“Attention of Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (APC Kano South), has been drawn to comments going viral in the social media about a comment in an interview he granted Channel Television on Friday 24 May, 2019, on the subject matter above.
“It’s painful that most of the uncomplimentary and insulting comments on matter where it is coming from people that have not listened to or have watched the interview but based their hash responses on their mind set.
“It is even more painful that hate speech, a new trend in our body politics has turned our country to a banana republic where crossing the Rubicon makes turning back on any decision is a herculum task.
“Nigerians react to issues based on where one comes from in the River Niger divide. That’s to say that if you are from the north, whatever is said negatively about you is believed hook, line and sinker to the people from the south as if the federal republic of Nigeria is no longer one country but two nations at war.
“If atecedence of a public office holder in the country is taken into cognisance, Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya stands out as a public figure known for ethics and decorum that will never declare that any part of the country is politically irrelevant. “The senator is one politician that even though represents Kano South in the Senate; He considers every part of the country as his constituency.
“As chairman Senate Committee on States and Local Government for Administration, he ensured that peace returned to Rivers State when the Senate took over proceedings of the state assembly in 2013.
“As chairman Senate Committee on Works, he started his oversight function of federal roads in the country from the South-South to South-East ensuring that the needful was done for people from those zones, the same zones he is being accused of saying they are politically irrelevant today.
“If thorough research is carried out on the senator, the now verified senator is a traditional title holder in the zones.
“Is traditional titles given to an enemy or a friend? Much as it’s true that interview was granted Channel Television, what was suggested by the said offensive interview was that principal officers of the 9th Senate should be zoned by the ruling party as follows: “North-East-Senate president, South-West- Speaker, North-West-Deputy-Senate president, North-Central-Deputy-Speaker, South-South-Senate majority leader and South-East- house leader.”
“The above suggestion was a personal opinion that the distinguished senator is entitled to. However, to be offended by the above suggestion is to say the least making Nigeria a country where people are prevented to air their opinions which we are not yet aware of.
“As citizens of the country, it is our constitutional rights to air our views on local government, state or national issues and the National Assembly is yet to pass any law banning that.
“If we are to make progress as a people, we all endeavour to respect each other’s rights despite religious or political parties’ affiliation, “Gaya concludes.
