BORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday begged those who abducted a former Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, to release the elder statesman.
He is concerned about Monguno’s health, which, according to him, may deteriorate if his abductors, who are suspected to be Boko Haram members, do not free him.
The governor also warned the abductors of the spiritual gravity of contributing to the death of a 92-year-old man, who is known for helping orphans, widows and the needy.
Shettima recalled that even during the jihad of Prophet Mohammed, old persons, children and women, were free of harassment and torture.
He made the plea in Maiduguri, after returning to the state capital from an emergency meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on the abduction of the nonagenarian.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Communications, Isa Umar Gusau, the governor also urged the people of the state to pray for Monguno’s release.
The statement reads: “Allah places high premium on orphans. In many portions of the Quran, taking care of orphans is one of the best deeds before him because His noble Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) grew up as a poor orphan.
“Allah has clearly described those who help orphans and feed the poor as the righteous ones He is pleased with.
“Those who help orphans and the poor have special place before Allah and this makes our elder statesman, Shettima Ali Monguno, a special person before Allah because over the years, he has dedicated his lifetime to catering for orphans, widows and the needy.
“He feeds them; clothes them; takes care of their health and other social needs; sponsors them for Islamic education; builds Islamic schools for orphans, widows and women.
“He is a righteous old man as all humans can testify, leaving Allah to be the judge; he is associated with honesty and integrity.
“This means Allah cannot be happy with anyone that hurts this good servant of His if for nothing because of his help to orphans.”
On Monguno’s health, the governor said: “Monguno is an old man of over 90 years. He hardly eats well because of his age. He takes routine drugs, about seven times a day to make up for lack of eating. So, keeping him in custody, away from his drugs can make his health deteriorate very fast.
“I strongly appeal to his abductors to consider his old age; they should regard him as their own father and grandfather, they should realise that by keeping Monguno away, they are breaking the hearts of many orphans and whom Allah has special interest in; they should realise even during the times of the Prophet when Jihads were fought to liberate Islam, Allah abhorred harming old persons, children and women, unless if they arm themselves at battle fields.”
Shettima queried the rationale behind the abduction of a man who is one of the leading voices against bad leadership and corruption.
He said: “The abductors should realise that they are keeping an old man that is one of the leading voices against bad leadership; against corruption; against oppression; against public freedom; they are keeping in custody an old man who has over the years raised his voice in defence of the masses and against their oppressors.
“They are keeping in custody someone who has been advocating for amnesty, dialogue and peaceful negotiation of the crisis in our land, someone who is promoting Islamic scholarship and practice, promoting harmony, tolerance and coexistence, someone whose house is open to the poor masses, someone who even in the face of threats, kept fate and continued to visit his old neighbours and family friends to pray with them and extend alms even when he has the option of staying away.
“They are keeping a defenceless old man, who cannot even run away even when he sees an opportunity to escape from custody; they are keeping an old man who only deserves their kindness, help, courtesy, respect, admiration and prayers and not to be made to undergo a trauma as reward for doing good and helping orphans.
“By keeping Monguno, they are discouraging good tidings and empathy for the reward for good is good and nothing less.”
The statement quoted the governor as appealing to citizens of Borno and other Nigerians to help in praying for the safe and early release of Monguno and for the safety of all and sundry as well as for the return of peace in the state, the North and the country as a whole.
It said the governor has been in touch regularly with Monguno’s family, even as efforts are being made to ensure the elder statesman’s release.
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has advised Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria to sheath their swords.
He gave the advice when Nigeria’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Dauda Danladi, presented his letters of credence in Kabul, the Afghan capital recently.
Karzai urged Boko Haram members to lay down their arms if they are true Muslims and embrace the amnesty offered by the federal government.
“Boko Haram should stop burning schools, Mosques, Churches in the name of Islam. You should not destroy your country if you are true Muslims. You should protect lives because in Islam if you kill one, it is as if you have killed the whole of humanity and if you save life, it is as if you have saved the whole of humanity” he was quoted in a statement from the Nigerian Embassy in Pakistan. Ambassador Danladi also has document accreditation Pakistan, where he is resident.
President Karzai recalled the activities of the Taliban in Afghanistan saying it was externally motivated.
He said in most cases suicide bombers were given jackets containing bombs and on wearing it somebody who will follow them will detonate it on reaching their targets.
Afghanistan First Deputy Minister of Defence, Saran Pooh-Enayatullah Nazari, while receiving Ambassador Danladi advised Boko Haram members not to emulate the Taliban because they were supported by external forces to cause problems which made more than half a million orphans and widows in Afghanistan.
He said Afghanistan lost over two million people, while one million were disabled, Nazari hoped his country’s experience should be a lesson to fundamentalists in Nigeria to stop any actions that will destabilise the country.
“War is not good. It is like a flame and will destroy both the good and the bad. Whoever makes efforts to stop it, God will reward him and who so ever try to aggravate it will destroy everything and will be responsible before God,” Nazari stated.
He suggested the need for Nigeria to open its doors for Afghan young officers to attend some basic training in Nigeria.
He hoped that Nigeria would not go through the same problem experienced by Afghanistan before embracing peace through dialogue.
The Deputy Chairman of the Higher Peace Council, Abdul Hakim Mujahid, who was a former Taliban Ambassador to United Nations also said that contrary to the perception of many, Islam is the religion of peace.
He said if Allah wanted to make all nations Muslims or Christians, he has the power to do so, but noted that in his wisdom, he chose not to do so.
Danladi who is Nigeria’s nonresident ambassador to Afghanistan, commended the efforts of President Karzai’s administration.
He assured that Nigeria’s transformation agenda initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan on the international scene is global peace and economic diplomacy;
He said issues on manpower development, capacity building and institutional strengthening will be forwarded to relevant authorities in Nigeria for consideration under a conducive atmosphere.
