JNI Distances Self, Pantami From Yakowa’s Death

The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has distance itself, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, from the death of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa.

An unverified document that has gone viral claims the embattled minister allegedly chaired a JNI meeting where plans were alleged to have been made to kill Yakowa.

The document is being shared as a communique adopted at the zonal meeting held in Bauchi in 2010, two years before the former governor died in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa alongside the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Owoye Azazi.

Also, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna, John Joseph Hayab, who served as religious affairs adviser to Yakowa, had also dismissed the allegations.

But in a statement on Friday by its Secretary-General, Khalid Aliyu, the top Islamic body refuted allegations linking it and the embattled minister to Yakowa’s death.

The statement said the allegations are designed to tarnish the image of the organisation under the leadership of His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto.

JNI, however, asked the security agencies to immediately investigate the allegation and fish out those behind it.

The statement reads: “The JNI under the leadership of His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the JNI, was taken aback by the desperation of some disgruntled elements who in their desperate attempt to smear the image of the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy drag the name of the JNI as being part of an alleged plot to assassinate the late Governor Yakowa of Kaduna state.

“To start with, how could Sheikh Pantami chair a JNI meeting while he was not one of its leaders either at the National or state levels? What could have necessitated the combination of Bauchi, Plateau, Niger, and Kaduna states from different geo-political zones in the meeting? If Yakowa was vehemently hated by the Muslims and were desperately trying to ‘get rid’ of him. How did he win the 2011 elections in a Muslim-dominated state of Kaduna where a Muslim-Muslim ticket recently sailed through? Who voted him in?

“The so-called pieces of minutes shared by the media to further confuse and manipulate an average Nigerian’s mind into believing this orchestrated lie has further confirmed the desperation of the perpetrators. It is very perplexing and heart-rending that minutes of an assassination plot could be written and kept. How disheartening and disgusting!

“We thought the plot against Sheikh Pantami is politically motivated, but surprisingly it is assuming to be a more sinister dimension born out of a well thought-out scheme designed to smear and tarnish the image and the good name of the JNI and other Muslim organizations.

“Considering the various concerns raised by many citizens, vis’-a’- vis the attendant consequence of the scandalous allegation, we wish to place on record and for posterity that such never occurred and the JNI does not operate in such a dubious manner. We are at loss as to why is this allegation coming up just now, many years after the demise of Mr Yakowa?”

“This should be treated with utmost urgency and the JNI is ready to fully cooperate with the security agencies in this regard.”