Failed 1990 coup ‘birthed Islamic Forum of Nigeria’

Ahmad Daku, former military administration of Kano state, says the 1990 failed coup d’etat led by Gideon Orkar, a former military officer, is the major reason behind the formation of Islamic Forum of Nigeria.

Orkar led a faction of the armed forces on April 22, 1990, on a coup to oust ex-President Ibrahim Babangida, but it was unsuccessful.

The ex-military officer and 41 other conspirators were later convicted of treason and subsequently executed by a firing squad on July 27, 1990.

Speaking at the 36th annual general meeting of the forum in Kano state, Daku said the coup plotters’ pronouncement of expelling predominantly Muslim core northern states of Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Bauchi and Borno, necessitated late Hassan Usman-Katsina, Usman Jibrin, Aminu Dantata and other northern intellectuals to set up the forum.

According to him, part of the objectives of the forum is to champion Muslim cause, promote unity and youth empowerment.

“The Forum has conducted series of Islamic lectures on problems of Nigeria, how they affect us are being addressed especially during Ramadan lectures,” he said.

In a statement, Nasiru Ibrahim, the forum’s publicity committee head, quoted Salisu Shehu, executive secretary of the forum, as saying during the period under review, two sets of Ramadan lectures were successfully conducted on dangers of drugs abuse, ways of combating it, and other issues of moral decadence.

“The forum on Sunday 27th October 2019, held an interactive meeting with Islamic Organizations in Kano state over the Kano-9 kidnapped and abducted children. The meeting lasted for about three hours and was attended by 34 representatives from 21 Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and Faith Based Organisations (FBOs),” he said.

“Furthermore, the forum submitted a memorandum to the commission of inquiry into the cases of missing persons in Kano state. Subsequently, the commission invited the forum and Alhaji Hussaini Ibrahim, Alhaji Ado Muhammad and Alhaji Sale Adamu Kwaru attended and defended the submission.”

The meeting which featured report presentations from state branches of the forum was attended by representatives of emirs of Kano, Zaria, Dutse and Hadejia.