The Punch, ThisDay and El-Rufai's "Muslim" Running Mate Controversy

By Rasheed Abubakar | Muslim News | November 4

When Samuel Ortom, the Christian Governor of Benue State named another brother-in-Christ, Benson Abounu as his running mate for the 2019 gubernatorial election, there was no uproar from Nigerians over their religion (Christianity).

The headline of Punch, October 17, 2018 was lenient with the embattled Governor, whose supporters had likened to Jesus Christ for accepting to die for the Benue people, as indicated on inscriptions on his campaign bus.

"Ortom picks running mate, says he'll respect power separation" was the simple and straight forward headline used by the newspaper, with another quote attributed to Ortom, who promised to respect the separation of powers. See the image below.

There are similar cases in other states, including Ekiti, where the just sworn-in Governor, John Olukayode Fayemi (also a Christian) ignored the calls for a Muslim running mate, and nominated a Christian as his running mate.

In fact, The Punch's headline of May 31, 2018 quoted a chieftain of the ruling APC, Opeyemi Bamidele, who hailed the appointment of Chief Bisi Egbeyemi as Fayemi's running mate.

What did the Muslims do? They strongly and peacefully expressed their dissatisfaction over what they tagged "the continuous marginalisation of Muslims in Ekiti State", but what happened after that? Nothing! Just the social media outcry, and that was the end.

The next news we heard was that the same Ekiti Muslims opened the doors of their Central Mosque for Governor Fayemi to observe Solatul Jumat (Friday Prayer Service) with them, a similar gimmick used by the former Governor Ayodele Fayose (again, a Christian) during his eight years in office.

Governor Fayemi quickly rushed to his Twitter handle on Friday, October 19 to break the news, saying he performed a “Jumat Thanksgiving Service” at Ado Ekiti with "my Muslim brothers and sisters".

Suddenly, the evidently marginalized Muslims of Ekiti became the marginalizing Governor’s "brothers and sisters", despite the fact that there was no single Muslim among his first three appointees - the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff and the Chief Press Secretary.

Heaven did not fall, because Yoruba Muslims are reputed to be the most tolerant set of people in Nigeria. The media did not go gaga on the religion of Fayemi’s running mate, and the first three appointments he made as Governor, in a state where the Muslim population is arguably between 35-40%.

However, when the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai presented Dr Hadiza Balarabe as his running mate, The Punch quickly changed the narrative with the sole intent to trigger religious crisis with the headline: “El-Rufai picks fellow Muslim, Hadiza Balarabe as running mate” in its online and print edition of Saturday, November 3, 2018.

The newspaper, which had hitherto hidden the religious identities of Ortom’s and Fayemi’s running mates, mischievously used "fellow Muslim" to describe El-Rufai’s running mate, in a clear bid to incite the good people of Kaduna State against the Governor on the choice of Dr Hadizah, which they claimed would fuel the violent clashes between Muslims and Christians in Kaduna.

The media and other El-Rufai critics conveniently forgot that Plateau and Benue States - with Christian/Christian tickets - have been in turmoil for the same reasons in the last couple of years. Hence, if it is wrong for El-Rufai to field a Muslim/Muslim ticket, then it is equally blameworthy for Simon Lalong and Ortom to field Christians as running mates.

As if that is not enough, another medium, ThisDay newspaper, came with a more damning, inciting and screaming headline: "El-Rufai Dares Southern Kaduna Christians, Picks Muslim Woman as Running Mate", as republished on its website.

This same ThisDay, five months ago, did not give Fayemi the El-Rufai treatment. In fact, the religion (Christianity) of Bisi Egbeyemi was conspicuously missing in its headline as seen here: "Ekiti 2018: Fayemi Picks Former Commissioner, Egbeyemi as Deputy".

One wonders why the same ThisDay refused to be interested in the rich credentials of El-Rufai's running mate, but decided to go for the jugular of Nigeria’s security and its citizens’ safety by featuring a treasonable and conflict-prone headline.

But, is Hadizah even a Muslim? There is no clear evidence of that from the intimidating profile of hers released to the press by Mr Samuel Aruwan, Governor El-Rufai’s spokesman.

The Punch, ThisDay and other media only deduced their assumed “Christianity” from her name, while being totally ignorant of the fact that there are many bearers of such names in Southern Kaduna and the northern states who are actually Christians.

There are also reports that Hadizah is neither a Fulani nor a Hausa woman. Hadizah is rather a Numaya Christian from Gwantu town, a 100% Christian community in Sanga Local Government Area in Kaduna state.

Is it not funny how the above fact, which is virtually everywhere, escaped the celebrated and acclaimed “investigative reporting department” of The Punch, ThisDay and other frivolous media?

While it is essential for the Kaduna State Government to clear the air on the religious affiliation of Hadiza Balarabe to douse the needless tension the terror-triggering reports have generated on the cyber space, it is also important for journalists to leave out what is doubtful, just as they must refrain from reporting outright lies deliberately.

In straight news stories, for instance, the job of journalists is to report recent events judged to be newsworthy the way they are, without the writer's opinions or false impressions capable of promoting hatred or religious division among members of the community.

Hence, it would have been more accurate for The Punch, ThisDay and other media who mischievously incited the public with the "Muslim/Muslim ticket" rhetoric to have said: "El-Rufai picks running mate...", similar to the manners they reported the Plateau and Benue stories, or better still, "El-Rufai picks woman as running mate", as earlier published on Friday by The Punch online before the Saturday Editor painted the story with a religious coloration.

Interestingly, the female angle is in itself very newsworthy and positive, since such male-female pairing is very rare in the Northern States. This is only the second time a female would be chosen to run as Deputy Governor in the 51-year history of Kaduna State and as indicated in the press release, it was part of Governor El-Rufai's "deliberate policy on promoting women, their causes and their involvement in politics”.

But whose interests are these rogue media pushing. Are they interested in fuelling religious and ethnic crisis? Are they really interested in a peaceful Nigeria? Do they realise they are also citizens of Nigeria? If I may ask, are these media not justifying the suspicions and allegations that they are doing the bidding of the destructive opposition and enemies of the Nigerian nation?

Irrespective of their interests, The Punch, ThisDay and other mischievous media should realise they are free to investigate El-Rufai's claims and the religion of Dr Balarabe if they truly care. They could go beyond mere news reportage via news analyses, features, columns or editorials, which reflect their official opinions about the issue and the events that surround it.

- Rasheed Abubakar is a journalist and the author of "Hijab and the Nigerian Press" | Twitter @rawshieldpr

Good afternoon, pls I apply for NYSC exception certificate but last 2weeeks I received this message

NYSC Batch C is online, ends 15/10/18. Ur name is on the current list. Come now & register @ De Ultimate, Shop No.1 Central Cafe UI opp.

Please I want to ask if I will still register online for the exception letter or the one I av done with UI is enough?

Pls are u in Ibadan because I av done all these on my HP laptop but till now its caps lock is still blinking once.
And if u are not from ibadan, can u tell me what I can do next

[quote author=jeegy post=72523142]Who has any idea when u.i will do their graduation this November.
Nov 12&13

Good morning, has anybody received text message?

Where is the location in Ibadan?

Happy weekend all nairalanders, please I need your help urgently, I want to know when University of Ibadan issue certificate to her students, I collected my statement of result this year August and I am lucky to be in final stage of the interview of the biggest bank in this country but when I get to the man interview me,he said I did good in the interview but if I want to work in the bank,I have to present my original certificate before the end of this month and my convocation is November this year,please I want to ask if I can be able to get it this coming week or I should forfeit the job. Thanks

Happy weekend all nairalanders, please I need your help urgently, I want to know when University of Ibadan issue certificate to her students, I collected my statement of result this year August and I am lucky to be in final stage of the interview of the biggest bank in this country but when I get to the man interview me,he said I did good in the interview but if I want to work in the bank,I have to present my original certificate before the end of this month and my convocation is November this year,please I want to ask if I can be able to get it this coming week or I should forfeit the job. Thanks

Happy weekend all nairalanders, please I need your help urgently, I want to know when University of Ibadan issue certificate to her students, I collected my statement of result this year August and I am lucky to be in final stage of the interview of the biggest bank in this country but when I get to the man interview me,he said I did good in the interview but if I want to work in the bank,I have to present my original certificate before the end of this month and my convocation is November this year,please I want to ask if I can be able to get it this coming week or I should forfeit the job. Thanks

Waiting for the training but do you any idea when they will call us for the training

Hmmmmm is like u sit me down and u are talking about my life to me, thanks so much.

Tanbuwal should wait till 2027 because Buhari will win in 2019 by God grace and it will be in turn of southwest to be the President and that will be jagaban of all the politician. GBA FUN OGA E

kunlexyfred:

Around 60k for credit officer and 75k gross salary for bm if u meet ur targets. Be rest assured that u will pay for loan default not recovered .. Some other deduction will also be made from ur salary.. Good luck

What of the salary for bank teller

kunlexyfred:

U pay 2k to write their job test. If u pass, u go for interview. If eventually employed u pay 25k or 30k security deposit to the organization to be refunded after 6months. Be that as it may , u will work 7:30am to 5pm. U go for compulsory prayers on the last 3days of the month and 1st 3days of the month. Also 19th-22nd of every month is for prayers. If any loan u disbursed goes bad, u have to pay it. No freedom of expression and working environment is hell. The Director curses his staff at will .. U can't go for courses until u have spent 3 years in the organization.. Probation is 3year and the organization will only make pension contributions of #500 for u only if u have spent 3years.. I can go on and on

Pls how much is their salary and can u compare it with teaching, which one is better between teacher earning #25000 and working in microfinance bank

08100965082

Pls add 08100965082

Harmeable:
For those that have gotten invitation for the
numerical reasoning test.... I don't think you will get a past question..... Just follow the link sent to your mail, you will be given 3 sample questions before you procced to the normal test (that was how mine was). I did mine yesterday

Pls can u help with culture questionnaire past questions, my mail is hervezeluv@gmail.com

shakmati:
Please Buhari should go and rest. Let's try Saraki. He is younger and more charismatic!

Yes you have your point but do you think Saraki will be able to perform with the calibre of people in PDP and also do u want PDP to come back to power with all our money they stole when they were in power?

Johnnyessence:
To continue Fulani herdsmen terrorists killings baaaaaa. God forbid bad thing.

Are we not one in this country? Or u think that Buhari people (herdsmen) will want to destroy Buhari government with killing without reason,we all suppose to know that all these killings were sponsored by the opponents and all these people are mole in military.

ANY SENSIBLE PERSON THAT LISTENED TO PRESIDENT BUHARI'S SPEECH WILL BOW

From Mal. Datti Assalafiy

During the visit of President Muhammad Buhari yesterday Thursday to Bauchi, the President said mind boggling things regarding how Nigeria turned out and the politics is practiced by politicians who only go where money goes.

The President said: *God knows my heart it is to assure you that I set Nigeria on the path that you will be proud of in the future.*

*There is difficulty while trying to bring change in the country but we are trying our best, even our adversaries know we have taken the right course to set Nigeria on track but we offended these money bag politicians and they will never forgive us. The offence is that we have blocked all their taps they use for stealing, they now do not care if Nigeria will be up in flames, they can sell even the ashes and fly out.*

*They have focused on us now with all their might, they want to be allowed to destroy the effort we have made in straightening things so far. They are not interested even in an iota of good for Nigeria and its people.*

*We have no choice, the choice belongs to you people of Nigeria, if you are confident of our efforts, you can vote for us again so we keep building from where we are, this will be beneficial to all and if you falsify us then go back to them (moneybag politicians) so they can destroy your future and the country at large.*

*But definitely you will remember I told you the truth and I have set you on the path of truth and I have lead you truthfully. The choice is yours on the path of the nation. I swear in my mind it is not about politics but how this country will turn out to be in the future."*

President Muhammadu BUHARI'S SPEECH in Bauchi.

I will advice us to vote Buhari because if we vote all these small parties is like we are giving PDP vote to come back to power

When are u coming to Ibadan?

I have used three email addresses to apply but yet I have not received mail for my username and password,I even wake up at night but still the same thing, kind of tire jare

Sowore should also join the force and let us rescue Nigeria from this APChange and PDPower things, if you are young and jobless and u are still following these old fools u are definitely mad

I know one day it will be better for us in this country where job will be posted on Nairaland and they will be begging us to apply

All of us know that Indirect primaries is not right to choose the best candidate for the election but the problem our governors are having right now is how to retain power by either putting their candidate after leaving their offices and become godfather like Bukola Saraki or join the Senate and rule us for eternity, I think I am supporting senators on this if they can force APC to continue with direct primaries and ET us choose who will want from the grassroot

We don't need to be argue with all these anti-buharist people,what will need to ask them is to tell us one credible PDP presidential aspirant that is better than Buhari

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