NewsRescue
By Mahdi Garba
In any state that democracy prevail, activists and members of the opposition party are the antagonists to the incumbent. Dr John Danfulani, the convener of a right movement known to be Centrum initiative for development and fundamental rights advocacy (CEDRA) and a lecturer of International studies at state-owned Kaduna state University was suspended by the governing council of the school for alleged Facebook ‘hate speech and anti-government posts.
With this unfolding event, most Northern Nigerian social media commentators average of whom are APC fanatics sparked into jubilation. But there are some pertinent points to observe before you join El-Rufai in crucifying Danfulani.
In Southern Kaduna, the story of APC’s victory in the last election can never be complete without the mention of Dr John Danfulani and the role he played.
Throughout the campaign session, he was with Nasiru El-Rufai the then opposition gubernatorial candidate in the state, Suleiman Hunkunyi, Shehu Sani and other APC warriors to hurl the PDP away.
After the Zaria massacre, which left many members of the Islamic movement dead, El-Rufai in a live broadcast declared a war with the members of the movement by demolishing the thier monumental buildings which include Sheikh Zakzaky’s residence in Gyellesu, Hussainiyya Baqiyatullah around Sokoto road, Fudiyya Islamic centerc at Unguwar Dan Magaji, Uthman Bn Fodio’s Film Village in Dambo and Sheikh Zakzaky’s late Mum’s grave in the ancient area of Jushi, all in Zaria. Dr Danfulani through his right group CEDRA in a petition to the United Nations Human rights (UNHR) commission protest the atrocities against members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria described the carnage as a gross human right violation that need a panel of investigation for probe and bring the perpetrators to book.
In an article on his personal blog www.johndanfulani.com titled ‘Shiites-Nigerian Army skirmishes: Matters Arising’ from his lens, he viewed the attack by the Army as unprofessional.
He said “My take in the whole matter is, violation of human rights, using of disproportionate force, and arson. From the gory pictures flying around, it was clear that events were not professionally handled by the parties involved- especially the military. One can’t escape pondering how an event that sparked up in PZ migrated to Gyellesu (The house of Sheik El-Zakzaky); Shitte headquarters; and their school. Still, all sane minds will wonder the link between refusing the COAS passage and burning and reducing to debris of the three places aforementioned. Lastly, the army after acting like Fela Kuti’s “unknown soldiers”, captured and took hostage of Sheik El-Zakzaky. Does the Army have the power to arrest per our constitution? Hell No! Then, taking El-Zakzaky away after burning, killing and inflicting injuries on him, is pure adoption and hostage taking.”
Danfulani is of that notion that the video clip packaged by the Nigerian army was to justify thier atrocities. How could you expect El-Rufai to continue dining with Danfulani after calling a spade it name on an issue El-Rufai must be indicted if the take it cause?
El-Rufai is ready to muzzle Danfulani and his cohorts mouth also engage in all type of war with any person he deem as ‘threat’ to his government. If Dr John Danfulani hasn’t speak out about El-Rufai’s totalitarian regime and his anti people policies, this ‘suspension’ saga will have never unfold. So, the people of Kaduna must raise against El-Rufai’s policies which are taking Kaduna nowhere but the verge of totalitarian dictatorship.
Mahdi covers Nigeria for Rasa News Agency, Iran, he can be reached at [email protected]
