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THE ONDA EID SKIRMISHES, HON. MOHAMMED SANI OTTO AND THE FALSE NARRATIVE 

My attention has been drawn to a viral video making the round on social media in which the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Trade, Industry and Investment, Hon. Mohammed Sani Otto was visibly sighted at Onda Eid Ground. 

In the same video, one that was deliberately edited in part, to capture the area that presents a false narrative aimed at misinforming the unsuspecting public about what truly played out. 

For the record, let me state that Hon. Mohammed Sani Otto chose to observe Eid-el Fitr prayer with his kinsmen at Onda, out of the love, respect and admiration he has for them, a usual disposition that characterizes him. 

On getting to the Eid Ground, he was greeted by skirmishes involving loyalists of the Osu Onda, His Royal Highness, Alh. Abdullahi Kuku and Alh. Usman Ode, a one time contender to the exalted throne of Osu, as both were on ground. Typical of traditional tussles, infight broke out. While this was already on, the Honourable Commissioner arrived. 

It took his intervention to calm frailed nerves, mediating in the process. His intervention restored law and order, saving what might have turned into avoidable losses, and saw to the duo observing Eid prayer on the spot. 

Listening to the widely circulated video, one could hear a background voice echoing "the last year skirmishes were worse-off" outrightly pointing to recurrence of the same episode when indeed, the world knows that Hon. Otto did not observe Eid prayer there last year. What played out at the scene was power tussle involving the current Osu and his major contender. 

Why Nasarawa Mirror (N-Morror) and Sahara Reporters published the the doctored news without any verification is the reason some Media outlets are spotted in bad light. They can do better next time. 

From available pictures and videos at the Eid Ground, the duo of His Highness, Alh. Abdullahi Kuku and a respected elder statesman, Alh. Usman Ode can be sighted at the front row, as Sheikh Zubairu Agabi, the Deputy Chief Imam of Onda led the prayer. 

Let me emphasize that at a point , out of emotion, the Honourable Commissioner was in tears watching his own people whom he dearly loves and proudly idetifies with, engaging in infighting. 

As a responsible leader who is committed to unity and harmonious coexistence, it is only natural that he was overtaken by emotion, hence his tears, a part that was maliciously misrepresented. 

That notwithstanding, he chose not to leave the people he considers his', by themselves, to continue hurting each other, even when he was advised to, as may be observed from the viral video. Instead, he insisted on remaining there, a wise and necessary decision that brought the situation under control.

He is, for this reason, as well as many others, including ones relating to bringing development infrastructure-wise, empowerment related, promotion of peace and unity, providing needed guidance and mentorship to his people, facilitating school enrollment, stretching healthcare delivery system, etc, a venerated figure in Onda community and far beyond.

It was on this basis that the Osu Onda led the community on a thank you visit to the Commissioner at his Agirka in Koba shortly after the Eid prayer. The community described him as God sent whose coming and timely intervention averted what would have turned into a regrettable situation.

Yahaya Abdulrahman is the former Special Assistant to Hon. Mohammed Sani Otto on Media and Publicity.