THE LETTER SAGA: Sheikh Gumi Urges Iyabo Obasanjo To Respect Her Parents
The open letter allegedly written by Senator Iyabo Obasanjo to her father, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has has caused quite a stir among Nigerians, politics and mere mortals alike.
Ever since the letter in question had been revealed to the broad public, speculations have been circulating over its authenticity.
It will be recalled that the former President’s daughter called her father a liar, manipulator and hypocrite, and reminded he that he did not own Nigeria. Ms. Obasanjo accused her father of orchestrating a third term for himself as President, cruelty to family members, abandonment of children and grandchildren, and, also, a legendary reputation of ill-treating women.
An outspoken Kaduna-based Islamic preacher Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Mahmud Gumi has posted some remarks on his Facebook page concerning the arguable topic. Below is the full text of his message.
Iyabo Obasanjo wrote an open
letter to her father thus exposing their family feud openly. The letter
is
apolitical, irreligious and un-African. The letter became a
distraction from a previous one written by her father addressing very
important national issues.
Obj is not a
saint, neither is she one nor most Nigerians are. But what is worth
noting is that, at a crucial time when the nation is gripped by official
criminality of bloodshed, financial misappropriation, and moral
decadence, she now sees the opportunity to blast her father.
This
is the segment that stirred my attention. I don't think any person with
proper religious upbringing will ever do that to his parent. I once
heard in the CNN a British girl calling her Yemeni father an evil man
because he took her sister back to Yemen to marry. Evidently afraid for
his daughter, the moral decadence of the western society.
Respecting
one's parents is among the Jewish ten commandments which was also
endorsed by Jesus – peace be upon him – who was reported as saying,
"Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do
not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and
mother" (Mark:10:19), and in Matthew 15:4: "For God commanded, saying,
Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let
him die the death."
Allah The Almighty
said in the Quran: "Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him,
and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old
age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but
address them in terms of honour. And, out of kindness, lower to them
the wing of humility, and say: 'My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even
as they cherished me in childhood'." (Q17/23-24).
Iyabo is a victim of westernization. One thus wonder what the western life does to humanity?
Islam
has allowed a man capable to sustain up to four wives by treating them
and their children equal. Had Obj been one, he wouldn't have left
iyabo’s mother for Stella and her children, thus incurring on himself
the ‘wrath’ of family injustice. His religion say one man one wife. This
forces rich powerful men to discard their first love for younger ones
that come through their lives. What a pity, When the answer is right at
your doorsteps!
May Allah guide us all.