Muslim-Muslim ticket, fraud to deceive voters – Bugaje

Scholar and political activist, Dr Usman Bugaje, has described the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket as a “fraud” allegedly used by politicians to deceive Muslim voters and secure electoral gains without addressing their challenges.

Bugaje made the assertion at a one-day summit organised by the Islamic Forum of Nigeria in Kano, where Islamic scholars, professionals and other stakeholders discussed issues affecting Muslims in the country.

The summit, themed “Dilemma of Muslims in Nigeria: The Way Forward,” focused on insecurity, poverty, religious discrimination, governance and the impact of government policies on citizens.

Bugaje argued that the religious identity of political leaders did not necessarily guarantee the protection of Muslim interests, citing persistent insecurity, economic hardship and other social challenges as evidence of what he described as the failure of political leadership.

He alleged that politicians had exploited the Muslim-Muslim ticket to win the support of Muslim voters without delivering meaningful improvements in their security and living conditions.

The scholar expressed concern over the security situation in parts of Northern Nigeria, alleging that Boko Haram insurgents continued to exert influence in communities around Maiduguri, where they reportedly collected taxes and held court sessions to settle disputes among residents.

He also described the security situation in Sokoto State as worrying, claiming that residents travelling from the state capital to Isa Local Government Area could make the journey only twice a week, with support from the Joint Task Force.

ALSO READ: Kebbi govt unveils Gov Idris’ scorecards across sectors

Bugaje said the situation raised questions about the ability of political leaders to protect citizens, arguing that religious representation should be measured by tangible improvements in people’s welfare rather than the religious identities of elected officials.

He further expressed concern over Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines, claiming that about 70 per cent of drugs used in the country were imported.

According to him, developing local pharmaceutical industries and protecting the country’s territorial integrity are essential components of genuine national independence.

The activist also warned about the growing problem of drug abuse among young people and women, describing it as a threat to the social and economic well-being of Muslim communities.

Earlier, Professor Sulaiman Abdullahi Karwai of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket did not necessarily represent Muslim interests, arguing that politicians adopted the arrangement largely as an electoral strategy because Muslims constitute a significant proportion of Nigeria’s population.

Karwai, however, said the emergence of a Muslim presidential candidate in the 2023 election, despite the participation of three Muslim presidential candidates, demonstrated the political strength of Muslim voters.

He lamented the economic hardship facing Nigerians, attributing the worsening situation to inflation, fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate changes and tax reforms.

The professor also raised concerns about insecurity, including the reported abduction and killing of a professor and a nurse at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

He further criticised what he described as inadequate federal capital projects in Muslim-majority states.

Karwai recalled that the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, established the Petroleum Trust Fund to cushion the effects of increases in fuel prices, noting that its interventions supported health and educational institutions.

In his remarks, the summit’s chairman, Alhaji Gidado Mukhtar, rejected the description of Nigeria as a secular country, arguing that it was a multi-religious nation where citizens should enjoy the freedom to practise their chosen faith.

He said the summit was convened specifically to examine challenges confronting Muslims, including insecurity, religious discrimination and persecution.

The National Chairman of the Islamic Forum of Nigeria, General Ahmad Daku (rtd), represented by his deputy, Alhaji Muhammad Tukur Bello, said the meeting was organised to assess the situation of Muslims and develop strategies to address their concerns.

Similarly, the forum’s Acting Executive Secretary, Alhaji Dalhatu Muhammad Gwarzo, said the summit provided an opportunity to deliberate on major challenges affecting Muslim communities, particularly banditry, kidnapping and religious discrimination.

Gwarzo said the summit urged state governors and members of the National and State Assemblies to pay greater attention to the plight of Muslims and take concrete measures to address their concerns.

He called on political leaders to act decisively to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the community.

He also urged Muslims and other Nigerians to intensify their prayers for divine intervention, while calling on Imams to use Friday sermons to sensitise worshippers on the importance of prayer and seek Allah’s guidance in addressing the country’s problems.

Gwarzo disclosed that a committee would be established to review the summit’s resolutions and develop an actionable plan for their implementation.

In its communiqué, the summit called for stronger security measures, a review of economic policies contributing to hardship, fairness in federal appointments and the protection of citizens’ rights to wear the hijab.

It also called for greater cooperation among Muslim organisations and urged Muslim communities to invest more in education, healthcare, economic empowerment and Islamic social finance to tackle poverty and improve human development.