This is not the Buhari I knew – Jokolo, ex-ADC to Buhari laments

Alhaji Al-Mustapha Haruna Jokolo, retired Major and former Aide-de-camp, ADC, to General Muhammadu Buhari, former head of state and current president of Nigeria, appears disappointed at the seeming helplessness of his former boss in the face of rising banditry, kidnapping and killings in several parts of the country.

In this interview with the Hausa Service of Radio France International, RFI, monitored in Abuja, Jokolo, who is the deposed Emir of Gwandu, condemned the killings of Nigerians, which lacked restraint and control, saying the “cabal” and those killing innocent Nigerians will not escape the wrath of God.

Excerpts of the interview:

By Baffa Yakubu

We are still focusing on Nigeria where the Minister of Defence,  Mansur Dan Ali, has blamed the incessant attacks by the militias, bandits and herdsmen in parts of the Northern states, especially Zamfara, on the local leaders and traditional rulers.  According to the minister, intelligence reports have revealed to the Federal Government that the local leaders and traditional rulers are responsible for these attacks. Based on this assertion we sought to hear from the 19th Emir of Gwandu, Alh. Haruna Jokolo, his opinion on this allegation?

Truly, I did not hear or know when the minister made this statement, but if he truly said so, he has a duty to tell us who are the personalities involved, because this is not the time to cover anyone involved in these wicked acts. If at all this allegation is true, he has to tell us who they are. Why is it that the government has not dealt with them, because nobody is above the law. See how people have been displaced, property destroyed and people being killed; this is most unfair.

Your Highness, security agencies like the army, police, civil defence and many task forces have been set up to put a stop to the challenges of the militia, bandits and terror groups, but it seems the problem is on the increase. What is the cause of the descent into anarchy?

There is no fear of God! Sheer wickedness! Don’t forget it is in Zamfara State that Sharia law was introduced but the Quran is now desecrated by being flushed in the toilet. Do you think God is pleased and will tolerate this? Secondly, insensitivity is the cause. Everybody knows that the state Governor, Yari, has now re-located to his home town, Talata Mafara, and abandoned the Government House.

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The security agencies, what can they now do? I saw soldiers walking along the streets and shooting into the air. What rubbish is that? What have they taken us to be? People should know this is not proper. How can soldiers be firing from the rear when they are aware that their colleagues are in front? And people are talking rubbish. If anything is to be done, it ought to be done with the fear of God and if this is just being done for the fun of it by continuously putting the people in a state of fear, then let them continue. However, if once people are deliberately being deceived and killed, whoever is killed in an ungodly manner merits paradise but whoever is responsible will never be free from guilt.

Your Highness, previously, it was in the southern part of the country that these issues of kidnapping, abduction, armed robbery and other criminal activities were prevalent but nowadays these criminal activities have become common in the North. Is it that the North lacks credible leaders that can go and meet the president in order that immediate solutions can be found to this problem?

You know I have worked with the president twice; when he was Governor of North Eastern State and as Head of State and I know he is not a lazy man when it comes to issues of governance. But remember that the Prophet of God (Peace Be upon Him) was caught under a spell. There are people, who have cast a spell on President Buhari and are controlling him.

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Know this as a fact that the cabal that is being accused of controlling President Buhari has, indeed, a contraption that they are using to manipulate him. This is not the Buhari that I knew. We leave everything in God’s hands. God who can do everything for us will not let them go free. They will not escape his wrath. If some people are scared of telling them, some of us are not afraid and we will say it.

Walahi, Allah will punish them here on earth. The blood and entitlements of people will not go in vain. Buhari ought to have understood these facts, issues and situations by now. This is someone whose wife has told him all about the cabal; people have gone to tell him, he listens to the news and it is not that he is not seeing the activities of the cabal; he sees them everyday. He brought them into the government to advise him.

He should remember he took an oath to protect the interest of all the people and he knows the consequence of the failure not to keep to that solemn oath. So, we all should know that none of us can escape the wrath of God, if we trample on the rights of the people. Haba! Men, women, children, young and the old are killed in cold blood, wives and daughters are raped and they are abducted and nothing is done.