TheCable

Walid Jibrin, former chairman of the board of trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged politicians in the country not to use religion for selfish ends.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Kaduna, Jibrin decried the religious divide between Muslims and Christians in the country.

He said leaders had ruled successfully in the past without discriminating against anybody on the basis of religion or tribe.

“I am calling on all Nigerians to be very careful in using religion to solve their selfish activities,” he said.

“In Nigeria today, we have Muslims and Christians who live peacefully by working together with everyone practising his or her religion based on the belief of their Quran and Bible.

“Since independence, we had devoted leaders who ruled Nigeria successfully without using religion to ginger their successes and they were fully accepted by Nigerians.

The former PDP BOT chairman made a reference to a comment attributed to Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, that he used religion to win the last election in the state.

In June, a Twitter user, Will. E, had posted a video where el-Rufai, flanked by Uba Sani, his successor, was seen addressing a group of Muslims in Hausa after Bola Tinubu was declared winner of the presidential election.

In the video, el-Rufai said religion was used to win the election.

However, the former governor said claims that he said President Bola Tinubu used religion to win the presidential election, were manufactured falsehoods.

“Recent pronouncements by a former governor from the northern part of the country that he used Muslim-Muslim agenda successfully to rule in the best way in his state contrary to the behaviour of some Christians is unfortunate,” Jibrin said.

“He further announced that he used a Muslim governor and Muslim deputy governor successfully in his state in the north.

“May I point out that Kaduna was successfully used by some northern leaders for total advancement of the north using both Muslim and Christian leaders?

“Sardauna of Sokoto used many Christian leaders to assist in his administration of the north.

“Such Christian leaders like Chief Sunday Awoniyi is one good example of Christian leader among many used by the Sardauna of Sokoto.

“To openly say that he used Muslim- Muslim ticket to help him administer his state very well and against the lukewarm attitude of Christian contributions is very disturbing.

“The governor should have used his so-called abilities to bring Muslims and Christians together thereby making his state an exemplary state.”

“SECURITY CHALLENGES”

Lamenting the security situation in the country, Jibrin said bandits invaded his Abuja residence and carted away vital documents.

“I want to use this opportunity to announce that recently some suspected bandits forcefully entered my rented house at Brains & Hermas Estate Apo 3 FCT, Abuja, and seriously vandalized my main bedroom carting away vital documents,” he said.

“They tied my house boy, Awwalu, and told him that they came to take away N5 billion hidden by me and also to take away some so-called ammunitions kept by me but unfortunately found nothing at all.

“Even though I was not at home when they came in the afternoon, they forced my Awwalu to the bedroom but alas found nothing.

“I want to announce that I have never kept such an amount of money or any ammunition in my house.”

He said the matter has been reported to the inspector general of police (IGP) who directed the federal capital territory (FCT) commissioner of police to take charge.