Encomium
+ Why we organised prayer for him – MMPN
Sunday, July 6, 2014, marked exactly two years the frontline Islamic programme presenter on NTA, Alhaji Aremu AbdurRasaq Gawat was declared missing in a controversial circumstance! His sudden disappearance has remained a mystery to many, with so many unanswered questions.
On Saturday, July 19, 2014, (the 22nd day of Ramadan, 1435 AH) members of Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) skipped other commitments to attend a special prayer organised for the missing broadcaster and a staff of NTA, Tejuosho, Yaba, Lagos.
By 12 noon, the NTA Mosque was filled with Muslims journalists from both the print and broadcast. Also present were Islamic clerics and friends of Alhaji Gawat. The prayer session and lecture were conducted by Prof. Lakin Akintola and Shaykh Sulayman Adangba respectively, with recitation of select portions from the Qur’an and rain of supplication.
The circumstances that led to the sudden disappearance of Alhaji Aremu AbdurRasaq Gawat was seen by many as mysterious, but optimistic that with prayers, the missing person could be found. Some of the guests spoke on the Islamic position of this rare occurrence, in a chat with ENCOMIUM Weekly.
‘It’s unfortunate’
– PROF. LAKIN AKINTOLA
It’s mysterious. Mysterious, because it’s very unusual for a person to just disappear without trace. This is a minus on the part of security agencies. Unfortunately, no information about his whereabouts till date.
Those who planned harm for him did it because of his activities. This should serve as a lesson to every journalist, Islamic cleric, everybody. We have to be conscious, what we write, say and where we say it.
So many instances after Gawat. Some prominent islamic clerics have met the same fate, not to talk of many cases unrecorded. The case of Ustadh Yunus in Kaduna, a journalist, who was murdered by unknown gun men. Just last week, another islamic scholar, Shaykh AbdulGaniy Jimoh and his wife were kidnapped by gun-men in their house in Ijoko, Otta, Ogun State. Their whereabouts are unknown as we speak.
In this country, poor man has no security. But important personalities such as governors, senators, etc have dozens of security personnel protecting them in their houses, offices; thereby depriving poor masses of much needed protection.
I appeal to government to do something about it. People are disappearing; people are being killed, particularly islamic scholars. AbdurRasaq Gawat is a man of the people, known all over Nigeria. We need information about him.
‘If you say the truth, you’ll experience the same’
– SHAYKH SULAIMAN ADANGBA
We are here because of our brother, AbdurRasaq Aremu Gawat, who was declared missing two years ago. We are here to pray for him, and we believe, with prayers, everything is possible. We are also here because of ourselves. Whatever we do for Gawat today, we do it for ourselves and we will be rewarded.
What happened to Brother Gawat would definitely visit you if you’re the type that says the truth. In as much as we’re conscious of what we say, there is need for us to radicalise our lectures for people to understand our message.
Since there is no evidence he’s dead, no one has right to his properties. We all have to wait for eight years, according to Shariah (islamic rules).
‘WHY WE ORGANISED THE PRAYER’
– AbdulWarith Solanke, Coordinator, MMPN
He (Gawat) belongs to our community and our organisation, a front line broadcaster, who impacted people far and wide. For the past three Ramadan, the kind of things we introduced today is very rare and so we pray to Allah to make his affairs that of peace and beneficial to him.
In the first instance, the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria is an organisation that has been in existence for over one and half decades and we have very noble vision. First, the need to train Muslims in the media to have correct appreciation of islam and to be able to represent islam in the media generally.
The intention of the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria is to make positive impact on practitioners in the media industry. Second, we want to also reach out to organisations and personalities who need to be here, we believe that with the Muslim Media Practitioners, there is a stable platform on which the voice of Muslims can be heard.
‘He’s also man of the people’
TAJUDEEN UZAMAT – Gawat’s associate
It’s very sad but let’s be prayerful. I am optimistic that my friend is not dead, and I believe that through prayers, Allah will bring him back.
Gawat is a very pleasant, religious, pious and God fearing person. He’s also man of the people, who loves his family dearly.
– RASHEED ABUBAKAR
