Quick Facts On PDP's Recent Guber Zoning To Edu and Patigi LGAs By Musa Idris Buko Sunday 10th April, 2022

I listened to various audio recordings and also read few write-ups flying around the media space about the most recent micro-zoning of our great party (PDP)'s gubernatorial flag to Edu and Patigi LGAs. While I do not intend to speak now, the unfolding deliberate misinformation, distortion of facts and reality; peddling of narratives to advance self interests that threaten our unity, and of course give false dooms-hope to those who neither genuinely believed and laboured for KN2023 power shift struggle in the interest of the region, nor wish our party well in the first place. This makes it imperative to set few facts straight, moving forward. 

 وَلَا تَقۡفُ مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٌۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡبَصَرَ وَٱلۡفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنۡهُ مَسۡئُولًا 

And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart – about all those [one] will be questioned.

Do not speak without Knowledge 

Allah says;

وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُوَادَ

And follow not that of which you have no knowledge. Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart of, 

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said:

"(This means) do not say (anything of which you have no knowledge)."

Al-Awfi said:

"Do not accuse anyone of that of which you have no knowledge."

Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyyah said:

"It means bearing false witness."

Qatadah said:

"Do not say, 

`I have seen', when you did not see anything, or 

`I have heard', when you did not hear anything, or 

`I know', when you do not know, 

for Allah will ask you about all of that."

In conclusion, what they said means that Allah forbids speaking without knowledge and only on the basis of suspicion, which is mere imagination and illusions. As Allah says:

اجْتَنِبُواْ كَثِيراً مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ

Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins. (49:12)

According to a Hadith:

إِيَّاكُمْ وَالظَّنَّنَفَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ أَكْذَبُ الْحَدِيث

Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the falsest of speech. 

The following Hadith is found in Sunan Abu Dawud:

بِيْسَ مَطِيَّةُ الرَّجُلِ زَعَمُوا

What an evil habit it is for a man to say, `They claimed...' 

The essence of above references from the Qur'an is that it could earn us Allah's wrath and humiliation, especially in this month of Ramadan to speak or spread lies, misinformation; whether knowingly or innocently. 

1. The Kwara North 2023 power shift agitation is not about a LGA, for an individual or individuals. We all agreed unanimously to support whoever emerge amongst the aspirants from any of the five LGAs.

2. The Leader of the party, His Excellency Abubakar Bukola Saraki (CON) never at any time promised any of the five LGAs or Federal Constituencies to have the ticket.

3. There is no and was never anointed candidate. He refused all attempts to make him choose one or any.

4. The micro-zoning to Edu and Patigi LGAs was done by the PDP stakeholders from all the concerned LGAs in a democratic, open and transparent manner by the Members of PDP, not and never the Leader of the party (ABS). He only responsibly provided leadership and moderated the process. 

5. There was open debate for PDP stakeholders from each Federal Constituency in Kwara North to advance reasons for where the gubernatorial flag tilts. Factors such as united fronts, peoples mobilization effort (new enrolment on voters registration), sacrifice, selflessness, high-level lobbying and political clout were all variables that played out in the outcome of the micro-zoning. 

6. I urge us to all rally round and overwhelmingly support whoever finally emerge from Edu and Patigi LGAs.

7. We should all come together, pass the right and correct information to our people, party members and supporters. 

8. We must all unite and never allow anything to take us backwards. The zone that did not get it now will definitely get it another time in shaa Allah.

9. We should all educate, inform, enlighten the people, and as well caution our supporters to accept this development in best faith and move on.

10. Any revolt or protest at this time is unnecessary, uncalled for, crassly egoistic and would not portray us in good light.

 *God bless Kwara State*