The immediate past Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Walid Jibrin, has charged politicians to emulate late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, who lived and worked with everyone regardless of religious beliefs.
Jibrin, who is also Sarkin Fulani of Nasarawa State, urged Nigerians to be very careful of using religion to solve selfish ambitions.
Addressing journalists at his Kaduna UNTL Textile office, the elder statesman noted that, “In Nigeria today we have Muslims and Christians who live peacefully by working together with every one practicing His or Her religion based on the belief of their Koran and Bible.
“Since the Independence of Nigeria we have devoted Leaders who ruled Nigeria successfully without using Religion to ginger their successes and they were fully accepted by Nigerians”.
He decried the recent pronouncement by a former governor from the Northern part of the country, who recently referred to how he used the same-faith ticket.
“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 as a Governor 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 Muslim and Christians together thereby making his State an exemplary State by making his State to remain a political and religious centre for all Northerners.”
The Sardauna never came out to condemn any other Religion but encouraged many Christian leaders to assist him rule very sincerely a good example of the Christian Leader was Chief Sunday Awoniyi”.
Jibrin said as an elderstatesman, he is always ready to serve Nigeria with one mind and ready to work for the progress of Nigeria in any capacity he is called upon.
He however disclosed painfully how very recently, suspected bandits/kidnappers stormed his Abuja rented residence and ransacked his house with the view of taking away the sum of 5 billion naira suspected to have been kept by him in his house.
“Ladies and Gentlemen can I use this opportunity to announce that recently some suspected Bandits/Kidnappers forcefully entered my rented House at Brains & Hermas Estate APO 3 FCT Abuja by seriously vandalizing my main Bedroom going away with vital documents.
“They tied my House Boy Awwalu and told him that they came to take away 5 billion naira 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 House boy Awwalu to the bedroom but alas found nothing. They took my House boy away and later dropped him somewhere after informing him that they took the exercise that they were looking for such big amount of 5 billion naira and some ammunitions kept by me but found nothing at all.
“The Bandits came with about 7 Jeep Motor Vehicles, 8 persons with sophisticated ammunitions.I have since reported the matter to Inspector General of Police who directed the CP FCT to handle the matter. The Commissioner of police is still investigation”
He disclosed that, “It is important also for the whole world to note that I do not own any personal house in Abuja FCT, also never have any personal House in my local government Headquarters in Nasarawa Local government or any House in my Nasarawa State Headquarters, Lafia.
“I also challenge anybody who is thinking that I have any such amount mentioned by the Bandits. All my Bank accounts are free for checking by any authority please. The current house attached in the Brains and Hermas Estate is a fully rented House to be expired in 3 months time.
“I want to assure all that I still remain a man of honour and integrity who never worked with the Federal Government. I will always remain as Company Executive in the Nigerian 175 Textiles and now a National Life Patron of the Industry and also a Strategic Member of the National Council of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria”.
