Crisis rocks Sokoto Caliphate as Sardauna’s grandson walks out on Sultan, quits title

  

By Adnan Tudunwada

The rivalry between the Magajin Garin Sokoto, Hassan Danbaba and the zonal vice chairman of APC, Inuwa Abdulkadir, has once again set the Sokoto Caliphate on fire and led to the resignation of the former.

Mr Danbaba is a grandson to the late premier of Northern Nigeria and Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello. In a letter exclusively published by DAILY NIGERIAN on December 31, 2016, Mr Danbaba had cautioned Governor Aminu Tambuwal against supporting the appointment of Mr Abdulkadir as Marafan Sokoto.

In the letter, dated August 19, 2016, Mr Danbaba said the party leader lacked the character to hold such important title previously held by his late father, Ahmadu Danbaba and later Umaru Shinkafi.

Barrister Inuwa Abdulkadir

He also said Mr. Abdulkadir’s parents were slaves, and therefore lacked the family background to hold the title.

The letter reads in part: “Your choice of Inuwa Abdulkadir is misguided, because you cannot appoint a man that has no clan, whose lineage is not yet known as Marafan Sokoto. His father Gurzula of blessed memory, was a slave bought by Gwaggo Uwar Gida at a price of two shillings at Tsohuwar Kasuwa market in Sokoto. Gurzula served Late Gwaggo Uwar Gida, late Magajin Gari Aliyu and Late Marafa Danbaba diligently.

“Traditionally, when a Prince gets married, he normally gets a slave to serve his daily needs. So, when Marafa Ahmad got married, Gwaggo Uwar Gida gave Gurzula to him as a gift to serve his daily requests.

“Your Excellency, when Magajin Gari Aliyu was appointed the Resident Officer of Kano, he took along with him Gurzula who served him diligently as a result of which Magajin Gari Aliyu made Gurzula head of his slaves. Later, Magajin Gari Aliyu was appointed Minister of State for Native Authority (N.A) in Kaduna. He took with him once again Gurzula to Kaduna where Gurzula met and married ‘Yar Gummi, a slave of Sarkin Shanu Alhaji Alhaji, who later gave birth to Inuwa. She is originally the daughter of a slave of Sarkin Mafaran Gummi.

“Your Excellency, ‘Yar Gummi’ died  as a cook at Yakubu Muazu Model Primary School despite all the blessings Allah did to her son, Inuwa. She ended up on motorcycle to her place of work daily. She once sent many messages to Sarkin Rafin Gumbi Samaila Abdulkadir and Sodangi Abdullahi, who are all alive today to testify to this, to kindly plead with her son Inuwa to improve her life.”

Mr. Danbaba then cautioned the governor to ponder on his choice of Marafan Sokoto, by considering good moral character that will reflect on the legacies of the persons that previously held the title.

But sources said the state governor, who is a close friend to Mr Abdulkadir, wanted his friend to be appointed as Marafan Sokoto, and the Sultan was said to have obliged the governor’s request, against Mr Danbaba’s stern opposition.

In March, a Sharia court in Sokoto State issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Mr Danbaba in a ruling on a motion filed by Mr Abdulkadir over defamation of character.

Worried by the frosty relationship and the embarrassment the trial may cause the caliphate, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, some weeks ago summoned the duo to a meeting during which he brokered a peace deal.

“Three agreements were reached at the meeting. First, all court cases must be withdrawn; second, they should unconditionally forgive each other and; third, Sultan will issue a statement announcing the peace deal,” a source familiar with the crisis said.

But the peace deal collapsed on Wednesday when Sultan allegedly summoned Mr Danbaba and urged him to sign a letter allegedly written by Mr Abdulkadir.

Mr Danbaba was said to have objected to signing the letter in view of the fact that the contents of the letter did not reflect the terms of the agreement.

“The letter was framed to show that only Magajin Gari was apologetic and remorseful, so he refused to sign. We believe the rivalry between the family of late Sardauna and that of Sultan Abubakar III is rekindling,” a source close to Mr Danbaba said.

“The Sultan became angry and lambasted Magajin Gari for being part of Paris Club loan refund deal and under EFCC investigation.

“Magajin Gari then replied Sultan that he was not found wanting in the deal by the EFCC because the business deal was legitimately done.”

Angered by the Sultan’s remark, Mr Danbaba allegedly engaged him in verbal exchange, quitted the title and walked out on him and other members of the Sultanate council.

Mr Danbaba retuned his official car and other office paraphernalia on Wednesday but the Sultan allegedly sent them back to him.

The Sultanate is yet to issue a statement on the matter.

Contacted by DAILY NIGERIAN, Sultan’s spokesman Garba Mohammed said he could not comment on the matter at the moment.

Why Nnamdi Kanu Cannot Be Re-arrested – IPOB

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra, on Friday, said its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, had not flouted his bail conditions, hence, security agents have no justification to re-arrest him.

It added that Kanu had neither held any rally nor protested as instructed by the court, thus, he had not gone beyond the limit set by the court.

In response to enquiries by Saturday PUNCH on Friday, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, said that those who had been converging in thousands on Kanu’s father’s house in Umuahia, Abia State, came to see the IPOB leader on their own volition and that he could not send his visitors away, neither would he decide not to receive them (1).

Powerful said, “Nnamdi Kanu never flouted his bail conditions because the court said he should not go for rallies or protests and he has never done that since his release But citizens of Biafra and other parts of Nigeria want to see him, that is why you see him with people and these people come to his father’s house. He cannot chase those who want to see him away. Since his release he never called for any rally or protest or press conference (2).

“Don’t you know that if he wants to call the press he will call both local and international media? The court did not bar people from visiting him in his father’s compound. The court did not say he should not visit anyone in the society (3). Therefore, the security operatives have no justification to re-arrest him because he has never gone beyond their limit or held any rally or protest.”

“We are aware that anywhere he visited, people just gather to see who he is in person and he did not put himself in the position he is today – it is by the making of the Most High in Heaven. We wonder why people who fear his electrifying popularity are calling for his arrest – we know that the Nigerian government and her security agencies always like to intimidate people.”

BREAKING: DSS Allegedly Plots To Rearrest Nnamdi Kanu July 11

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An intelligence report exclusively made available to ORIENTAL TIMES alleges that Nigeria’s secret police Department of State Services (DSS) is relentlessly planning to re-detain the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu when he appears in court on July 11th, 2017 for his trial.

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His re-arrest according to the report will come on the premise that he allegedly violated his stringent bail conditions where he was restricted from appearing in a gathering of more than 10 people, granting interviews and participating in rallies.

Recall that since Kanu’s release, he has been receiving visitors from all works of life. The most recent amongst them were the thousands of IPOB members who besieged his royal home in Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, in Umuahia, Abia state demanding for Biafra republic.

The IPOB leader had also received both foreign and local media organizations.

Meanwhile, it could also be recalled that the Nigerian government in the past also flouted several court orders by the Federal High Court that initially instructed that Kanu be released immediately and unconditionally.

Umahi: Social Media will Destroy Nigeria, Denies Rejecting Restructuring

  Gov. David Umahi

                                                     
Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, thursday deplored perceived unguarded use of the social media, lamenting that given its unregulated state, the platform possesses the tendency to destroy the country.

Umahi made the remark while answering question from State House correspondents over a report that he rejected the current calls for restructuring of the country particularly from the South.

The governor who denied ever opposing restructuring, said instead, he remained an advocate of restructuring, fairness and equity, insisting that if he were the president of Nigeria, he would take far reaching decision against the use of social media.
“First, l was falsely reported. What we said was that we stand for unity of our great country Nigeria. We stand for restructuring, a country where there is fairness, there is equity, there is love. If l were the president of this country, l will do something about the social media. I think it’s destroying our country.

“We have to agree to that and we are afraid of a bill being passed. I think everyone needs to account for whatever he or she writes. So, we stand for restructuring. We stand for a more united Nigeria where everyone will respect one another,” he said.

In another development, Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, described as wrong and unfounded the allegation on Wednesday by Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, that President Muhammadu Buhari who returned to the United Kingdom on May 7, for treatment on an undisclosed ailment had been on life support since June 6.

Okorocha who made the remark in Abuja after attending the meeting of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), said Fayose lacked the qualification to speak on Buhari’s health.

He also said the governor’s call for Buhari’s resignation was cheap, noting that the functions of his office are well discharged by his deputy and acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

“Well, I have just said that even the speculation he is making is wrong, it is unfounded. And if anybody is to speak about the President’s health, Fayose does not have the qualifications to speak for the nation whether Mr. President should resign or stay. It is not in our culture, it is not in our tradition.

“We sympathise with those who go through pains of ill-health, at that time we don’t wish them death, we wish them well. And Mr. President’s office is properly taken care of by Mr. Acting President of Nigeria until Mr. President comes back home and continues his work and finish his term. But to say he should resign is cheap talk and does not make sense in anyway,” he said.

Abians throws pure water, stones at T.A Orji at the burial of Dr. Elechi Nwaogbo

It was  a disgraceful day for former Governor of Abia State, Senator T. A Orji,  as prominent sons and daughters of the state Friday gathered to pay their last respect to the former secretary to the state government under ex-Gov Orji Kalu's regime, Dr. Elechi Nwaogbo.

The event which was held at Ikwuano local government area of the state  had in attendance Ex-Gov. Orji Kalu, Abia State Deputy Governor -Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu among others.

As guests were pouring encomiums  on the deceased, the gathering  took another dimension as the youth sighted ex-Gov. T.A Orji at the venue and his entry was received with shouts of "we don't want you", "thief"  among other negative names.

The former governor and now senator had barely sat down when artisans and students started throwing pure water and stones  in his direction before he was later rescued at out of the venue by his fierce looking policemen.

Earlier in his remarks, Kalu extolled the virtues of the late administrator describing him as a perfect gentleman whose life was anchored on fairness, justice and equity.

He noted that the success of his regime as Governor can be largely attributed to the tireless efforts of the likes of the late Dr. Elechi Nwaogbo.

Also speaking, Abia State deputy governor stressed that the deceased will be remembered for his contributions to the development of the state.

Kanu’s actions worse than that of northern youths –Makarfi

The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmed Makarfi, has said the method of agitation being employed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, is worse than that of the Coalition of Arewa Youth Groups.

Makarfi said this on Friday during a live television programme on Channels Television titled, ‘Sunrise Daily’.

The northern youths had in Kaduna three weeks ago issued an ultimatum to all the Igbo people living in the North to vacate the region before October 1, 2017 because of the renewed Biafran agitation.

Makarfi, who is a former Governor of Kaduna State, said although he was not in support of the ultimatum, Kanu’s approach was more infuriating than that of the northern youths.

When asked why the Arewa youths had not received enough condemnation, Makarfi said, “What he (Kanu) is doing is different from what the youth in the North have done. The youth in the North, may be 10 or 15, did a press conference.

“Nnamdi Kanu is holding people to ransom, bringing economic activities to a standstill, holding what will look like a mini rally. None of that is happening in any part of this country. All the leaders in the South-East have said yes we have concerns but the way you are going about it is wrong.

“The northern boys are just press (sic) and they dispersed, period. I am not in support of what they did but I am talking of the manner of their action. Whereas Nnamdi Kanu and his people are consistently holding people to economic hostage and at a particular time, they held the South-East down for a day.

“You don’t find such not just in the North but any other part of the country. You cannot behave that way.”

Makarfi praised the South-East leaders for coming out to state categorically that Kanu lacks the authority to speak for the Igbo. He said agitations are legal but must be done with decorum, devoid of hate speeches.

The PDP chieftain added, “We cannot wish away any agitation, but as part of the South-East, let them come together and approach the government for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference report and demand an amendment of the part that is of concern to the South-East but that amendment must also be generally accepted by Nigerians.”

The PDP chieftain supported calls for restructuring but argued that the terms must be clearly spelt out because different people had diverse opinions of what restructuring ought to be.

Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu Goes Barefooted, Kneel and Prays To God To Restore Biafra ( Photos)

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu travelled back to the land of Biafra origin,the Biafrans ancient home,

where we all Biafrans are believed to have originated and prayed to the gods of their forefathers: the real OBU GAD in Umume, Umueri in Anambra state.