The ‘Palestinians’ of Nigeria

Far from what the title of this piece ordinarily suggests, it is neither about Palestinians living in Nigeria nor of Nigerians with Palestinian origin. The title is rather intended to make a case for Nigerians who suffer the kind of intimidations, oppressions, and discriminations, which since 1947, became characteristic of the life lived by Palestinians in their own native land; as a price that ‘must’ be paid in both instances for being Muslims. That’s the only ‘sin’ for which Palestinians have continued to suffer persecutions in the hands of Israelites while the rest of the world irresistibly watches the unceasing genocide in Gaza.  

The seven decades old story of Palestinians is that of a generation (or generations) of a people who have perpetually been denied all the basic rights that are fundamental to human survival. Today, the definition by a 70-year-old Palestinian of peace and personal liberty will almost certainly differ from the meanings outlined in nearly all existing dictionaries. Having lived most part of their lives as victims of war, it would not be easy to convince Palestinians who have celebrated their 50th or even 60th birthdays that man was not created to wage war and kill fellow men. 

Owing to some of their everyday experiences similar to those being suffered by the Palestinians, Muslims from among the Igbo natives in south-east Nigeria qualify to be described as Palestinians. Although Palestinians are in the majority as Muslims in their homeland, Igbo Muslims are substantially a minority group in south-east Nigeria. However, the common yet highest denominator shared by the Palestinians and the Igbo Muslims in Nigeria is the intolerance they both endure in the hands and minds of those who, in the fairest human judgement, are religious bigots. 

Palestinians have lived more in war than in peace with those who feel that their own survival can only be guaranteed by wiping out the entire Palestinians race. Since 1947, it has been one onslaught after another, one war after another, one food and medics blockade after another; all against the Palestinians. Indeed, the world has lost count of the UN resolutions on Palestine because it’s been one failed resolution after another since the Palestinian leadership in 1982 accepted the Two-State-Solution at the Arab Summit in Fez, Morocco.

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Muslims in the Aku-Ihuve community in Okigwe constituency of Imo state are, by every definition of persecution, the ‘Palestinians’ of Nigeria. Since Aishat Ahmed Obi accepted Islam; herself, her family and all those who believe in and practice Islam in the Aku-Ihuve community have not known peace again in their life. They suffer harassments from the non-Muslims among Igbo natives; all because they accepted to practice ‘Hausa religion.’ To the ordinary non-Muslim Igbo, Islam is the religion practised (and should be practised) by the Hausa folk in Nigeria. They believe Islam is an integral part of Hausa culture.

Relations, friends, and associates are often united in the persecution of a fellow Igbo as soon as he/she accepts Islam. An Igbo Muslim is considered by a non-Muslim Igbo to be a betrayer of Igbo civilization. An Igbo Muslim after accepting Islam is sooner abandoned by his close relations in addition to losing all the rights and privileges constitutionally conferred on him as a Nigerian citizen, including the right to employment opportunities at the local government and state levels. Even governors and political leaders in south-eastern states who attempt to guarantee the rights of any group of Igbo Muslims often do so at the risk of their political interests. 

As a Muslim preoccupied with da’wah (preaching) activities, Aishat Obi runs a “Da’wah and Orphanage Foundation” in Okigwe, which she funds with proceeds from a rented palm fruits plantation and another cassava farm in Aku-Ihuve. She had occasionally been kidnapped and released. At a stage, Aishat Obi and her husband were asked to sign a two-condition pact if they cared for a peaceful life. That, they “will not practise Islam again”, and second, they will “stop inviting Hausa Muslims to preach Islam in native Igbo communities.” Probably borrowing a leaf from Prophet Muhammad (SAW)’s deal with the Makkan pagans at Hudaybiyyah, Aisha Obi signed the treaty. But this treaty only lived to be breached by those who initiated it.

Aishat Obi’s latest devastation suffered by her, her husband, biological children and 25 other children she is caring for as orphans is the recent burning down of her apartment, her orphanage home that was still under construction, and a mosque; all located in the old Okigwe Gariki quarters. The entire estate populated by Hausa Muslims from northern Nigeria was torched by bigots. This happened after she had previously suffered a complete vandalization of her apartment. At present, neither herself nor those who work for her can access her two farms for fear of the unknown. 

Aishat has relocated to Port Harcourt where she temporarily resides. The series of persecutions suffered by her is persuasively offering her the option of ‘running away’ from her birthplace to anywhere she and her followers can find peace. Since governors are for everybody regardless of faith, this column calls on His Excellency Hope Uzodinma, the governor of governors in south-east Nigeria, to intervene for this group of ‘Palestinians’ of Nigeria. May Allah guide south-east leaders to protect and preserve the rights of all Muslims in that part of the country, amin.