By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
The Concerned Zaar Patriots (CZP) has rebuked Professor Salisu Shehu over his recent inflammatory remarks against the actualization of the proposed Sayawa chiefdom in Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi state.
In a press statement signed by Honourable Ishaya Dangana, the Concerned Zaar Patriots condemned the recent statement credited to Professor Salisu who they described as a self-styled Walin Tafawa Balewa concerning the report of the Committee on the Creation of New Emirates, Chiefdoms and Districts in Bauchi State.
“The attention of the Concerned Zaar Patriots (CZP) has been drawn to a widely circulated statement credited to Professor Salisu Shehu, the selfstyled Walin Tafawa-Balewa concerning the report of the Committee on the
Creation of New Emirates, Chiefdoms and Districts in Bauchi State.
” In the press statement, the Professor alleged that the Governor of Bauchi State has removed Tafawa-Balewa from the Usmaniyya Empire and handed it to non-Muslims.
He further accused the Government of rewarding those
who he claimed shed Muslim blood.
“Ordinarily, such reckless and unfounded assertions would have been ignored.However, coming from a man who claims academic distinction, this deliberate distortion of history and reckless weaponization of religion in a purely administrative process cannot go unanswered.
“The CZP has noted with great concerns, Prof Salisu’s repeated negative statements against the Zaar/Sayawa people for a very long time, hence there is the urgent need to address him squarely, not in anger, fear or
submission but in defense of truth, justice and the peace of Bauchi state and Nigeria at large.
“While we once held Professor Shehu in high academic regard, his continued pronouncements has exposed a shocking ignorance of history and a mischievous attempt to incite division and crisis.The statement read in parts.
While describing Prof Shehu Salisu’s narrative as historically false, archaic, religiously inflammatory and socially dangerous, the CZP questioned the moral and intellectual guidance Shehu Salisu offers to his students as a Professor.
Tracing the background of Prof Salisu, CZP said that his father, Mallam Shehu Magini, a bricklayer came to Tafawa Balewa as an adult and a talented artisan and was embraced by the Sayawa people who patronized him.
“When he settled in Tafawa Balewa town, our people embraced him and patronized him. When he became well established, he went back and brought his aged father from their home town of Kukawa in Borno State along with his siblings namely Alh. Alala Mai Petur, Abdu Gobza who came and learned tailoring in Tafawa Balewa and later, a bicycle repairer and Dangade his younger brother was also a bicycle repairer” The statement read