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| Map of Nigeria with Taraba State in red |
1. "Taraba Belongs to Jesus" Group:
These are Christians who adopts evangelism theme and slogan of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and turn it into a political slogan. What do they mean by "Taraba Belongs to Jesus"? In their minds they envision a state where only a Christian can serve as a governor, then the Christian governor will now protect the Christians from danger and harm with state power.
This to me, is a very wrong concept in politics in a state like Taraba. The problem with this mind set is that it exclude some citizens from aspiring to serve in the political office of the state on the bases of their religious affiliation. This will bring about crisis and distrustful relationship among the major religious groups in the state. It also does not make sense because it hinders evangelism by Christian missionaries to people of other faith and religions since Christianity is now politicize, zeal for outreach will be dampen due to fear of intolerance from other groups who sees themselves as endangered species due to political marginalization.
The question that troubles me personally is, Since 1999 Christians have been governors, has it stop Muslims from growing in numbers? The fact is that more mosques are build in every part of the state to show that Christianity having political power has not stop Islam from growing. This should be source of concerns to all of us. Religious persecution has never destroyed the faith of the persecuted, it has on the contrary strength and refine their faiths. Many examples abounds. 400 years after the persecution of Christians by pagan Rome, the empire later became Holy Roman Empire with a state church known as the Holy Roman Catholic church with access to state resources to send missionaries around the world. Also the persecution and rejection of Islamic Prophet Mohammed by the Meccans did not destroyed his faith, little did they know that within a short time he will return from Medina as both a religious and political leader.
The campaign of "Taraba belongs to Jesus Group" is also foolish attempt because since the inception of democracy, the state has always had Christian -Muslim ticket. What happens if a sitting governor who is a christian dies or is incapacitated? Will Taraba still belong to Jesus when a Muslim deputy step in to act or sworn in as governor? This type of campaign puts the life of the governor in danger when level playing ground is not provided for issue base politics that can enable a Muslim have hope to serve in public office because he or she is a citizen. If Muslims can be deputy, they can be governor with or without our votes as it happened in time Pharm. Danbaba Suntai. That experience should humble each and everyone of us. We should allow the political space open to be freely depending on the wishes of the electorates.
Let us a Christians channel our energies to promotion of good governance, peaceful coexistence and preaching of the gospel to really conquer Taraba State for Jesus without resort to cheapen our faith in the muddy waters of politics.
2. "It's Now the Turn of Muslim to Rule" Group:
This second enemies of our state Like the "Taraba Belongs to Jesus group", they seeks to use the volatile political environment to promote their faith with grievance mentality. They use all opportunities available in the islamic places of worship to canvass for votes on the basis of faith agenda and not on the basis of agenda for good governance and development. The danger of this strategy is that When you get to public office on the basis of grieve and victim mentality, you will be bound to abuse power as revenge against the 20 years of "marginalization " and "exclusiveness" since Nigeria returned to democracy. This can lead to crisis and underdevelopment of the state.
What the members of this group fail to remember is that since 1999, no Muslim has been denied opportunity to contest election whether male or female. No Christian politician has ever been handed political power on the platter of gold. They all contested, campaigned and won elections across religious divides. Power comes from God as stated in the Koran, therefore embracing this ideology is dangerous to the progress of the state. Muslim candidates must face the electorates on the basis of their credibility and capacity and not on the basis of marginalization or exclusion victim posture, because loosing election cannot define exclusion or marginalization. Tell the people what you have in store for them if elected and allow them to make their choice on the basis of your manifesto.
Islam will advance more with promotion of good governance, peaceful coexistence and teaching of morality as enshrined in the Koran than on usage of the political means. Politicizing the faith will only make it to become a tool of elites manipulation that can lead to increase poverty and insecurity as seen in Zamfara, the first place of Sharia government in Nigeria with a bad example of how not to run a government on the basis of religion. We must be cautious not to turn Taraba on the path of Zamfara and other failed states in northern Nigeria where the masses are taken advantage of by the religious elites.
3. "Taraba is not Ripe for a Female Governor" Group :
These male chauvinistic group use gender to exclude some female citizens from aspiring for political office. Instead of campaigning base on agenda, they prefer to use gender to dampen the spirit of women participation in politics. These have made Taraba State women to see themselves as second class citizens that should aspire for greatness.
Taraba Belongs to all of us, males, females, youths, old, Christians and Muslims. Our unity around issues that can transform the lives of our people should supersede our attachment to primordial sentiments that is not totally under our control. We must not allow our religion, ethnicity and gender to become a weapon of mass destruction in the state that can only be build by our collective efforts and share ideas. Any of us has the capacity to transform himself or herself into these categories of enemies of Taraba State. We also at the same time have the ability to be part of solution that will promote politics base on issues, agenda and manifesto that can transform Taraba State into a modern state, United for peace and progress. Remember, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
In conclusion,
Don't support Arc. DDI because he is a Christian, support him because you believe he deserve second term base on his capacity and performance.
Don't support Sen. Sani Contact because he is a Muslim, support him because you believe he has the needed experience in governance that is needed in Taraba State.
Don't support or reject Sen Aisha because she is a woman. Support her because you believe she has the capacity to position the state on the path of sustainable development.
Reject divide and rule strategy of politicians that is aim at destroying the love, brotherhood and the collective aspiration we have as a people. God bless Taraba State.
Rikwense Muri
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