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The Fulani ethnic nationality is considered one of the academically disadvantaged segment of the Nigerian nation but Abdullahi Aliyu defied the odds to go to school and graduate with honours from the Adamawa State University, Mubi.
The 27-year old Abdullahi who graduated with a Second Class Upper Division grade in Accounting has hardly completed his national youth service when he was clamped into prison custody for a comment he made on Facebook regarding the governor of his home state, Taraba.
Abdullahi who is from Zing council area of Taraba state has been in Jalingo Prison since March, 2019 without being charged or tried in court.
The ordeal of young Abdullahi was made public by his friend and mentor from Imo state, who is now a public servant who could not reach him for over a year because of his incarceration.
In the post to newsmen he wrote: Abdulahi Aliyu, a Fulani by tribe was my student when I did my NYSC with GTC, Zing ,Taraba state.He was the best accounting student then and overall best student.He has been in touch with me ever since I finished serving and he took me as his mentor. All the major decisions he took, he consulted me for advice before taking such decisions.I was instrumental to the choice of course he read in the university and today ,he is a graduate.He graduated with a second class upper in accounting and was posted to Abia state for his NYSC.”
He continued: “During his camping, he called me and told me that his parents wanted him to redeploy to their state because of the last general election and I advised him against it. After much pressure from his parents, he succumbed and redeployed. I was happy that a little boy from an educationally disadvantaged state whom I mentored had become a graduate and a guy with sound grammar. I was hoping to see him before he redeployed but I did not due to the nature of my job.
He became a vocal person and social critic on government bad policies. After he redeployed, we lost contact .I never heard from him again and I became worried. All effort to reach him even through his cousin proved abortive. I was hoping and praying he was fine.
Today, I got a call from an unknown number, behold it was him. I leaped for joy but my joy was cut short.He said to me “Papa” as he fondly called me “I am sorry, I have been in the prison for about a year”.I was cold. I asked him what happened he said after he redeployed, he criticised his governor on Facebook he was arrested and sent to prison without trial.He told me he was calling with the prison number. He said the DG NYSC intervened and he was asked to write an apology letter to the governor which he wrote but up till now, he has not been released.
“They have refused to charge him to court. My heart is bitter. Aliyu is a responsible promising intelligent guy who is incarcerated for criticising his governor. He said his incarceration was planned by the state SSG who is from his local government because of his perceived Facebook post against him.”
Abdulahi Aliyu’s mentor who craves anonymity told newsmen that Abdulahi made the Facebook comment on a post made by the SA on Media to the Deputy Governor of Traraba state, Haruna Manu.
The comment was made at a time when the Governor of the state, Darius Ishaku was away from the state for about 80 days with nobody aware of his whereabout or state, with opposition parties and citizens calling for the transmission of power to the Deputy Governor Haruna Manu.
Abdulahi had congratulated the Deputy Governor adding that if the governor dies, the Deputy Governor would replace him.
Apparently in face-saving move to protect his political career, the Deputy Governor clamped down on the young Abdulahi and threw him into prison without as much as a trial.
Abdulahi Aliyu made the comment on 12 March, 2019. He was arrested on 21 March, 2019 and has remained inprison till date without any criminal charge brought against him.
Well meaning individuals are presently calling for the release of Abdulahi Aliyu and an investigation into how he was remanded in prison custody for more than one year without a charge or trial.
