The Sunnah Group of Nigeria, SGN, has adduced reasons why the Islamic Republic of Iran is backing the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar for the Saturday, February 23 elections.
A press statement by SGN’s coordinator of Daawah, Muntaka Kafinsoli, revealed how Atiku’s link with the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, popularly known as Shia or Shiites, has earned him a wide range of supports from the gulf country.
According to the group, the PDP presidential candidate is currently exploiting the situation in order to curry electoral favour from the Shiites nationwide.
The group alleged that Mr Atiku had also received funding from the Islamic Republic of Iran days ago to prosecute the 2019 election campaigns.
“Atiku is now exploiting the national security challenge by embracing Shiites and their deadly ideologies in order to score cheap political point.
“He is employing their support to win the election and release their detained members at the detriment of peace and harmony.
“We all know that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria constitutes public nuisance and threat to national peace and security.
“Therefore, anyone sympathetic to their cause could as well be an accomplice. We therefore urge security agencies to get to the roots of this matter immediately.
“He is getting financial aids as we speak and other logistics supports to actualise his ambition and serve the interests of Shiites and ultimately the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is the financial of the sect. This will be an assault on Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” they added.
Recall that the Shiites movement in Nigeria had been having a running battle with the Federal Government over the former’s disregard for the
constituted authorities and holding religious beliefs and activities inimical to national security.
Also, the IMN’s overall leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, has been in detention since December 2015 after his followers prevented the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, from passing in Zaria, a situation which led to a fracas that broke out and attendant loss of lives.
Zakzakky is currently facing trial before a Kaduna State High Court since May 15, 2018, over alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and public disturbance.
Since his arrest, his followers including others, who are sympathetic to Shiites’ cause, have been protesting and demanding for his release, a development that had turned out to be fatal at different times in the past, leading to loss of lives and property.
