On Abdullahi Fodio’s standing legacy

If what is happening today in the ancient town of Gwandu is not a sacrilege, then it may not be divorced from being called an affront to the heritage and institution established by the 19th century legendary scholar, Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio of Gwandu.  The standing and reputable mosque built by the eminent scholar in Gwandu […]

If what is happening today in the ancient town of Gwandu is not a sacrilege, then it may not be divorced from being called an affront to the heritage and institution established by the 19th century legendary scholar, Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio of Gwandu.  The standing and reputable mosque built by the eminent scholar in Gwandu has been reduced to pawn in the hands of modern-day politicians.
At a time when two prominent of his descendents are busy in legal tussle jostling for the throne of the legendary Islamic reformer, the mosque built by Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio in Gwandu is not only being bulldozed but left unattended to for months with individuals compelled to praying under the summer’s scorching sun or torrential rainfall.
Many view this not only as an insult to the scholar, but also being insensitive to the psyche of the innumerable people who pray at the mosque.
Built over 200 years, the mosque has been a centre of learning and fountain for the development of the West African Islamic scholarship that spread across the globe. The mosque has also been a source of attraction for historians and tourists with thousands of Muslims visiting the place annually with a view to seeing for themselves the relics which physically convey the presence of monumental contributions of the scholar in the area.
Considering the importance attached to the mosque and in a bid to garner sympathy and support, politicians do make attempts to emulate public-spirited individuals who exhibit the habit of renovating and/or making embellishments in or around the mosque.  I have no compelling reasons to proof whether such decorations are imperative or a priority.
Perhaps due its centrality and high number of visitors, the mosque has been having more “volunteers” willing to renovate it as compared to a few individuals who bother to renovate the Sheikh Abdullahi Fodio’s House that has been converted into cemetery Hubbare there.
In the wake of 2015 general elections, a politician who thought he could do it all muster the courage of demolishing the entire mosque in order to build an “ultra-modern” one. Of course this was done with the consent of the people at the helm of the mosque in anticipation of a better-fashion and ultra-modern mosque. The mosque was demolished for over half-a-year now and there seems to be no time for the completion of its reconstruction.
Some of the questions begging for answers are why the N97.4million contract for the reconstruction of the mosque was abandoned. Why the construction company left the site? Was there any allegation of contract violation that might have ejected them to leave the construction venue?
The worst thing that further complicates and compounds the situation is that the poor people who observe Jumu’at prayer there are made to offer their prayers under the insufficient temporary provisions with hundreds of them compelled to pray under the sun or in the rain.
It is not surprising to hear young boys in the area making side talks on what the erstwhile Masallaci Babba (Big/Central Mosque) has been turned to.
I doubt if the defeated politicians (wounded lions of the Peoples Democratic Party) or the “we-have-no-money” politicians of the All Progressive Congress could be brought back to their senses and join hand to see to the completion of the mosque.
The time has come for the people of Gwandu to learn a lesson from the incident. Philanthropists in the area could join hands and raise fund to reconstruct the mosque.
The intervention of Kebbi State Government, the Gwandu Emirate or the Sultanate Council to rescue the monumental relic from getting obliterated and effaced is highly imperative.
Members of the State and National Assembly should come to the aid of the mosque from extinction by oblivious politicians. Let us act now before the international agencies in the oil-rich Islamic nations salvage the menace.
 I detest a situation whereby we all fail and some individuals will shamelessly be left with no option  than to invite United Nation Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to complete the construction of the  place and declare the place as a world cultural centre.
When that is done we will all be victims of a historic suicide as the standing legacy of Sheikh Abdullahin Gwandu would only be such by name and location, courtesy of allowing politicians to toy with our history. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. A word is enough for the wise.

Gwandu can be contacted through [email protected]