‘We were witnesses and we shall be on the day of judgement’ By Sheik Salmann Sakili

Sheik Salmann Sakili and Governor Sakur Tan

THE GOVERNOR of Sulu, Hon. Governor Abdusakur M. Tan is a leader with a genuine concern for our Bangsa. Time after time, he had proven that not only to us but to the majority as well. 

My admiration for the Governor started especially during the (2013) Zamboanga Siege. When most people were still in a state of shock, he single handedly started to move. He stood up for our rights as he convened the ZamBaSulTa Leaders demanding for the accurate status of the affected people and making it clear to everyone especially to the then leaders of this city that the Bangsa is not to be slighted. I was personally motivated to be in the fight when he said, “We are here to help our people, We are here to assist, so treat them with Honor!” 

Soon after, when the “Balik Probinsya” government program was proposed, sir Gov stood up against it reiterating that Zamboanga is also a shared homeland of the Bangsa Sug - historically and culturally. So there is no telling who's who when it comes to who this city actually belongs to. If that is to be the case, imagine how one would feel when he is forcely 'evicted' from his own abode with his own family and own properties in tow just because of being a Tausug/Sama/Yakan? Imagine the displacement. The uprooting of generations, the modern diaspora. The slogan of "Do Not Leave Zamboanga" in the aftermath of the siege should now mean "Zamboanga Do Not Leave Us." 

As young as we were then, we were there, and WE WERE WITNESSES. We all know that the Hon. Governor has all the accolades and luxuries in life; he can actually choose to just sit back and enjoy all that life has to offer because he literally can afford to NOT do anything! He already has it all and he has nothing to prove, but then again he chooses to go out of his comfort zone and work for what he believes is right- and that is Our Rights!

Our crusade with the Bangsa Sug Movement before and until now manifested that he really cares. One thing Governor Sakur Tan doesn’t like is for our people to be once again oppressed. He chose to tread this less-traveled path not for himself but rather for our voices to be heard so that finally we can claim what is rightfully ours and attain what we truly deserve. And to that, many can again attest and witness.

 

The Sulu Governor, without hesitation, never bats an eye to ensure the safety and well-being of even a single Tausug and all his constituents. We can always check how his leadership reflected the effective approach to curb the seemingly persistent Covid cases during the pandemic that yielded Sulu as one of the provinces with the lowest number of cases in the country. We were part of Sulu Task Force Covid19 and WE WERE WITNESSES. 

People can say what they want but people working with him know very well how he doesn’t forsake his people. Needless to tackle politics; be it good or bad, without a shadow of a doubt, Governor Tan is an institution. 

In the spectrum of Sulu politics based on his tactics, wisdom and brilliance, Governor Sakur Tan is the last man standing and true to his roar, he never left Sulu; he never left his people. That is the Grand Patriarch of Bangsa Sug, not your typical breed, a battle-scarred warrior with a heart of a loving father. 

As Allah is our witness, he had done so many to help his people, assist those who are in need including those from outside Sulu, paid for their hundreds of thousands worth of medical bills, granted full scholarships to students extending up to the post-grad studies, settled problems of people we don’t even know, bred new potential leaders, helped far-flung communities, stood with victims of various tragedies, financed and sponsored numerous programs for the advancement of the Youth and Ulama sectors, and so many other activities beneficial to the people and to the country. 

With all of these, how can I not sincerely say: “We are witnesses and we shall be?! With all of these, how can we not reiterate the things that we really did see?! For indeed we were there. I was there. WE WERE WITNESSES, and we shall stand up to everything that our eyes witnessed, our ears heard, our hearts felt, WE WILL BE HERE READY. A great leader’s legacy shall forever be embedded in the history of this generation and will be celebrated in generations to come.” 

“~'If four persons testify the righteousness of a Muslim, Allah will grant him Jannah.' We asked: 'If three persons testify his righteousness?' He replied, 'Even three'. Then we asked: 'If two?' He replied, 'Even two.' We did not ask him (regarding the testimony) of one." [Al-Bukhari]