Some members of the Congress of Jigawa Academics (COJA), popularly known as the Jigawa intellectual group, have dissociated themselves from the purported endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, for second terms.
The academics, under the Concerned Members of the Jigawa Academic Forum (JAF), said the endorsement reportedly announced after their recent engagement with the state government did not represent their views or collective position.
They alleged that they were invited to the meeting under the impression that it would provide an opportunity for academics to discuss education and development in Jigawa State.
The position was contained in a statement signed by Professor Muhammad Ibrahim Magu and made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Dutse, titled: “How Jigawa Government Turned an Intellectual Forum Into a Political Circus.”
Magu alleged that members attended the meeting in good faith and out of respect for the office of the governor, with some coming with papers, data and proposals on how to address the state’s educational challenges.
According to him, the meeting was, however, allegedly turned into a political gathering.
“The purported endorsement being circulated in the media does not represent us, our views, or our collective will. We were deceived and lured under false pretence,” he said.
He added that the original agenda centred on education but was allegedly abandoned during the meeting.
“The education discussion was discarded. The governor only read out educational expenditure and apparently failed to show any tangible achievements.
“The meeting was converted into a political campaign, and regrettably, a vote of confidence and endorsement was staged for the sitting Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Umar Namadi Danmodi, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Magu alleged.
The concerned academics further alleged that cameras were brought into the venue and prepared statements were read, claiming that their attendance was subsequently used to create the impression that they supported the two politicians.
Magu said endorsement was neither contained in the invitation nor part of the agreed programme of the meeting.
He also questioned the presence of Ibrahim Masari, Special Assistant on Political Matters to President Tinubu, at the gathering, asking whether his participation was connected to educational development or political mobilisation.
The statement recalled the historical educational challenges facing Jigawa State, including out-of-school children, low girl-child enrolment, poor learning outcomes and weak transition rates.
Magu said COJA was established during the administration of former Governor Sule Lamido to provide an independent platform through which academics of Jigawa origin could contribute research, ideas and expert advice to the government on education and development.
“COJA was never a political party, nor was it conceived as a tool for political campaigns. It was established as an independent, non-partisan intellectual think-tank, the conscience of the state,” he said.
The academics alleged that the recent development represented an attempt to politicise the forum and undermine its independence.
They therefore disowned the purported endorsement of Tinubu and Namadi, insisting that political support was not part of their mandate.
“As concerned academics, we disown the endorsement of Governor Danmodi and President Tinubu. Let their performances speak, not political deceit,” the statement said.
The group reaffirmed that JAF remained non-partisan and would focus on policies, ideas and educational development rather than endorsing individual politicians.
“JAF remains non-partisan. We will never endorse any politician. As academics, we will only endorse ideas. There shall be no political endorsement. Our credibility is our only capital,” the statement added.
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