After watching Friday Makama’s misleading and inflammatory video, it has become necessary to set the records straight for those who have not watched it and to stop this dangerous narrative before it spreads. When evil is about to befall a society, the first duty of a responsible son of the land is to speak out. That is why this response is important.
Makama’s latest attempt to incite a religious crisis in Igala land is nothing but a desperate search for relevance. Having failed in the old game of political thuggery which is no longer lucrative, he now wants to try his hands on a more dangerous commodity which is religious division.
It is clear that Makama suffers from a serious knowledge gap. Someone needs to educate him on the difference between being an educationist and being a political thug. The two are mutually exclusive. A political analyst is also completely different from a political jobber. In his video, Makama has proven he is the latter.
His central lie is that the good people of Kogi East, especially the Muslims, are playing religious politics by rejecting Christian candidates. This is a total falsehood and an insult to the intelligence of every Igala man.
Let us educate Makama with history, because he was busy with thuggery when others were learning. Since the return of democracy in 1999 in the Fourth Republic, Kogi East Senatorial District has had a clear pattern. Senator Alex Kadiri, a Christian, served for four years. Senator Nicholas Yahaya Ugbane, a Christian, served for eight years. Senator Dangana Ocheja, a Christian, served for six months. Senator Attai Aidoko, a Christian, served for over eight years cumulatively. Senator Abubakar Raiway a Muslim, served for six months, and now Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho, a Muslim, is serving. Out of twenty six years of our democracy, Christians have held the Senate seat for over twenty years and the Igala people never complained. Why? Because we vote for credibility, capacity and character, not for church or mosque. There has never been a Christian and Muslim dichotomy in Igala land. We are one people.
The same pattern exists in his own Idah Federal Constituency where he comes from. Honourable Frank Itaka Ineke served for eight years, Honourable Ismaila Inna, served for four years, Honourable Emmanuel Egwu,
a Christian, served for four years, and Honourable David Zacharias, a Christian, served for eight good years. All of them were massively voted for by Muslims and Christians alike. So where did Makama get his fake narrative of religious rejection from?
Makama forgot that in Igala land, we pray in the same family. A single family can have an Imam and a Pastor as brothers. We celebrate Sallah and Christmas together. Our unity is our greatest strength and no failed politician will be allowed to destroy it for cheap social media views.
The Igala nation has bigger problems such as unemployment, insecurity and underdevelopment to worry about than Makama’s sponsored religious blackmail. If he wants to be relevant, he should bring ideas for development, not preach division. If Makama is not cautioned now, his unchecked ambition will set a dangerous precedent where every rejected politician will run to religion to cause confusion.
Makama should be seen for what he truly is, an agent of destabilization and a common enemy to the peace and unity of Igala land. Let all true sons and daughters of Igala land watch his divisive video, see through the lies and share this truth to preserve our peace.
Igala is one. We say no to religious politics.
Umar Isah(Radical) Writes