As usual,  Col. Umar does not shy away from speaking up in support of what is right and equitable.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/may/22/national-22-05-2010-001.htm

Kaduna: Accept Yakowa or relocate – Col. Umar


Social critic and activist, retired military governor of old Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar is out again with his radical position on the development in Kaduna that has thrown up the first Christian CEO of the state.

Umar is reacting to insinuations that some persons and groups in the state raised questions against the emergence of former Deputy Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa as the state governor this week.
The mantle fell on Yakowa who was deputy to former Governors Ahmed Makarfi and Namadi Sambo after the latter became vice president on Tuesday.

In the face of the agitation and unwelcome attitude to the development, Umar unleashed his characteristic radical views and asked the people opposed to Yakowa to either accept him as the way God wants it, or leave the state for good.

He told Saturday Sun: “Kaduna is not an Islamic or Christian state. It is a state created by the laws of Nigeria for both Christians and Muslims to live together in peace and that has always been the case. It is a state where these people and even settlers have equal rights under the laws of Nigeria. So, anybody who feels otherwise can leave the state while Yakowa is the governor or create another state that would be just for Muslims.”

Secretary of the Council of Ulamas, Umar, disclosed that those who are saying they do not want a Christian governor, may as well begin to think of establishing an Islamic state, insisting that Muslims and Christians have always enjoyed peaceful co-existence in Kaduna.

“Kaduna is not an Islamic state. We have been living peacefully with the Christians. The issues you raised, especially concerning the hate text messages, are the work of misguided elements in the state who are not interested in peace. Kaduna is not an Islamic state; as such you cannot begin to say Christians should not be governor. If they (Muslims) want it that way, then they should establish an Islamic state.
“Yakowa served Makarfi as deputy governor, and he has also served as Sambo’s deputy, so I think he has ample experience to move the state forward for this one year and with the support of Kaduna people,” Umar said.

Why won't they vote people like this into power?

buffox:

Why won't they vote people like this into power?

Because Umar is one of the rear exception from the North. And he was lucky to be a direct descendant of Uthman Dan Fodio otherwise he wouldn't have been 'able' to confront IBB on why, he, IBB annullled June 12 election. He is in the mould oF Ribadu.

BTW, his opinion is NOT radical according to that lazy journalist. He is just speaking the facts as they stand. Deputy Governors to 2 Govenors, and the only reason why they may not like to see him as the Governor is that he is a Christian? what a load of bulls from these Islamic fundamentalist

buffox:

Why won't they vote people like this into power?

Indeed. Umar has always stood out as a detribalised and radically progressive Northerner. The Kingmakers will have a lot to lose if the likes of Umar gain powerful positions because it will no longer be "business as usual for them . We will not see Umar as a leader until Nigerians agitate for his emergence. The current system is fond of mediocre, corrupt and pliant politicians who will ensure that , to the detriment of Nigeria,  the status quo is maintained.

Bankole  is the perfect example. One would hope that , given his young age, he would emotionally connect with the angst of Nigerians for a better life . Instead we can see that the system 'headhunted' him correctly.

Gbawe:


Indeed. Umar has always stood out as a detribalised and radically progressive Northerner. The Kingmakers will have a lot to lose if the likes of Umar gain powerful positions because it will no longer be "business as usual for them . We will not see Umar as a leader until Nigerians agitate for his emergence. The current system is fond of mediocre, corrupt and pliant politicians who will ensure that , to the detriment of Nigeria,  the status quo is maintained.

Bankole  is the perfect example. One would hope that , given his young age, he would emotionally connect with the angst of Nigerians for a better life . Instead we can see that the system 'headhunted' him correctly.

They knew what they were doing. Corrupt crusaders will never select a honest person unless the honest person was undercover.

Umar has always been a forthright person but do we need him power? I would never want people like him and Soyinka in power for two reasons
1. Nigerians still need people like them on the sidelines to speak for the average man
2. Those bent on carrying corrupt practices will tarnish their names even if they have to set them up.

Gbawe:


Indeed. Umar has always stood out as a detribalised and radically progressive Northerner. The Kingmakers will have a lot to lose if the likes of Umar gain powerful positions because it will no longer be "business as usual for them . We will not see Umar as a leader until Nigerians agitate for his emergence. The current system is fond of mediocre, corrupt and pliant politicians who will ensure that , to the detriment of Nigeria,  the status quo is maintained.

It's beautiful to know something this beautiful is happening in this country. Col. Umar have demonstrated the fairness and tolerance of a good moslem. I hope the Northerner, the muslems and most especially, the tribalised bigots (anti-northerner/Muslems) on NL are learning about what it takes to be beautiful.

Col Umar is Beautiful

@topic
end of discussion!

lol good

Col. Abubakar Umar is a man after my heart, someone I respect so much for his fearlessness and objectivity. We need someone like him to lead the youths of this country and galvanise their votes to propel him to power just like Obama did in America. I am sure this can be done because he is a guy we all trust.

He can afford to be fearless due to his lineage. No minority from the north, especially IBB or Hausa would dare confront a direct descendant of Uthman dan Fodio. That would mean death!

^^^ That Col. Umar is fearless is his nature and not as a result of her lineage. Afterall there are many people from that same lineage who are very comfortable with the status quo and would rather remain cocooned in their comfort zone while other Nigerians perish.