Thousands of Nigerian Shiite Muslims including some Sunnis and Christians yesterday began nationwide rallies to condemn and protest the desperate attempts by the Nigerian government under Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to kill the popular leader among different sects such as the Sunnis, Christian community and ..., His Eminence Sheikh Zakzaky.
Among the early starters are Sokoto and Zaria.
Sokoto and Zaria: Thousands of men, women and children carried posters of Sheikh Zakzaky with inscription, "We Condemn the Attempt by Nigerian Government to Kill Sheikh Zakzaky", expressing support for Sheikh Zakzaky.
A press statement distributed said, "the Nigerian government under Jonathan’s administration working for America and the illegal state of Israel have intensified their wicked attempts of killing the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky. Where other so called leaders have kept mute for fear of their lives and remain humiliated, Sheikh Zakzaky has never failed to expose the evil machinations of the Nigerian government and has always identified with the flight of the people of Nigeria".
Signed by Dr. Abdullahi Danladi, the statement observed that, Sheikh has been at the fore front of speaking and fighting injustice in Nigeria as a result of which he was persecuted successive and present regimes.
Citing the the killing of Sheikh Zakzaky's 3 undergraduate sons and 31 of his followers during International Qud’s celebration and the recent killing of additional 29 followers by Nigerian soldiers in Postikum, the statement cautioned the government.
"It is on this note we totally condemn the malicious plan to kill Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and to say to Mr Jonathan and his masters that as they prepare to kill Sheikh Zakzaky, they should prepare enough bullets to kill the millions of Muslims and even Non-Muslims that identify with his call. It may be easy to start a crisis but the end result may consume the perpetrators".
The rally was attended by human rights groups, NGOs and other peace-promoters. Other cities will conduct similar rallies later in the day.
Kaduna: “This rally we are conducting today is meant to tell the world that we vehemently condemn the attempt by Goodluck Jonathan administration to kill our revered Leader. This is the first step. Should they dare go ahead with the plan, we remain resolute to sacrifice our lives with the last drop of our blood”.
These are the words of Malam Mukhtar Sahabi at the rally in Kaduna to protest the series of attempts by the Nigerian government to kill Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky.
The rally which took place at the ‘Yan Lilo playground, was attended multitude of people from all walks of life carrying posters and placards of Sheikh Zakzaky, with inscription condemning the government’s evil plan.
He described Sheikh Zakzaky as a genuine peace-lover who exemplified the highest form of patience and perseverance despite intimidation and provocation. “I am yet to see a leader with such a large determined follower-ship who can endure and called for calm when three of his sons and 31 followers were unjustifiably tortured and brutally killed by the Nigerian military”.
The scholar therefore called on people to bear witness on this planned atrocity, as “We will not heed to any plea for when the evil plan is attempted. We have done our duty by telling the world what the Goodluck Jonathan is planning on our leader”.
Malam Mukhtar Sahabi lamented over the absolute silence of Nigerians when people are being killed at will for fear of death or intimidation. “We welcome death in the cause of truth and justice. We will never be intimidate into silence when lives of citizens is at stake. This is part of the lesson we learned from Imam Husain in Karbala, handed to us by Sheikh Zakzaky”, he added.
He concluded by praying to Allah to destroy all machinations by the enemy on Sheikh Zakzaky.
Asked by journalists what they Movement will do in the event of any eventuality, Malam Mukhtar Sahabi pointed out that, “It will affect everybody, for Sheikh Zakzaky is an embodiment of peace and stability”.
Kano: In Kano city thousands of people condemn the attempt by Ebele Jonathan’s administration to assassinate Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.
The protesters carrying posters and placards with messages of condemnation and protest against the evil plan.
The pro-Sheikh Zakzaky rally drew participants from all segments of the society, including non-Muslims. A young girl recently converted to Islam was seen with her family in attendance.
In his address to the rally, Sheikh Muhammad Mahmoud Turi described the plan by Ebele Jonathan to kill Sheikh Zakzaky as irrational and a calculated attempt to plunge the country into chaos for selfish interest.
He assured that, the Islamic Movement which Sheikh Zakzaky rightly guides is uncrushable, adding that the Movement is the only hope for the Nigerian common man and peace-lovers.
Sheikh Turi said, the plan by the government to suppress the forthcoming Arba’een symbolic trek to Zaria will surely take place despite the threat, and that the participation would be unprecedented.
He called on Nigerians to be awakened and rise up to challenge the current unpopular policies of government of the day. ”Sheikh Zakzaky and the Islamic Movement are the only shelter for Nigerians in the current heat of atrocities being perpetrated by the Ebele administration”, he added.
Bauchi: Also in Bauchi thousands of people condemned Jonathan Administration's plan to eliminate Sheikh Zakzaky. The rally took place on Friday the 14th of Nov. 2014.
