The Sallar Gani, a popular Eid-Maulud festival celebrated annually by Muslims in Nigeria, turned into an opportunity for youths in Jigawa State to express their grievances to the state governor, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.
In the video of the event at Gumel Local Government Council of Jigawa State on Saturday, which was obtained by DAILY POST on Sunday, the governor and his deputy Umar Namadi were seen cheering the celebrants who were majorly youths.
As the duo drove past while cheering through the sunroof of the jeep conveying them, there were chants of ‘Bamayi’, ‘Bamayi’ which means ‘we don’t want you.’
Governor Badaru, who was elected in 2015 and 2019 on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is in his second tenure of office and will be completing his administration by May 29, 2023.
His deputy, Umar Namadi, is the Jigawa State APC governorship candidate in the 2023 election and is expected to take over from him if elected.
Sallar Gani is a popular celebration during the annual Eid-El-Maulud (Celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in Gumel, where the people display an age-old blend of multiethnic cultures through Dubar and other cultural activities.
Those spotted at the festival in the video, before running into the protesting celebrants were the APC governorship running mate in the 2023 general election, Eng. Aminu Usman Gumel, APC State Party Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Sani Gumel and many high ranking party officials.
Reacting to the video, the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Habibu Nuhu Kila said, “it was not true”, adding that those chanting ‘bamayi’ could be hirelings of those who don’t mean well for the State.
Alhaji Kila asked rhetorically, “What of the thousands in the palace that were praising the governorship candidate who chanted ‘Sai Danmodu?”
According to him, “everything started well, we arrived the town and the venue of the festival peacefully, and we were received warmly. After the event, when we were leaving the governor and APC candidate were in the same opened roof vehicle waving at the crowd when the youths started charting “Bamayi! Bamayi!”.”
The governor and the gubernatorial candidate were booed right from the palace until they left Gumel town. After the embarrassment they did not even wait to pray the Maghrib prayers.
