Dokubo softly softly By Ishaq Kunle Sanni

Mujahid, many Muslim brothers have called me today, some are mutual friends trying to persuade me to admonish you on the dangerous and needless adventurism to take arms over an election in which the contes­tants have been unprecedentedly mag­nanimous. Jonathan, the president, has thrown in the towel and did what was a political novelty in the history of this coun­try, accepting defeat.

Buhari the winner was humble in vic­tory by extending a hand of fellowship to the incumbent, assuring him there will be no witch-hunting, persecution or vindictiveness.

Our friends think and to a large extent they are right, that I am one of the clos­est persons to you. An affirmation of that truism is that my house is seen by your family as their second home.

Right now, your wife Zainab, is in my house having come to Ibadan on a busi­ness trip.

The last time we spoke was two weeks ago when you told me of your intention to go for Umrah. I know you go for Umrah regularly but I suspected that was a special one to pray for Jona­than’s victory and I asked jocularly if I could accompany you and you retorted that I am a Buharist and only Jonathar­ians are welcome.

You were perfectly correct because I have no apology for being a dye in the wool and unrepentant Buharist.

You may be wondering why I am go­ing public since it was never in my char­acter to criticise or even admonish you in public. But I want to be on record, especially because of many brothers begging me to talk to you not to commit harakiri. They would know I have done my part. The first person who woke me from my recuperating sleep from the tension of the election result counting and Orubebe’s unruliness was our mu­tual friend, Yusuf Ali (SAN).

They said the news is viral on the so­cial media, electronic and print media that you intend to fulfill your earlier threat made with your colleagues in the Ijaw Nation struggle to go back to the creeks and take up arms against the fed­eral government. The question is when would I see you so that we can talk? What if you carry out your threat tomor­row? Allah may record it for me as be­ing nonchalantly unpatriotic. What of if you die while trying to put your unfath­omable Ijaw irredentism into high gear and people accuse me of nonchalance? In spite of your fabled wealth, I will carry some psychological responsibil­ity and some of your deeply Islamically religious children under the tutelage of Christian mothers will be in spiritual jeopardy or religious confusion so I don’t pray you commit Ijaw martyrdom. I pray you live long.

You would recall on a number of times you confessed to me that Jona­than’s performance is pedestrian.

You would also recall during a visit to the late Aare Musulumi of Yoruba­land, Alhaji Arisekola Alao, you told the crew of Broadcasting Corpora­tion of Oyo State (BCOS), who asked you whether Jonathan’s performance was satisfactory, “Monkey no fine but im mama like am” which means Jona­than’s performance may be lack lustre but since he is an Ijaw man you have no choice than to support him.

That is Ijaw chauvinistic patriotism at its zenith. Our mutual spiritual guru, Prof. D.O.S Noibi, one of the finest characters on this planet met you in Hajj when you were a member of the Amir-u-lhajj, under the hegemony of the Sultan. The venerable old man told you that the Holy prophet Muhammad said “He is not one of us who promotes tribal partisanship, He is not one of us who fights for tribal partisanship and he is not one of us who dies in the cause if tribal partisanship”

I cannot say more.

Jonathan has congratulated Buhari. Even Fayose the enfant terrible of Ekiti politics has said Buhari is a dogged fighter. The loquacious bread and but­ter rabble rouser, Femi Fani- Kayode, has told Nigerians to cooperate with the new president.

Do you want to cry more than the be­reaved?

Even the villain of this election who was acting the script of Patience Jona­than to create national chaos and an­archy out of the election, Orubebe, has apologised to Nigerians.

Mujahid, you have tried to convince Nigerians to vote for your contryman but they have rejected him . As a Mus­lim, don’t you believe in destiny?

You said the North and South West ganged up to deny you victory but in 2011 the same South West ganged up with South East and South South to give you victory and you were highly elated when you called me asking me to congratulate you. Alhamdulila Allah was kind to you that insha Allah poverty is banished even from your generations yet unborn.

Please give peace a chance. I pray you would be on the positive side of history.

Pleas don’t fight the government.

What you need to do is to form a van­guard that would make sure the stupen­dous allocations to your governors in the South South don’t develop wings to Dubai, but rather used for development . There is enough funds to take care of your passion for Ijaw people to enjoy the benefits of Allah’s benevolence be­neath their soil but you know better than I do that the greedy among your leaders are selfishly siphoning it abroad.

I intend to arrange a reconciliation meeting between you and many broth­ers even in the South South who hate your guts for your provocative innuen­dos. The Asunoges of this world, the Yu­suf Nwohas of this world,

with the new president whom you have maligned most uncharitably. Our mutual friends like Sule Hama Adamu who are his boys would take care of that.

Let me know when you want to come to Ibadan or we meet in your white house mansion in Cotonu where we can wholistically dissect these issues.

Let us look forward to a new Nigeria under Buhari. May Allah make it easy for you to follow the path of Islamic rectitude and adopt the reconciliatory spirit of Buhari.

There is enough for our needs in this country but not enough for our greed.

God bless you Abubakar Mujahid Do­kubo.

SUN

END

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