Reports and document linking the death of a former Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa to the embattled Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami has been declared as false and unsubstantiated by the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
The Christian body dismised the insinuation while reacting to a document making the rounds on social media that Yakowa was killed by Pantami and Muslims, urging Nigerians to be wary of such unsubstantiated rumours as the authenticity of the document was doubtful.
The late Governor Yakowa died in a helicopter crash on December 15, 2012.
A former Special Adviser to Yakowa, who is also the state Chairman of CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, in a statement on Thursday, warned that linking Pantami and the Muslim community to the death of Yakowa would endanger national peace. He also called on security agencies to stop the circulation of the document.
According to the document, a meeting of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Bauchi chaired by Pantami had strategiesed on the killing of Yakowa, the first Christian governor of Kaduna State.
Hayab said: “If we support unverified allegations against someone today because we loathe the person, the monster could be deployed against us or someone we cherish tomorrow.
“We cannot afford to stoke the fire when we should be pouring more water. Those who feel they have information to help the security agencies investigate whatever crimes against groups or individuals should do so within the provided window, without exacerbating the tension of formulating tales in the public space.
“We, the Christian community and indeed his immediate family acknowledged the tragedy, submitting to the will of God Almighty.
“For that purpose, there is no point, now or later, to open up what will not bring back our leader and father but rather open up old wounds in a very controversial manner.
“Sensitive documents like the ones purported to be from the JNI meeting in Bauchi should be subjected to thorough security investigation and trials, not tools for social media warfare.
“The danger of making this a media issue, instead of a legal and security issue that it ought to be, is that we stand to lose the most important point; that of bringing to justice persons accused to have wronged the law.
“Accordingly, there is a need for circumspection and care so that we do not throw our communities into further chaos in the rush to hang one man.
“At a time of strained relationships between neighbours, what we need are mediatory interventions and peace building, rather than adding fuel to the raging fire.”
