The Hausa and Northern communities in Anambra State have dismissed claims that former Governor Peter Obi discriminated against northerners, demolished their mosque or subjected them to profiling during his administration.
Community leaders, who spoke in separate interviews, described their relationship with the former governor as cordial, saying members of the Northern community benefited from various government programmes during his tenure.
The Secretary of the Hausa Community in Onitsha and Northern Community in Anambra and Delta States, Mr. Mahmud Ibrahim, specifically rejected claims circulating on social media that Obi demolished a mosque belonging to the Northern community.
Ibrahim explained that the mosque demolition shown in a viral video occurred during a crisis on February 21 and 22, 2006, before Obi assumed office as governor in March of the same year.
He said Obi, during his tenure, maintained cordial relations with the Northern community, including attending Salah celebrations and engaging with its leaders.
According to him, the former governor also contributed financially to the reconstruction and refurbishment of the mosque after its demolition, alongside other individuals and groups.
Ibrahim further denied allegations that northerners were discriminated against in accessing government programmes under Obi’s administration.
He said children from the Northern community attended public primary and secondary schools, while members also benefited from government-supported programmes, including religious pilgrimages and agricultural initiatives.
The community leader also dismissed claims that the state government introduced special identification cards to profile northerners, explaining that the identification initiative was undertaken by the community itself.
Similarly, the traditional ruler of the Hausa community in Awka, Alhaji Garuba Haruna, said northerners had lived, traded and invested in Anambra for decades while maintaining cordial relationships with their host communities.
He cited their participation in government programmes as evidence that members of the community were not excluded from state interventions.
The Chairman of the Northern Community in Anambra State, Alhaji Gidado Siddiqui, also said he personally benefited from an agricultural loan programme, claiming that he received N10 million under the scheme.
The community leaders urged the public to disregard claims they described as misleading, stressing the need for peaceful coexistence and accurate representation of the relationship between the Northern community and its host communities in Anambra State.
