You are a hero, Osinbajo hails 83-year-old Muslim cleric who saved Christians

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described the 83-year-old
Muslim Cleric, Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, who saved the lives of
hundreds of persons fleeing from attacks by suspected bandits in
Yelwan Gindi Akwati, Swei and Nghar villages in Barkin Ladi Local
Government Area of Plateau as a hero.

The people were fleeing from attacks by suspected bandits.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Thursday
in Abuja, said the vice president gave the commendation when he
received the cleric at the Presidential Villa.

The vice president received Abubakar; the Village Head,
Damafulul Mangai, and other community leaders and a delegation
which included diplomats from the US, UK and the European
Union.

Abubakar, who is Hausa and the Chief Imam of a mosque in Yelwan
Gindi Akwati village, in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of
Plateau State, alongside his assistant Umar Abdullahi, who is
Fulani, saved the lives of over 200 persons when suspected bandits
attacked communities in the LGA.

The reported attack took place on June 23, 2018, on Yelwan Gindi
Akwati, Swei and Nghar villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government
Area of Plateau State, where scores of persons were killed by
suspected bandits.

Abubakar reportedly hid and rescued over 200 persons who fled
from nearby communities, inside the mosque and in his personal
house, until the attackers left.

Many of those the Muslim Cleric provided shelter for were from
the Berom ethnic group which are predominantly Christians.

Reports indicated that Abubakar, on defending “my guests”,
insisted that the attackers would have to kill him if they refused
his pleas not to attack those he was hiding.

At a point, the Imam was said to be on his knees and then
rolling o the floor to appease the attackers.

Describing Abubakar’s act as heroic, the Vice President said
that the Imam had done so much more to promote peace by his
singular acts than most politicians could do and so deserves all
the commendation and high honour.

Osinbajo urged politicians to avoid using religion and tribal
sentiment to create division among people, noting that Abubakar had
demonstrated to leaders that the way to resolve whatever conflict
was not by violence, but a demonstration of love.

“I commend you for your wonderful act.

“Imam Abubakar has demonstrated one of the most courageous acts
any man can possibly do, by offering his own life, for those who
are not people of his own tribe.

“I have heard a lot of stories in our country, but this is one
of the most compelling stories.

“The love an individual can show for others not from their own
tribe or religion, especially in a society like ours where tribe
and religion often come to play.”

The Vice President urged all Nigerians despite tribe and
religion to eschew bitterness and embrace peace and harmonious
living.

“It is far easier for people to create religious tensions
between Christians or Muslims through their acts or words.

“And in a community where people have lived together in harmony
and peace for so long, it shows how much a little of such tension
created, in a matter of hours, can destroy harmony and peace built
over the years.”

Before the attacks, the community had reportedly lived in
peace.

Osinbajo said that most people in Nigeria did not see the
differences in tribe or religion, but it was easy to stoke
religious tensions and divisions.

According to him, one must be careful of those who want to play
politics and create differences using religion and tribe as no
tribe or religion is superior to another.

“When people have been wronged, it is always easier for people
to accept that revenge or vengeance is the right approach.

“But as you know, vengeance breeds bitterness and hatred and
doesn’t solve the problems created, but causes more deaths and
harm.”

The Vice President said it was wrong for anyone to kill in the
name of religion, noting that Abubakar’s incredible act of courage
in saving others passed a message to both Christians, Muslims and
others of different tribes and religion.

He said that Abubakar sent a message to Muslims and Christians
alike and other ethnic groups that their own lives were as valuable
as his own life.

“This is a very powerful message. Also, by keeping them safe in
a mosque, a sacred place; he sent a strong message to Muslims that
other religions and lives are equally as important to God.

“The Imam did not preach this by word but by deeds, love, by
putting his life on the line to make a point. That clearly
demonstrates to all of us that it is un-islamic to maim or kill
people in the name of religion.

“Like President Muhammadu Buhari said, anyone who says “Allah
Akbar”, and then goes to kill someone either does not know his
faith or is insane. It is the same in the Christian faith.

” The gospel of Jesus Christ says we must first love, even our
enemies and those that despitefully use us. And anyone who preaches
something different is certainly not speaking from the Bible or the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“President Buhari also said during his meeting with the Catholic
Bishops that all through his life as a public servant, he believes
that people should be judged by their character and how they
behave, and that everyone must have a right to worship God the way
they chose.”

The Vice President further said the Federal Government would
look at further ways to improve the communities in Barkin Ladi, and
others affected by ethnic/religious crisis.

“We will look at how the Plateau State government and the
Federal Government can help in the rehabilitation process.

“Government has been doing this in phases, to restore areas
devastated by crisis. But we would look at ways to help further,”
he said.

Abubakar, as well as his deputy, Abdullahi, were recently
honoured by the US Embassy in Nigeria, for the heroic deeds.

Osinbajo said that Abubakar should be celebrated everywhere in
the world,, adding that he was happy that the US Ambassador had
honoured him with an award.

In his remarks, Abubakar, who spoke through an interpreter,
thanked the Vice President, noting that he did not want it
publicised.

He said however, that he felt that God chose him to do what he
did to be used as an example.

The Imam said he told the attackers at some point that they had
to kill him first before harming his ‘guests’–that statement
dissuaded them.

“I pleaded with the attackers in the mud and rain not to harm my
guests.

“By God’s grace, no one was hurt. God created mankind
differently but he wants us to live together in peace and harmony,
and not harm each other. Such incident (the attack) is rare in my
community, but I hope such does not happen in my village again,” he
said.

The visit of the delegation at the instance of the U.S. deputy
Chief of Mission, comprised of the United States Ambassador to
Nigeria, Stuart Symington; Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy in
Nigeria, David Young.

Others are the U.S. Embassy official, Kathleen Fitzgibbon; and
the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernhard Schlagheck(NAN).

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