The Hausa community in Rivers State has denied endorsing any political party or candidate for the 2023 governorship election in the state.
They said a group of persons going from one governorship candidate to another with the name of northerners to endorse them for the elections was not representing the Hausa community in the state.
The chairman, Hausa Community in Rivers State, Alhaji Musa Saidu. who said this after a meeting of the body in Port Harcourt added that aside from seeking recognition, those said groups were tarnishing the name of the Hausa community.
Saidu alleged that a group claiming to be Northerners had visited the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Senator Magnus Abe, a few days ago.
While noting that they neither have access to the government house, Port Harcourt, nor anyone to speak for them, Saidu said many of the Northerners in Rivers currently came through business and have been living there for several years as well as contributing to the economy of the state.
He said, “We are businessmen. We work as security, shoemakers, and anything that can give us our daily bread legitimately, we will do it. So, we are not criminals, and at the same time, we are not beggars.
“When political season comes, people gather in a bus and go to visit one politician in the state, then he gives them money and they share. Those ones are jobless.
“They are not part of us because this organization (Hausa Community) recognizes only those that are working and earning money legitimately.
“We have the leader of Miyetti Allah, who own the cows in the state. We have the leaders of slaughter and we have everybody who do legitimate business here (Rivers) on board with us. Everybody knows me as mariner.
“There is a trend going on in Rivers State. Some people are going around, saying they are from North. They even went to Jackrich Tein (former APC presidential aspirant) when he was contesting for President.
“Three days ago, they went to Senator Magnus Abe. They are not Northerners. Those that visited Magnus Abe were not Northerners. If they are Northerners, they are not living in Port Harcourt. If they say they are living here, where is their address?
“So, we didn’t endorse any politician in Rivers State. We did not also endorse any political party. Amongst us here, we have APC, PDP, and even non-partisan ones. We are business people.”
Saidu said the matter will be reported to the police for appropriate action, as they will no longer sit and watch anyone trying to smear the image of the Hausa commumity which he said was law-abiding.
Saidu, also the National Chairman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Coexistence of Southern Nigeria, said the Hausa community was being excluded from the scheme of things in Rivers, unlike what was obtainable in other Southern states.
On the alleged marginalisation of Northerners in the state, he said, “In Delta and Enugu states, we have Senior Special Assistants to the governor from the North, except in Rivers State.
“Why are Northerners not getting anything in Rivers? The only thing the politicians in Rivers State knows is when they see people in agbada (caftan) in front of the Mosque, they will bring them and say the Northerners have visited His Excellency.”
Alhaji Saidu, however, said, the Hausa Community in the state will meet when it sees the right person (candidate) that will listen to their yearnings, saying, “If he meets us and promises that when he gets power, he will help us, we will support him.”
