This is the second time I’m writing about Islamic scholars involved in politics. The first was when the controversial Kaduna based Dr. Ahmad Gumi intensified his mostly one-sided and pedestrian criticisms of President Buhari’s personality.
I argued at the time that Gumi’s contemptible timidity with Buhari was mostly personal hatred born out of mischief—the one that is untypical of a serious minded Islamic scholar.
Back to the main issue! Imam Dr. Idris Abdul’aziz is a very popular Islamic Scholar of salafi extraction in Bauchi with massive followership. He was a staunch critic of the Jonathan regime especially its handling of the Boko Haram insurgents that have ravaged the north east with fatal consequences. He was resolute in insisting that the government of the day was not interested in ending the insurgency at a time many other Islamic scholars were either afraid to talk truth to power or were bought by material inducements to keep mute.
The idea that religion and politics are inextricably linked is naturally positioning Dr. Idris Abdul’aziz to wield relevance in Bauchi politics and beyond; particularly because of the following:
Firstly; activism in Islam is not a new phenomenon looking at the history of serious minded Islamic scholars that have paid the supreme price for speaking truth to power. Dr. Idris Abdul’aziz is nurtured to be resolute when it comes to speaking his mind particularly when he believes that the powers that be are defined by injustice and are consistently trying to malign and hoodwink the masses to their own advantage.
Secondly, the idea that Islamic scholars should refrain from partisan politics amidst injustice by the elites is nonsense. Islam has never been an isolationist religion, even in the face of western-capitalist-democracy. The nexus between Islam and politics is born out of the idea that governance, more than anything, has serious implication on religious propagation and practice. So the argument on whether Islamic scholars or clerics should remain neutral does not hold much water—and Dr. Abdul’aziz being a cosmopolitan scholar is very much informed about this.
Thirdly; Dr. Idris criticisms are not motivated by quest for material wealth—they are purely people’s driven. He has vehemently and on several occasions resisted financial inducements by political gladiators who have mastered the art of using religious entrepreneurs to advance their political interest. His dexterity to resists these kinds of inducement has endeared him to his followers who firmly believed that his Islamic activism is for the masses and on behalf of the Sa’adu Zungur’s talakawas.
Fourthly; Dr. Idris criticisms defy being one sided. He has characteristically and on several occasions criticised even people of his salafi extraction when he believes that their actions or inactions contravene the teaching of Islam or was against the interest of the poor. For instances, in the build-up to the 2019 general elections when Yakubu Dogara stood re-election against Gov. Abubakar’s anointed candidate—a popular Islamic scholar in Bauchi, Dr. Idirs was unequivocal in downsizing Dogara’s critics in view of the latter’s track records. This is very untypical—that an Islamic scholar will subliminally ‘support’ a non-Muslim to win elections as many that were desperate to lampoon him believed. But that wasn’t his idea. The idea was that Dogara’s influence was born out of love for his people and his ability to cushion their sufferings with various incentives, employment opportunities and empowerment programs.
Fifthly; Dr. Idris Abdul’aziz’s influence in Bauchi politics in particular is because of the idea that his followers understood his background and personality which has created an image that plays strongly, especially his ability to remain neutral without being cowed into any sectarian divide. Thanks too to his financial muscles.
Sixthly; he has been a vocal point for those who cannot speak—particularly Bauchi workers and retirees who were denied salaries and pensions for months even in the face of recession. Many have died as a result. So they find succour when he speaks—even if it means just to console them.
What the foregoing culminates is that Idris bAbdul’aziz will continue to shape, mould and mentor his students on the side of what he believes in—despite growing desperation to silence him. And the more he’s brutalized by official feud, the more popular he becomes and the more the authorities will endear him to his evolving supporters and followers.
Impliedly, it means he will continue to shape the views of his students and followers—who in themselves poses heavy political quantum that decides who gets what; at least politically.
It will be practically impossible to sideline and silence persons of his calibre—who are not only masters of the art of rhetoric, but in themselves authorities with much education, massive followership and ability to stand for the hoi polloi.
They will only be silenced in the face of death!
Haruna can be contacted via [email protected]
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
