Nigerians Reject Politically Motivated Qur’anic Festival in Abuja.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin kudu
January 25, 2025
The proposed Qur’anic festival scheduled to hold in Abuja has sparked widespread controversy and rejection, especially among Nigerians from Northern Nigeria. Many view the event as an unnecessary political gimmick aimed at manipulating the masses under the guise of religious unity and development.
The festival, which reportedly plans to gather over 60,000 local Malams, Qur’anic memorizers, reciters, calligraphers, and writers from across the country and abroad, is estimated to cost over 7 billion naira per day. This has raised critical questions about its purpose, funding, and potential impact on the country’s pressing issues, such as hunger, insecurity, and poverty.
The organizers, particularly Jama’atu Izalatil Bida wa Ikamatus Sunna (JIBWIS) under its National Chairman Sheikh Bala Lau, claim the event aims to unite Muslims and promote national development. However, we argue that this gathering is politically motivated, designed to serve the interests of certain political actors who have often exploited religious sentiments to achieve their goals.
A major concern is the timing of the event, which coincides with the buildup to the 2027 elections. Nigerians believe this is a calculated attempt to sway the Northern population by hiding behind religious activities to push political agendas.
With Nigeria grappling with economic challenges and security crises, many are questioning the rationale behind such extravagant spending on a festival. The country faces severe hunger, devastating floods in Borno State, and ongoing insecurity in Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kaduna states. We have pointed out that the billions of naira earmarked for this event could have been better utilized to support victims of these crises or to tackle pressing national issues.
Furthermore, the security implications of bringing such a large number of people to Abuja cannot be ignored. In a nation still battling insurgency and other forms of insecurity, such a gathering poses a significant risk to the safety of participants and residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
The involvement of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has also come under scrutiny. While the NSCIA supports the event, many Islamic leaders and clerics argue that it will only deepen divisions among the Ulamas. They believe the unity of Muslims for national development does not require such costly and politically charged gatherings.
We have suggested a simpler and more meaningful alternative encouraging Imams to lead Qur’anic recitations and prayers within their local communities, a practice that has been carried out effectively for generations without financial burdens.
The proposed festival has also been criticized for exploiting the poverty and vulnerability of local Malams. Many are likely to attend not out of genuine religious enthusiasm but in hopes of financial benefits. This further underscores the manipulative nature of the event, which prioritizes political gains over genuine religious or developmental goals.
Nigerians are demanding transparency regarding the funding of this festival. Who is financing this extravagance? Why is such a significant amount of money being allocated for a non-essential event when the nation faces dire challenges? These questions remain unanswered, fueling public skepticism about the true motives behind the festival.
The Qur’anic festival in Abuja has been widely rejected by Nigerians who see it as a politically motivated event designed to manipulate religious sentiments for political gains. At a time when the country is struggling with hunger, insecurity, and economic hardship, such extravagance is both insensitive and unnecessary.
The organizers and their political backers must recognize that true unity and national development come from addressing the needs of the people, not from staging costly and divisive gatherings. It is time to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians over political ambitions masked as religious initiatives.
can be reach Mr. Bala Salihu Dawakin kudu 08060017934
