YUGUDA BOOED AT EID PRAYER GROUND
Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State received an unexpected 2010 Eid-el Kabir Sallah gift from angry Muslims yesterday in the state when he was booed during the prayer at the Eid ground in the state capital. The angry muslims registered their displeasure over what Daily Sun gathered they considered as an affront on their sensibility and disrespect for the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman and other dignitaries who waited for almost two hours at the prayer ground before the governor eventually came.
A source disclosed to Daily Sun that it took the intervention of prominent people to calm the angry congregation, who openly told the governor that he was a disappointment and that they won't vote for him in 2011.
'The emir and other muslim faithful were already at the ground before 8am as was announced, only for the governor to come at about 9:15 am. Everyone was waiting for him and they were not happy.
'The governor, knowing he had wronged the people for the first time, avoided taking the Bakaru Road for fear of being attacked. He took Gombe Road. It was a very sad development,' he added.
Daily Sun gathered that it took almost half an hour before the Chief Imam, who was represented by his Deputy, Abdullahi Ahmad could deliver his message where he urged all Muslims to embrace peace.
Meanwhile, Governor Yuguda has urged Muslims in the state to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice and total submission to the will of Allah as well as strengthen their will-power by purifying their souls.
Yuguda made the call in a statewide television and radio broadcast to mark the 2010 Eid-el Kabir Sallah celebration, saying they should rededicate themselves to the worship of Allah through prayers and extending helping hands to the less privileged .
The Governor also called on Muslims to use the Sallah period to reflect on their activities in the last one year in order to see how far they had fared spiritually which would also afford them the chance to take corrective measures where necessary so as to be among the believers that would enjoy the mercies of Allah.
He also emphasized that since the religion of Islam propagates peace and peaceful co-existence with fellow human beings, muslims in the state should emulate such virtue and aptly demonstrate same in their conduct and relationship with one another irrespective of religious, cultural and political differences and renew existing inter-personal relationship and make new ones with both muslims and non-muslims.
Isa Yuguda also called on the people of the state to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious movements to the security agencies, assuring that, 'as a responsive and responsible government, we have put in place appropriate machinery to deal with any unfortunate trend.'
The Governor then called on all eligible voters in the state to come out and be registered during the voters' registration exercise that would be conducted by Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) soon, saying 'it is only when you register that you can exercise your civic right of electing candidates of your choice. Failure to vote will amount to abdicating your civic responsibility.'