How Remi Tinubu’s Sallah package flag-off sparked controversy in Kaduna

What was intended as a humanitarian gesture ahead of Eid al-Adha has spiralled into a fierce political and cultural debate across Northern Nigeria, exposing deep sensitivities about history, leadership, and the limits of political rhetoric. When Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, arrived in Kaduna to flag off the distribution of N1.2 billion and 100 […]

What was intended as a humanitarian gesture ahead of Eid al-Adha has spiralled into a fierce political and cultural debate across Northern Nigeria, exposing deep sensitivities about history, leadership, and the limits of political rhetoric.

When Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, arrived in Kaduna to flag off the distribution of N1.2 billion and 100 trucks of rice to vulnerable Muslim communities, the event appeared straightforward: a show of solidarity during a sacred season.

Standing before a gathering of political leaders, clerics, and community figures, she described the intervention as an act rooted in compassion.

“Compassion and gratitude through this intervention were translating the message of the season into palliatives for vulnerable Muslim communities,” she added.

She announced that the 100 trucks of rice and N1.2 billion would be distributed across 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Yet, even before the rice could reach its intended beneficiaries, another moment from the same event had begun to overshadow the gesture itself.

 

The comment that sparked outrage

During the ceremony, Sheikh Haliru Maraya, speaking on behalf of the Muslim Intellectual Scholars Forum, said President Tinubu has done tremendously well for the northern region, expressing confidence that Northerners would support his re-election bid.

Maraya is a respected teacher and prominent imam, widely heard on television and radio—especially during Ramadan Tafsir sessions in Kaduna.

He previously served as Special Adviser on Islamic and Hajj Matters to two former Kaduna State governors, the late Sir Patrick Yakowa and Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.

He currently serves as a member of the Hajj Interim Committee of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Board Agency.

“When it comes to the establishment of universities, as earlier mentioned by Honourable Sa’idu Jaji, the late Ahmadu Bello Sardauna established Ahmadu Bello University after spending eight years and three days in office.

“However, today, in less than three years, for instance, here in Kaduna State, President Tinubu has established the Federal University of Applied Sciences. In less than three years, the President has established 22 federal universities across Nigeria.

“Kaduna State has also benefited from additional gestures, such as the establishment of the Federal Medical Centre in Kafanchan,” he said.

However, the reported comparison between the current administration and the legacy of Sir Ahmadu Bello sparked widespread controversy.

In an open letter that circulated days later, Maraya was accused of stating that “the three years of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration are far better than the entire lifetime achievements of the late Sardauna.”

The unsigned letter, authored by a group identifying itself as “The Conscious Sons and Daughters of Arewa,” condemned the statement, accusing the cleric of “intellectual dishonesty” and “mercenary scholarship.”

“We cannot remain silent while you choose to desecrate the memory of our father for crumbs of political relevance…You sold the dignity of our history for the possibility of patronage,” the letter read.

At the heart of the controversy lies the enduring legacy of Sir Ahmadu Bello, a figure widely regarded in Northern Nigeria as both a political pioneer and moral exemplar. As the first and only Premier of Northern Nigeria, his influence extended beyond politics into education, economic development, and regional identity.

For many in the North, invoking his name in comparison with contemporary leaders is not just a matter of analysis, it is a deeply emotional act.

The open letter underscored this sentiment, listing institutions attributed to Ahmadu Bello’s leadership and questioning whether any modern administration could match his achievements within a similar timeframe.

“You cannot compare three years of policy papers to 50 years of living legacy. You cannot compare ‘renewed hope’ to ‘fulfilled destiny,’” the authors argued.

 

Maraya denies disrespecting Sardauna

Sheikh Haliru Maraya, in a chat with Daily Trust, denied insulting Ahmadu Bello, insisting that his comments had been misinterpreted.

He said the core of his message was not about diminishing the past, but about encouraging continuity in leadership.
Drawing on historical context, Maraya noted that Ahmadu Bello himself benefited from a second term, which allowed him to achieve milestones such as the establishment of Ahmadu Bello University.

“If the late Sardauna had not been re-elected, Northern Nigeria might not have gotten Ahmadu Bello University,” he said.

Maraya also reiterated his respect for the late leader. “I have never in my life disrespected the late Sardauna. What I said was not an act of disrespect,” he said.

 

Relief or politics?

While the debate over historical comparison raged, the original purpose of the event – the distribution of relief by the First Lady – was being scrutinised itself.

For some observers, the timing of the intervention raised questions about political intent. Murtala Abubakar, convener of the Arewa Defence League, dismissed the gesture as part of a familiar electoral pattern.

“This is not coming as a surprise to anyone familiar with political traditions during campaign seasons. Politicians come out to identify with the people and show solidarity. This is part of that pattern,” he said.

He suggested that the initiative was designed to balance perceptions across religious lines. “She did the same during Christmas last year, so she does not want Muslims to raise eyebrows,” he noted.

Abubakar argued that such gestures no longer carry the same weight they once did. “Nigerians have become wiser.

They have outgrown symbolic gestures meant to demonstrate that leaders care about their plight,” he said.

A Kaduna-based political analyst, Malam Garba Muhammad, questioned both the timing and the impact of the initiative.

Muhammad pointed to a pattern of similar interventions in other states, suggesting a coordinated political strategy.

“Now that elections are approaching, they are leaning toward distributing rice to Muslims. But I think this is a political gimmick, and I do not believe it will work with Northerners,” he said.

“What happens after the food is consumed?” he asked, highlighting concerns about sustainability and long-term policy impact.