Ali Artwork Madagwal Speaks on Kannywood, Politics, and Insecurity in Nigeria

Ambassador Al-Muhammad Idris (Ali artwork Madagwal)

“I am speaking, Ambassador Al-Muhammad Idris, popularly known as Ali Artwork Madagwal, the Sardauna of the youth of the North.

Now, what I am about to say is, I would like to comment on a matter raised by our brother Musa Mai Sana’a, who is planning a Kannywood film.

On Politics and the Film Industry

Now, the point I would like to make to my Kannywood brothers is this: politics is a matter that concerns the community, not just the film industry.

Mai Sana’a should know that Nigeria has now reached a point where everyone can express their opinion. And especially what we should thank the community for the leadership they have given us—because we can say it is leadership—if it were not for the people who know us, there would be no reason for politicians to use you to harm the community and those who love you between themselves and God.

On Community Support and Responsibility

When I did this, I cannot cite the trips I have made A little bit of southern Nigeria and how people have not supported and helped us, what has the community brought us to this?

Because of the work that was done to you and the entertainment of the community that you are doing. Therefore, this community is the one that says it does not like what you are doing. So you should leave something, put aside your interests and follow the interests of your community.

Advice to the Film Industry

Seeking money is not madness, and politics is not madness either.

We should know what happened to him and we sympathize with him, and we pray to God to protect him. But I want to appeal to the film fraternity: Son of God, son of the Prophet, let us avoid what will cause us problems. God is our privilege, and with their help and love that they show us, we should not allow ourselves to be conspired with and betrayed.

Therefore, I will further appeal to the film fraternity; let us do politics, but politics of reason. It is not that we should always do what our community does not want, which can cause “…to put our nation in trouble.”

Question by the Presenter (Journalist)

“Well, but don’t you see, the constitution gives every citizen the right to speak his mind, since you are saying that they should respect it?”

Continuation of Ali Atwork Madagwal’s Speech

“Yes, politics is done. Where he had a problem, he came and continued to promote his politicians who were better than him.

But I will not forget, there is a brother, Sadiq Sani Sadiq, who came out and spoke, whose opinion he expressed, whose opinion coincided with the opinion of the common people of Nigeria as a whole.

So you should not come out and say that you will attack him the way he attacked him. This is their biggest problem that he has thrown himself into. Anyone who has deep thinking and standing and understands how life is, should have said that he went and continued to promote his politician, he was not prevented.

On Division in Kannywood

But you came out and attacked him… right, it is seen that your Kannywood is close to causing division especially on political issues.

Don’t you see this matter as if it has brought out the pure division that you are suffering from?

Well, this is not division. As I told you, what gave Musa Mai Sana’a a problem was the attack on Sadiq Sani Sadiq that he came out and did directly.

The one in which he said that the things he is promoting about Muhammadu Badaru and the advice he is giving, it is a good thing that the security forces must be helped in eliminating this insecurity that is troubling the community, then if he had stopped at this awareness campaign that he is doing, then I can say that he did not do anything wrong.

On Insecurity and Youth Concerns

But the main problem is: come to what is troubling the people… we are all young Nigerians and Northerners.

All the things that are happening insecurity and the problem of killings and the division that is happening, we do not want it.

Appeal for Peace in Jos

At this juncture, I would like to use this opportunity to appeal to the leaders in Jos. Most especially the Honorable Governor, we see the efforts he is making to unite the community.

This problem is a problem that arose from parents and grandparents. Here I would appeal to all our religious leaders; from the church leaders and our Islamic scholars, to fear God.

This problem, between God and them, they started by telling their supporters, instead of calling for unity and peace, it turns out that the youth are being incited.

Call for Dialogue and Unity

I appeal to the Honorable Governor to gather the Islamic scholars of Jos and the Christian church leaders, to sit down and discuss ways to ensure peace in Jos and the entire Jos community.

We do not say that wherever a terrorist is, he is a terrorist; whether he is among Christians or among Muslims. If you are a terrorist, you are just a terrorist, regardless of the religion you come from or the tribe you belong to.

Any person who will take a gun or any other weapon and go and kill someone is a terrorist. Whether he is a Muslim or a Christian.

On Law, Justice, and National Unity

Therefore, we call on the Honorable Governor of Jos to try to bring together scholars and Christians to review, even in government buildings, to draw the attention of all parties.

Anyone who goes and does something illegal, since we have Nigeria, we have a system, we have a constitution, we have laws; it should not be said that people are being ignored and allowed to do whatever they want.

Final Message

And to say that in Nigeria now we are not given the opportunity to sit down and come up with our own interests and unite with each other, what if someone comes and intervenes among us, and even from another country?

This is a shame for our leaders, a shame for the entire community that we are together. It should be said that this is a matter that is not beyond sitting at the table and fixing it.

But when someone comes in and talks about a tribe or a religion saying, “Who are they, who are they, who are they… where is he? Where is the evidence for this? Does he have proof? If he has evidence, he should bring it.

In Nigeria, we know that there are killings in every area, and these killings are carried out by terrorists. Whoever kills is a terrorist; whether he is a Muslim or a Christian.

And if he is caught by the law, he should say that the constitution has made a law that anyone who does something like this should be punished. We do not care about where he comes from, whether you are a Christian or a Muslim.

If it is proven that you killed people or did something, then the law should apply to you.

“This is what we believe will bring us peace and justice in our country, Nigeria.”