo, Yoruba and other non-Berom not spared? Is Solomon Matankari not an indigene of Sokoto State? Have you been hoodwinked that a Plateau State indigene, an Alhaji, represents North Central at the Federal Civil Service Commission? That the Executive Secretary of Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board-Samaila Mohammed-represents Jos North/Bassa in the House of Representatives? That Idi Waziri is the Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development for that matter along other Muslim commissioners on the Plateau state executive council, just to mention a few. On non-indigene in your local government area, they never laid claim to indigene-ship in their host community. On the state of emergency, it would have been timelier during the Boko Haram saga which consumed the entire North East and North West. If you don’t know a thing, ask because you have been……missing……”

The column concludes this week by praying to Allah (SWT) to guide and protect us from becoming slaves and stooges to the schmaltzy component of our hearts, amin.