The Arewa Community in Lagos has denied receiving any Sallah gifts from the state government in commemoration of the festivities.
Contrary to the much bandied claims, Alhaji Sa’adu Yusuf Gulma Chairman, APC Arewa, Lagos State has unequivocally declared that no such largesse from the state government was received, on behalf of the Arewa community by him or any of the traditional headships in the state.
He added further, that the said claims had to a large extent elicited ill feelings amongst Arewa stakeholders in the state, who now feel they are merely recognised for their electoral value only, after which they really don’t matter to the powers that be for other considerations.
In a statement signed by Alhaji Sa’adu on Monday, he mentioned the fact that the issue at stake also signals an untoward development within the community as certain blocs seem to be working at cross purposes.
Sa’adu said that: “We hasten to point out without fear or favour that there is no grain of truth in this claim, that the leadership of the Arewa community was presented with a largesse of gift items to be distributed amongst members of the Arewa communities across the state to celebrate the festival.
“Beyond this false claim of distribution of Sallah gifts, there is also an emerging unwholesome trend which signifies that factions within the Arewa block are working at cross-purpose which is not healthy for our collective communal and corporate image.
“It would be sad if the impression being created is that the Arewa community is only useful to be used as mere vote-casters and not respected members of the larger Lagos community.
He added further that, “Sallah gifts to the Arewa community over the years is a cherished and respected tradition with which the Lagos State government extends her annual felicitations to members of the Arewa community as partners in progress.
“We are now in a state of shock knowing that no largesse was extended to the community this year, yet we are inundated with false claims that gifts were presented to the Arewa community.
Sa’adu clearly perturbed by divisive tendencies spotted in the community, explained further that the government need wade into the situation to unravel what went wrong to forestall a negative perception.
“We have made our unbiased findings through the teeming members of the Arewa community across the state, and what we found out was that no Sallah gifts of any shape or shade were brought to their communities.
“As the Arewa Chairman of APC, Lagos State I have good grounds to corroborate that no gifts whatsoever were received by neither the traditional leadership nor the mass of our people.
“Our public outcry is to draw the attention of the Lagos State government to the plight of members of communities, whose communal strength and goodwill is being exploited to collect gift items that were not presented to them.
“Let me repeat for the avoidance of doubt that there was never a time I was called upon to receive 2022 Eid El Kabir festive largesse for or on behalf of the Arewa Community.
“The report is not only a false claim but also an insult and disrespect to the traditional institution.
“We are therefore using this medium to draw the attention of Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu of Lagos State to as a matter of urgency set up an enquiry to investigate this false claim.
“While implore the Governor to use his good office in getting to the root of the matter by sending a team to make enquiries with relevant traditional institutions, we ask that a decisive action should be taken on the strength of their report.
“The emerging picture from the false claims of distribution of Eid El Kabir largesse is that the power of the Chairman, Arewa Community is being usurped.
“This is a criminal act and illegal and such a person should not be recognized, whoever the usurper may be.
“Our stance on requesting the government of Lagos State government to go the whole hug in investigating the false claim is to ensure that justice is not only served but must also be seen to have been served, to serve as deterrent which will go a long way in establishing the neutrality of the government on the issue.
“It is also important to add; our people are bitter with this nauseating development which has seemingly added salt to injury.
“Let me reiterate; that we dissociate ourselves from the story making the rounds that Arewa traditional leaders and members received Eid el-Kabir festive largesse. We found such story very disturbing.
“However as the newly anointed APC Arewa Chairman, I pledge my continued support and loyalty to our great party, the APC.
“I also extend a hand of support to the APC Chairman, Lagos State; the GAC, Lagos State as well as all party leaders who have steadfastly been working round the clock to ensure the successes recorded by our party, the APC, to date.
“I also note with pride the laudable achievements of our amiable Governor Sanwo-Olu who by any stretch of human imagination is model and pride of the APC.
“Let me assure the leadership of APC and our teeming members across Lagos State that we are matching into the 2023 General Election as a solid party with an assurance of overwhelming victory at the polls.” Sa’adu restates pledge.