Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State Chapter, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, has warned against people linking the death in plane crash, of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa.
The CAN boss, who was Special Adviser on Religious Affairs to the late Governor, in a statement today, April 22, said that the church and Yakowa’s family consider the allegation very serious with a possible adverse impact on peace and national security.

“Consequently, we express strong reservations and concerns about statements like the ones associated in the past by Pantami as circulated in audios and videos released on social media.
“Society’s discomforts and disagreements should, however, not be enough reasons for us to approve the circulation of phony and injurious statements against any perceived foe.

“However, we consider that the “communique could be doctored. We are aware that in this age of technological advancements, we have to take any allegations with a pinch of salt until we are confident of the authenticity of the source.

“Sensitive documents like the ones purported to be from the JNI meeting in Bauchi should be subjected to thorough security investigation and trials, not tools for social media warfare. The danger of making this a media issue, instead of a legal and security issue that it ought to be, is that we stand to lose the most important point; that of bringing to justice persons accused to have wronged the law.
“Accordingly, there is a need for circumspection and care so that we do not throw our communities into further chaos in the rush to hang one man. At a time of strained relationships between neighbours, what we need are mediatory interventions and peacebuilding, rather than adding fuel to the raging fire.
“To be sure, when Sir, Yakowa died in an air crash there was no inquiry to determine the cause of his death, aside from the immediate and likely technical fault leading to the helicopter crash.

“We, the Christian community and indeed his immediate family acknowledged the tragedy, submitting to the will of God Almighty. For that purpose, there is no point, now or later, to open up what will not bring back our leader and father but rather open up old wounds in a very controversial manner.
“Hence, those with an axe to grind with Pantami should do so within their limits. As a Church leader, I chose to speak because of my deep belief that justice is natural and we shall live to account before our Lord. Besides, if we support unverified allegations against someone today because we loathe the person, the monster could be deployed against us or someone we cherish tomorrow.
“As someone very close to the late Yakowa, I call on all Nigerians to ignore the insinuations linking Pantami with Sir Yakowa’s death, endangering national peace. This, I call on security agencies to step in and tame the circulation of such dangerous documents. We cannot afford to stock fire when we should be pouring more water. Those who feel they have information to help the security agencies investigate whatever crimes against groups or individuals should do so within the provided window, without exacerbating the tension of formulating tales in the public space.”

The Presidency has threatened to arrest and prosecute those who have recently launched campaign to “pull down” the federal minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami

The Presidency noted that there is now well-reported information that alleges newspaper editors rebuffed an attempt to financially induce them to run a smear campaign against the minister by some ICT companies, many of which do indeed stand to lose financially through lower prices and greater consumer protections.

“The government is now investigating the veracity behind these claims of attempted inducement, and – should they be found to hold credence – police and judicial action must be expected.”

In a statement today, April 22 by the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidency said that it stood behind Minister Pantami and all Nigerian citizens to ensure that they receive fair treatment, fair prices, and fair protection in ICT services.

It further noted that in putting people first, the Minister and this administration have made enemies, adding that there are those in the opposition who see success and want it halted by any means.

It recalled that the Minister has been leading the charge against illegal data deductions and pricing and has revolutionized the government’s virtual public engagement to respond to COVID-19 and save taxpayers’ money.

“He has established ICT start-up centres to boost youth entrepreneurship and create jobs; he has changed policy to ensure locally produced ICT content is used by ministries, starting with his own; and he has deregistered some 9.2 million SIMs – ending the ability for criminals and terrorists to flagrantly use mobile networks undetected.

“In two short years, Minister Pantami has driven the contribution of the ICT sector to the GDP to more than 18 percent, making it one of the top two playing a critical role in the emergence of the economy from the COVID 19-induced recession.”

The Presidency described as unfortunate, the new fashion in which leaders in politics, religion, and civil society are made liable in the present for every statement they have ever made in the past – no matter how long ago, and even after they have later rejected them.

“This insidious phenomenon seeks to cancel the careers of others on the  basis of a thing they have said, regardless of when they said it.

“The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami is, currently, subject to a “cancel campaign” instigated by those who seek his removal. They do not really care what he may or may not have said some 20 years ago: that is merely the instrument they are using to attempt to “cancel” him. But they will profit should he be stopped from making decisions that improve the lives of everyday Nigerians.

“The Minister has, rightly, apologized for what he said in the early 2000s. The views were absolutely unacceptable then, and would be equally unacceptable today, were he to repeat them. But he will not repeat them – for he has publicly and permanently condemned his earlier utterances as wrong.

“In the 2000s, the Minister was a man in his twenties; next year he will be 50. Time has passed, and people and their opinions – often rightly – change.

“But all discerning Nigerians know this manufactured dispute is nothing to do with the Minister’s prior words, but solely concern his actions in the present.

“This Administration is committed to improving the lives of all Nigerians, and that includes ensuring they are not over-charged or under-protected for those services on which modern life depends.

The Ohinoyi of Ebira land in Kogi State of Nigeria, Dr. Ado Ibrahim will host prominent personalities, traditional rulers and high profile religious leaders on Sunday, April 25 when the first ever Ebira translated Holy Qur’an is publicly presented.
The public presentation will climax over 15 years painstaking works the Arabic and Ebira languages scholars have put in to actualise.
Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello will lead his colleague governors to the event, scheduled to kick off by 9 am.
Speaking on the event, chairman of the production and public presentation committee, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Ahmed, said that being the first of its kind in Ebira land, he expected to see prominent indigenes of the land to grace the occasion.
He said that representative of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria is likely to attend the occasion, even as he recalled that the late Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, Adnan Bostaji had attended the launching of a section of the translated Qur’an in Ebira language at the National Mosque, Abuja in 2019 during which he promised to get his country to publish the full version whenever it was ready. He died in early 2020.
The committee chairman thanked God for making it possible for the committee to finally complete the book that is now ready for public presentation.
Authors of the translated Qur’an in Ebira language are Sheikh Moosa Yoosoof Onogu, a retired Arabic lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria; Sheikh Musa Ogaminana, a renowned public preacher; Ustaz Ismail Nuhu Abarigi (an Arabic lecturer at the University of Abuja) and Yusuf Ozi Usman, a veteran journalist and author of the first published Ebira-English Dictionary, while Ustaz Abd-Al Rahman Murtala, a scholar and Amir of Islamic Family Forum in Abuja is committee secretary as Malam Mohammed Kabir Isah Ademo, who represents his late father and foundation chairman of the committee, Alhaji Isa Ovurevu Ademoh serves as a member of the committee.