EL-ZAKZAKY: Detention Or Protection

AUWAL MUSTAPHA IMAM

Many people, especially those that even never visited Zaria before are of the opinion that Zakzaky be released without any condition. That is never possible, especially having seen the threats he posed on the entire entity of Nigeria as a nation and the people. Zakzaky and his followers still don’t recognise the Nigeria’s constitution and authority. As such, they see every instrument and
structure of this government and its accomplices as useless; giving them no iota of significance. To us, the residents of Gyallesu and Zaria at large, holding Zakzaky is the most important and strategic role of every responsible government. As the government explained, Zakzaky is free, but only under government’s protection; protecting him from his own evil; the evil of his followers and that of the people he may live with.

We have seen the worst. Two weeks after his release from prison in 1998, we started experiencing hardships and lived like in a war zone; smoking teargas; sleeping and rising to the sounds of gunshots. Our streets were barricaded with roadblocks containing Iran’s flags. Our vehicles were thoroughly searched by his men before we gained access to our homes. We slept and rose with warnings of threats from his followers that our parents would be slaughtered in our presence. I have once confronted one of his sons (now killed), who pointed a gun at me – threatening to kill me. They have even renamed our area, my immediate backyard ‘Zirin Gaza’ (Gaza Strip) because of their occupation and militarization of the area. Houses were sold at lower prices than their values. The activists calling for his unconditional release should also seek damage and compensation for us for the damage, imprisonment, right infringement, dictatorship, harassment, intimidation and life threats meted on us by Zakzaky and his followers for 15 years.

Having seen how the government couldn’t protect us or call them to order, we all fell and succumbed. We followed their instructions for fear of being killed. We gathered and prayed in fears of their attacks. They moved openly with all forms of sophisticated weapons threatening us. We lived in that for more than 15 years without any activist calling for our freedom on either social media or
otherwise until God answered our prayers through Buratai with the aid of political wills of El-Rufa’i and Buhari to save us. No doubt, the residents of Gyallesu and Zaria celebrated the extinction and destruction of Zakzaky and his structures from Gyallesu. It was an ‘independence day’ – even more celebrated than Eids. Since then peace, security, stability and freedom prosper in Gyallesu and environs. No more Zakzaky dictatorship. No more Gaza around Gyallesu. Gyallesu is now peaceful. Lands have now regained their value.

Tell me, who will then allow the return of Zakzaky in Gyallesu or anywhere around Zaria? If he can’t be lodged in Zaria, who then, or where then will he
be accepted. Let’s be frank and sincere, the best thing to happen to Zakzaky, his followers, Nigerians and government is for government to continue holding him and giving him security, as no place or people will accept to welcome him. He will surely claim another superiority when released and pose more danger to the peace of Nigeria with the support of Iran, who have been supporting then with money and weapons. His first Chief Security Officer (CSO) who dined and mingled with us in Gyallesu is still being held by authorities for importing sophisticated weapons from Iran.

All the people ranting about his freedom on social media are people that never visited Gyallesu to see how devastating our lives were when he was in
charge. Outsiders were even mocking us, calling him ‘Gwamnan Gyallesu’. People pose as agents of freedom to discredit the good intention of this
government to maintain security. The Shi’ites can’t even conduct themselves even in the absence of Zakzaky.

Tijjaniyas had their annual maulud in Abuja and Kaduna recently. I believed they followed all protocols and due process to get security clearance and government’s acceptance to gather and celebrate. Why can’t the Shi’ites for once accept that there is government and apply to exercise their Nigerianship?
We need to reason and take away sentiments to understand that government is holding Zakzaky for the good of all. No community would want to harbour him within their folds. We cannot continue to politicize security. Government means well for all of us; regardless of our religions, regions or tribes.