2027: Northern Community in Anambra clear Obi of profiling, mosque demolition claims

Northern community leaders in Anambra State have dismissed allegations that former governor Peter Obi demolished mosques or profiled northerners as politically motivated propaganda, clarifying that a 2006 mosque destruction occurred before his tenure and was followed by his support for rebuilding.

The leaders, including the Hausa community traditional ruler, dismissed the allegations in separate interviews.

They spoke with reporters in Onitsha and Awka.

They affirmed positive relations with Obi, who is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, and denied claims of systemic profiling against their members in the state

According to them, northerners in Anambra maintained a cordial relationship with the Obi administration and benefited from several of its programmes, including free education, agricultural loans and sponsorship for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Those who spoke included the Secretary of the Northern Community in charge of Anambra and Delta states, Mr Mahmud Ibrahim, a lawyer; the traditional ruler of the Hausa Community in Awka, Alhaji Garba Haruna; and the Chairman of the Northern Community in Anambra State, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki.

Ibrahim, who said he had served as secretary of the community for decades, explained that the mosque at the centre of the controversy was demolished before Obi became governor.

“Our relationship with Mr Peter Obi during his tenure as governor and even now is cordial. We want to make it clear that the rumour that he demolished our mosque while he was governor is untrue,” he said.

According to him, the mosque was demolished in February 2006 during a reprisal attack linked to the Sharia crisis, while Obi became governor in March of the same year.

“In fact, it was Obi who visited us at the Army Barracks in Onitsha where we were staying as refugees.

“He later escorted us back to the mosque and donated money towards its rebuilding. So, we do not understand where this story is coming from,” Ibrahim said.

He also dismissed the allegation that Obi compelled northerners to obtain identity cards as a condition for remaining in Anambra, explaining that the identification cards issued by the northern community were an initiative of the community to facilitate the identification of its members.

“As for the identity cards, it was the Northern Community in Anambra State that came together and decided that we would issue identity cards to our brothers for identification.

“The ANIDS card was different. It was for everybody in Anambra State. The governor, his commissioners and everyone else had theirs, including myself,” he said.

Also speaking, the traditional ruler of the Hausa Community in Awka, Alhaji Garba Haruna, dismissed claims of discrimination against northerners during Obi’s administration.

“I never witnessed or heard of any policy that created a distinction between indigenes and non-indigenes under Obi.

“Our relationship then and even now remains cordial. My children benefited from the free education programme, and I personally benefited from his sponsorship for Hajj,” Haruna said.

He added that Obi had maintained his relationship with the northern community after leaving office.

“He still relates well with us. He comes here for our functions and sends us gifts during Salah celebrations.

“If there is any former governor who is close to Obi, it is Ngige, who still comes here today despite no longer being governor or seeking any position,” he said.

The Chairman of the Northern Community in Anambra State, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, also recalled his experience as a beneficiary of Obi’s agricultural loan programme, saying he received N10 million under the scheme.

“The way they gave the loan to me was the same way they gave it to others. There was no discrimination.

“We are even surprised that before Obi left office, he repaid the outstanding loans on our behalf,” he said.

Sidikki also recalled that his son, who benefited from Obi’s free education policy, is currently pursuing a PhD in China.

“I came here about 40 years ago. I had all my children here, and today I have five graduates. So, I cannot say that Anambra has not been good to me,” he said.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖