The Niger State Government has clarified a viral video of the state governor, Mohammed Bago, seen ordering security personnel to slap a man during the Fidua prayer for the late wife of the deputy governor, Zainab Yakubu.
The video, widely circulated on social media, shows Governor Bago purportedly ordering security personnel to remove and potentially slap an individual who was allegedly impersonating an imam during the ceremony.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, issued a statement on Tuesday addressing the incident. According to Wakaso, the individual in question was not an authorized cleric but an impostor attempting to assume the role of an Imam at the solemn gathering.
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Contrary to initial reports, Wakaso clarified that the man had neither been physically assaulted nor arrested by security operatives. Instead, he voluntarily apologized for his actions to the governor and the assembly of imams present.
“The governor’s actions were aimed at upholding the sanctity and respect of the Fidau prayer,” Wakaso asserted. “The presence of an unauthorized person taking on the spiritual responsibilities at such a significant event was deemed disrespectful and insensitive.”
Wakaso further criticized media coverage that she deemed misleading, emphasizing that Governor Bago’s intervention was solely to maintain the dignity of the occasion.
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She also highlighted the individual’s prior admiration for the governor, attributing his actions to an overzealous attempt to gain recognition.
“The governor’s decision to have the individual removed was not out of malice but out of a sincere commitment to preserving the solemnity of the Fidau prayer,” Wakaso concluded.
The incident has sparked debates and discussions across social media platforms, with varying interpretations of the governor’s actions. Governor Bago’s office has reiterated its stance on the matter, aiming to clarify misconceptions and restore focus on the solemn commemoration of Deputy Governor Zainab Yakubu’s late wife.