Governor Wike’s Mosque Demolition As A Threat To National Security

ABUBAKAR ALKALI 

To say the least, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s demolition of the Trans-Amadi Central Mosque constitutes a threat to national security. Indeed, the brash Governor has further stirred the hornet’s nest by declaring Rivers a ‘Christian State. This unholy declaration is a breach of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which explicitly establishes Nigeria as a secular state. 

The threat to national security resulting from Governor Wike’s illegal demolition of the Trans-Amadi mosque is very clear. This illegal demolition has aggravated religious tension in a country already turbo – charged with religious sentiments and  high-level insecurity.

Governor Wike’s illegal action can precipitate a wave of demolitions of churches and mosques up and down the country by state governors. The consequences could be dire and the likelihood of unimaginable religious crisis apparent.

Religious tolerance is sine qua non to nation building especially in a country so divided along religious, ethnic and other sectional lines.

Demolition of a mosque is not the way to move Rivers State forward.

State Governors and other elected political leaders must lead by example. They must demonstrate religious tolerance to reassure Nigerians that they can leave and practice their religion anywhere in the country without fear of molestation.

The major street in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State is literally adorned with churches of various descriptions. So is Sokoto, the capital of Sokoto State where the major street, Ahmadu Bello Way is landmarked with churches. What could be the reactions if the governors of these states decide to demolish any of the churches in their state capitals? Will the governors in Sokoto and Zamfara states be right to declare their states Islamic states? Even when Sharia law was launched in Zamfara State, the state was not declared an Islamic state. No churches were demolished. Christians and other faiths continued practising their religion unhindered. No Christian was molested or disenfranchised in Zamfara State under Sharia law.

Wike’s demolition of the Trans-Amadi Mosque and his rude and arrogant declaration of Rivers as a ‘Christian State’ contravenes Section 10 of the 1999 constitution. This section is clear that ‘The Government of the Federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as state religion. Governor Wike certainly made this declaration to display his reckless behaviour and stalk trouble.

Indeed, Governor Wike’s demolition of the mosque can be described as a naked dance of shame in the market place. This is more so when juxtaposed with the fact that the Muslim community has won the court case challenging the building of the mosque at the site under reference. A court of competent jurisdiction has issued an order given the Muslim community the go-ahead to build the mosque but Governor Wike contravened this court order by demolition the mosque.

While condemning the extremely distasteful action of Governor Wike, it is pertinent that the Muslim community in Rivers State seek redress in court. The Muslim community should not take the law into their hands but should apply for an interim injunction restraining the recalcitrant governor from further taking action on the land. This is to forestall the plans by the Governor to develop the site for his personal or official purposes.

It is necessary that relevant government agencies such as the human rights commission, the Nigeria inter-religious council (NIREC), the public complaints commission and such agencies take appropriate action and invoke the relevant sections of the law to stop Governor Wike from ostracizing and disenfranchising Muslims in Rivers State.

Governor Wike is certainly power drunk and clearly a threat to Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy. He sits on so much money coming into the coffers of Rivers State particularly from the 13% derivation fund that he thinks he can do anything under the sun and get away with it.

Even with his astronomical levels of religious intolerance, power intoxication and crass arrogance, Governor Wike is alleged to be interested in the seat of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is part of the reason he is alleged to have co-sponsored Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for the PDP Presidential ticket at the last PDP Presidential primaries in Port Harcourt (which he lost). Time shall tell how Governor Wike will achieve his vice Presidential ambition through the demolition of mosques.

The rapacious Governor has not been a stranger to controversies. He uses Rivers money to do anything he deems fit. If bribe will work, Governor Wike will get it done.

It is no fluke that some people allegedly and affectionately refer to Governor Wike as the gold medal winner in bribery and the No. 1 bribe-giver in Nigeria. It is still fresh in our memory how the pertinacious Governor literally muzzled his way through the judiciary to stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) from fielding candidates in the last gubernatorial elections in Rivers state. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has also reported how Governor Wike allegedly bribed foreign diplomats with over £1 million during the last gubernatorial elections in Rivers State, which led to an infighting in one of the foreign missions.

It is still not lost in our memory how Governor Wike launched an unprovoked attack on our gallant Nigerian military when in one of his interviews on Channels TV, he accused the commanding military officer 6 Division of the Nigerian Army for not coming to ‘greet’ him. In another breath, Governor Wike questioned why the commanding officer of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army hasn’t come to ‘pay homage’ to him (Wike) since the senior military officer assumed duties.

Governor Wike has also made wild and unsubstantiated allegations against our gallant military regarding the last gubernatorial elections in Rivers State. He needs to be called to order before he causes further damage to Nigeria’s democracy.

In Rivers, Governor Wike has monopolised power so much that everything is Wike, Wike, Wike and Wike. The Rivers State Executive Council is virtually comatose as it operates under Governor Wike’s whims and caprices.

Irked by Governor Wike’s over-bearing method of governance and shear arrogance, sometimes during his first tenure in office, commissioners in Rivers State revolted against Governor Wike (The first civilian mutiny in the Nigerian history books). His answer was to sack all the commissioners and promptly boasted that he has the power to ‘hire and fire. (He was to reinstate the commissioners after prominent elders in the state intervened).

Governor Wike has caused so much damage to Rivers State and is literally threatening to secede Rivers from Nigeria. The good people of Rivers state should stand up against the reckless behaviour of Governor Wike before he causes further irreparable damage to the state and the nation as a whole.

Dr. Abubakar Alkali can be reached via: alkalizai@yahoo.com