From Paul Orude Bauchi
A coalition of Quranic reciters, memorisers and learners has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove the name of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai from the ministerial list submitted to the National Assembly for screening.
Sheikh Sidi Aliyu Sise , made the call when he addressed journalists in Bauchi over the weekend saying the former Kaduna State Governor’s name should be removed in the interest of justice, peace, harmony and development of the country.
The cleric urged the National Assembly to reject Elrufai and warned lawmakers against approving his nomination in the best interest of the country.
“We have seen the name of the former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir ElrufaI, a man that openly showed his hatred for Qur’anic students , when he went to the House of Maulana Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi and evacuated hundreds of students with tear gas late in the night in his effort to stop learning and memorization of the Holy Quran,” the cleric recalled.
“Such kind of a person that has no respect for fundamental human right of a human being , has no respect for their rights under the constitution of Nigeria that include freedom to live wherever you want, freedom of religion should not be considered for any appointment talk less of ministerial appointment”.
Sheikh Sidi Ali , who is the Director of Education Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation, said appointing ElrufaI as a minister is repugnant to natural justice, equity, and good conscience.
“Infact, it is like confrontation with the almighty Allah and it will not help the government or the country considering the security socio economic challenges bedevilling the country,” he said.
“For that we are appealing to President Tinubu to withdraw his name in the best interest of the country, peace, harmony, stability , respect for the laws of the land.
“If President Tinubu should withdraw his name from.the list he sent to the National Assembly in the interest of the country at heart and don’t clear him for any position, in order to do justice to the people of the Quran, and Nigerians.
“We have made so many pleas to President Tinubu to be wary of ElrufaI and his likes who do not want to support learning and memorization of the Quran.
“To appoint Mallam Isa Yuguda former Bauchi State Governor as Minister, of Central Bank Governor and to honor Mai Mala Buni Yobe State Governor, draw him closer and gives him slots of appointment because of the respect they have for Quranic people, but we didnt hear anything .
“We wre surprised to see the name of ElrufaI among his ministerial list
“if .the President wants to succeed he should quickly withdraw his name and replace him with a better, qualified and detribalized Nigerian who will not discriminate against Almajiri System of education”
The Scholar prayed for peace, unity and stability of the country and warned that appointing people who are enemies of Almajirai and Quranic reciters and learners will not be good fo4 the government because they are fighting with the book of Allah.