It’s quirky and inquisitive how Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi got involved in politics. There are allegations that some people close to the sheikh are using him as a bait for their material benefit since the 2019 general elections.
Some years back, Islamic scholars didn’t interfere in political affairs and didn’t campaign for politicians. However, as time went on, civilisation came and more areas of the scripture proved the importance of clergy men to participate in politics for national and societal development for all people irrespective of religion and leadership status.
Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi is one of the clergy men in Nigeria who openly supports political candidates for the good of his followers and the general public. But, people began to smell a rat about the statements of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi on politics and some national issues since the 2019 general elections.
The 2023 general elections exposed the agenda of using the blessed aged Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi for money. Indeed, there are some people behind the pranks. It is a dirty business that is not good for the personality of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi and the Tijjaniya sect, but because of pecuniary gain some people have continued to use him.
In the just concluded election in Kaduna state, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi was used to lure supporters for the powerful candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP: Senator Uba Sani and Isa Ashiru Kudan, respectively
The voice of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi on Isah Ashiru Kudan was on dissuading his followers not to vote for APC on the basis of what the then Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai did to his disciples and scholars at his Kaduna residence during the COVID-19 period.
He described the packing of his young scholars to their villages from his residence as an abuse and disrespect to him and to the followers of Tijjaniya sect. At the same time, another audio was circulating supporting Senator Uba Sani.
To cover the mess, the sheikh’s associates said Uba Sani was introduced to the sheikh as the opposition candidate of APC. How was this possible when the sheikh was surrounded by his disciples? It clearly explained that the sheikh couldn’t identify the two candidates and who haunted the opposition? The whole thing became a burlesque.
In the 2023 general elections Dahiru Bauchi campaigned for individual candidates in the northern states and chose Atiku Abubakar for Nigeria’s presidency in 2023.
To point out the lacuna in such campaigns of politics which mostly come for purpose, a letter with the signature and name of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi leaked and went viral on the social media requesting favour for ANPP from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, on Kano state Supreme Court governorship judgement.
The purported letter expressed the foreseen crisis that will erupt in Kano state if Abba Kabir Yusuf is unseated as the state governor. But few days ago, the Chairman of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation and Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi denounced the letter as fake and not from them.
Yes, the letter may not come directly from Usman Dahiru Bauchi but may come from his associates or from politicians that want to get favour.
Looking at the tactics used to lure the people of Kaduna state during the 2023 general elections campaign one can agree that there are people surrounding Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi that make him a venture of profit. These people are very close to him and may include his family, associates, disciples and relatives.
The people haunt politicians and wealthy people to come to the sheikh to get blessings and prayers for them to get their bags full of money and that was why two voices of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi emanated campaigning for APC and PDP in Kaduna state because it is not a letter that can be easily denied.
Who are the people involved in pushing the sheikh into high profile politics? For sure, the people surrounding Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi are using his aged status to gather money and until they are exposed they will keep tarnishing the good image of the blessed Islamic scholar and Tijjaniya sect for their bread and butter.
The people around Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi tend to make him their source of riches at a time he needs rest. Regarding Kaduna state, two campaigns gave the sign that the sheikh has alzheimer and his brain and body need more rest than anything, as we pray things of such nature cease to happen for better, the antics of such deformity should be identified and kept away from the sheikh.
Ibrahim Goronyo, a lecturer of Mass Communication, Kaduna Polytechnic, writes via [email protected]
