BUHARI: NOW THAT WE FOUND CHANGE

Today is the fifth day since the swearing in ceremony of President Muhammadu Buhari and already the tell-tale signs are evident that his honeymoon period is destined to be the shortest in the history of our nation. Nigerians who have been baying for blood since the APC swept the polls last March cannot understand why the heads of their perceived traducers in the last administration are yet to roll.

Many cannot understand the seeming slow pace of appointments announced so far. Their definition of change obviously also meant it must be done with military dispatch.  They seem to believe in the precedence already established by the PDP.

When Olusegun Obasanjo assumed the mantle of leadership in 1999, the first thing he did was to retire all the service chiefs and a generation of top military brass conveniently put out of circulation on the excuse of being politically exposed people. The late President Umar Yar’Adua also did the same, just like the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan. The dismissal of the service chiefs they met in office was done almost as soon as they were sworn into office.

But here we are in the era of Buhari’s second coming albeit as a democratically elected President. Five days into his presidency, the service chiefs appointed by his predecessor are still sitting pretty and seemingly under no threat of immediate dismissal.

Not only that, apart from the appointment of his two media aides, most of the other key appointments such as those of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other critical appointments in the presidency are yet to be announced as I write this. What could possibly be responsible for the delays? Is the delay part of the change promised Nigerians? Knowing Buhari’s well-known antecedents, are the delays caused by his insistence on picking only the most fit and proper persons for the affected offices?

Whatever may be the reasons it is now obvious that managing the change the new administration has promised is going to be even more herculean than sacking the PDP from office. The scenario reminds me of the racy musical hit released by the Jamaican reggae group “Third World” more than two decades ago titled “Now that we found love, what are we going to do with it?”

The more I contemplate the current situation, the more I am tempted to also ask: now that the APC has found the change it sought, what does it intend to do with it? It is not only in the delayed announcement of appointments that the APC appears to have got Nigerians worried. If care is not taken, they risk doing serious damage to themselves in the manner the principal officers and leadership of the National Assembly are going to emerge.

It may be far too early to predict anything, but already the signs are obvious that managing the change it promised Nigerians will have to be handled with greater tact and urgency. Nigerians voted for change on the overwhelming belief that the PDP administration was inherently corrupt and inept. In President Buhari they saw a beacon of hope, integrity and above all efficiency and incorruptibility.

Nigerians want answers to all the missing billions of dollars in the oil and power sectors that defied seemed to defy belief. They want those who arranged the sham recruitment exercise in the Department of Immigration in which scores of Nigerian youth perished after being scammed to pay for their crimes. They want answers to the mystery surrounding the ten million dollars seized by the South African government to the embarrassment of Nigerians at home and abroad. They demand quick answers to these and other scandals that are too numerous to recount here for lack of space.

But to be fair to the President, it is obvious that he is trying his best to prove to the world that he is the converted democrat he promised. It is also possible that even the delays can be explained as part of the change his party promised Nigerians in the first place.

I have never believed that sacking of our military chiefs each time there is a change of leadership in the country is the best thing to do except for reasons of corruption and incompetence. Even so, the current service chiefs will be hard-pressed to explain the colossal military budgets in the past six years and the corresponding poor results in the fight against Boko Haram. At a point foreign mercenaries even had to be brought in to our eternal shame. They owe the nation a lot of explanation without a doubt.

That said, the President’s seeming slow pace, so far, will also be justified if it is to avoid the damning arbitrariness of the past by enthroning the rule of law. We cannot forget that at a time Nigerians will not mind if some members of the immediate past government are given the Mussolini treatment, he has erred on the part of caution. It is highly commendable that he directed airport officials and security agents not to molest or prevent members of the previous administration from travelling abroad if they so desired.

It is equally commendable that he reminded them all Nigerians remained innocent from their alleged crimes unless otherwise proven by our courts. That is obviously change in motion and it must be recognized and applauded. In any case, the world is now a global village. Treasury looters can run but they can no longer hide. Information technology has made it extremely difficult to hide illicit funds.

I can hardly end this discourse without this broadside to the many uninformed bigots that sarcastically wrote to congratulate me because “My brother” is now in Aso Rock! It gives me maximum pleasure to remind them that I did not endorse his presidency on the basis of ethnicity, religion or creed because it would be primitive to do so. I voted for him because he seemed the most serious and competent candidate to get Nigeria out of its present quagmire. And if after four years the president and his party fail to perform I will not hesitate to show them the red card.

That is the essence of change and indeed democracy.

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Criminal Tendencies In Single Story

There exit, sometime in the life of a person, particularly, someone obsessed with pursuit of excellence, when he/she will encounter a literature or article or even a mere statement that will instantly transform his/her thought and almost in a single move change his total perception of issues or an event. This is one of it. Of course, this is not the first time. Recently, I came in contact with a jewel authored by Rev Mathew Hassan Kukah. The lecture he delivered at the occasion of the 80^th birthday celebration of Prof. Wole Soyinka. The lecture titled “Wole Soyinka: 80 Years of Genius and Prophetic Outrage”. Even though I was not opportune to there in person, it was no less the authenticity of the rendition as contain therein and the powerful message conveyed. It was to the delight of the attendees and at the same time to their bewilderment when Rev. Kukah raised powerful and thought-provoking questions to the celebrant, the attendees and to any person who will come in contact with the lecture. He said “Our celebrant has committed most of his adult life exhibiting genius and making trouble by banging on the doors of African leaders. But at best, he might have been blowing a muted trumpet. Of course at another level, we could ask why, beyond the entertainment and artistic value, what is the value of writing? Who exactly are we writing for and for what purpose? Why has writing not effected any change in our societies? What is the scope in our narratives? We blame our politicians but in reality are they not doing better than us? Are there lessons we can learn from the distances they cover to sell their messages? How is that members of political parties crisscross the country in a way and manner that writer do not?”

            A friend of mine transferred a recorded audio of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to my phone she was talking on a general perception of story-telling and the making of herself and her writings. In the course of listening, I stumbled on so many jewels which left me wanting, thinking and meditating. One of the many jewels that got me thinking is “Single story creates stereotype”. Instinctively, my conscience temporarily got me thinking whether I have been fed of more than that I can chew with single story. An instant introspection puts me on a not-too-distant victim of single story. And my story is not different with many.  Prior to my exposure to some literatures and writers which is of very recent, the very Kukah was once a victim of single story in my mind. I remember vividly, when President Obasanjo constituted his political and constitution reform in 2005 which Kukah was a prominent member, as at then, he was among the members of the conference that I detested with passion. And this is the resultant effect of the polarized environment that got over-charged as a result of the selection procedures of the members. Until very recent, I am ashamed to confess, my perception of Kukah is from single line of thought.

            Let’s make a quick glance on some issues and events that were/are usually premeditated on single story. Firstly, it is almost a unanimous stand by the authors of Pro-Biafra and their sympathizers that the civil war was only fought out of enmity that the non-Igbos harbored to Igbos. In their narration, what led to the secession was pogrom in the North. On the other hand, they failed to acquaint their audience of what led to the pogrom. The single story was/is Hausa-Fulani are anything but evil. Have they spared some space in their narration by telling the young ones that, many Easterners celebrate the killing of their leaders (the Hausa-Fulani), In fact, some conveyed a party for the killings. Never mind open-mockery that the very Easterners: who were/are earning their living in the North yet mocked and even mimicked a goat-bleating-sound depicting how the very leader of their hosts died or get killed in the hands of their kinsmen.

            Of equally important was/is the story from the side of the anti-secession. The single story was/is Igbos killed the Northerners and their allies because they were/are Muslims. So, Igbos to Northerners represents everything evil. Have the story-tellers spared some space and inform their audience of the corruption, tribalism and nepotism that characterized the regime, the story will have been different. Assuming the actors (Pro-secession and Anti-secession) have provided a balanced account of the causes and effect of the civil war, at least the persistent hatred/strife that seems to appear un-repressible, which defined the aftermath relationship of once a United entity, would have been much less.

        Secondly is of leadership and followership. It is a common belief that usually occupied the mind of non-actors in the governing scheme of Nigeria that Nigeria fails to realize its potentials and lives to its expectation because of the failure of leadership. Even the celebrated author, Chinua Achebe shared this notion. At least in his small book, The Trouble With Nigeria, depicted so. Achebe argues that “the trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. The unwillingness and inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility to the challenge of personal example.” Achebe did not shared this perception of leadership alone as can be evidently seen in the way Nigerian discuss their leaders and the often insults and denigration that are celebrated in social media or any other media outlet. Nigerians love to criticize their leaders and country perhaps far more than any nation in the World. Yes, we have all earned the right to be cynical and even contemptible about the way we have been governed and about how the resources of our nation have been frittered away mindlessly. In as much how sweet the argument may sound it is as well cheap and too romantic to say the least.

            The postulation that the problem of Nigeria is leadership ignores the deep structural constraints on human action and psychology. It is pre-critical to ignore the complex ways in which social structures mediate, modify, condition and constrain human choices. Leadership works within institutional, historical, cultural and economic contexts which place limits on what human agents can and cannot do. This notion of structural determination of leadership means that a leader has inevitably to work within and exist in a system and a political logic whose proper system, laws and operation his or her leadership cannot, by definition, dominate absolutely. The leader despite having a certain measure of freedom has inevitably to be governed by the system within which he or she exists. And although men and women make their own history, they clearly do not make it as an act of will, or in their own freely-chose circumstances, but under structural constraints of the accumulated past and inherited traditions. Nigerian leaders cannot be miraculous changed men or women of their country but the changed men or women of their country’s changed circumstance. It is not surprising that today, Boko Haram wahala enjoys the same unilateral view from both angle. To many Southerners, particularly those of the lower stratum and those obsessed with false superiority complex, Boko Haram is a grand conspiracy of the Northern elites to destabilize Jonathan’s regime. Never mind the simplicity and hollowness of the postulation and argument. How will a rational human being destabilizes his enemy’s regime by first destroying himself and his economy and environment? Similarly, to many Northerners, at the altar of sounding juvenile, Boko Haram is a grand conspiracy by GEJ-led government to downsize, decimate and decapacitate Northern Nigeria. Never occurred to the proponent of this school of thought the many years of illiteracy, poverty, poor distribution of wealth and economic stagnation that characterized the region for so many years—these in so many ways, may contribute to the proliferation and domestication of terrorism.

            Thirdly, it is on religion and sectarian affiliation. The common belief, on which perception is built, with respect to single story, is religion. The usual disposition of thought toward the non-member of one religion is total condemnation of his/her belief system. Narrowing the scope of the writing to intra-religion affiliation, one will quickly seen, as evidently displayed here at home and globally represented—the total intolerance of other people interpretation of text. The usual perception is that, for instance, as in my case, I am Sunni Muslim, even in my Sunni affiliation, I am a living witness to the regrettable way of exchanging words and open despisement of the other fraction of the Sunni as a result of differences in the interpretation of text. Giving the single story that we used to hear from our teachers, parent or read from books authored by our sect's intellectual arm, which is often a portray of the other sect as bad, evil, and many unprintable names while our sect epitomised everything good. With this mindset, one will be full of empty boast of himself and sect that, they are the only good people on earth and any other person represents devil. Our think-tank will never tell us, Oh! Those people you are seeing, they are good in this or that. No, the only thing we will hear about the other sect is evil.

On this note, I want to illustrate one trend that I found it so disgusting when it comes to unilateral view of issues and single story of personality, says a writer. For instance, since the serialization of HAJJ AND THE SAUDIS; IN DEFENCE OF SHEIKH; IS THE NORTH A LIP by Malam Adamu Adamu, which revealed to many readers a glimpse romanticism of Malam Adamu with Iran and their policies. From that on, I have read many distasteful comments on his personality which was only judged by the afore-mentioned write-ups, one of the menacing effects of single story. Unbeknown to many of the so-called commentators, Malam Adamu epitomized humility and sincerity. He lives a true life without an iota of pretence. It was reported from impeccable sources that, once his brother built a befitting house for him to relocate, Malam said thanks and declined the offer. He was given a slot of deputy governor in his state, yet he declined. His pen could have secured him billions assuming he is greedy--hence, many writers who are unmatchable to his wit and sagacity are today millionaires, until today, he lives a modest life. It was to his integrity that he was to write one of the afore-mentioned articles as a result of his humbleness and humility. He was supposed to be at Sultan Bello mosque for the marriage solemnization of Namadi's daughters, he could have been the Walee (the person to give a daughter out for marriage) assuming he is after this temporal world, yet, he openly declined and chose to honor the birthday celebration of his teacher. Funny enough, the very teaching and people that made Malam Adamu a potential monster before their audience, were the very one scavenging on the left-over of political loot. What a pity! And what an incidental hypocrisy! One interesting thing with Malam Adamu that will left one in astonishment of that paragon of virtues that he represent is, he is not use to missing the fasting of Monday and Thursday. He is with his people. He lives among them. He loves them and they love him. Alas! Single story put a blind eye to all these virtues and dwell on shortcomings which are not in any way match-able to the virtues. Mallam Adamu, despite the afore-mentioned virtues, is equally a victim of single story and unilateral interpretation of issues and events. Suffice to have a diagnosis of the referred articles of his. In all the articles, Malam Adamu never failed to mock, ridicule, denigrate or look-down on people that did not share his romanticism with Iran. His intolerance, resentment, despisement and pathalogical hatred for their (those that didn't share his sect) scholars and followers are usually very glaring. To him, they represent anything but evil. Indeed, single story creates stereotype.

Conclusively, life is a journey which man can never carried it all by his self. We cannot live in isolation and can never be independent of others. We have to live in groups and societies. And that society will not necessarily be homogenous. It is certainly going to be heterogeneous. Single story creates stereotype. We should imbibe the habit of giving the benefit of doubt and of course learn how to have a bi-lateral view of issues and interpretation of events. For a peaceful and successful living and interaction among the constituent of the entity called earth, we must learn to live by the ethos that depict our humanity. Unquestionably and undeniably, we must uphold the principle of live and let others live. 

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RIBADU---GOODLUCK

I write this morning with a very heavy heart.  This is because one of my political heroes decided to commit what I consider political hara kiri.  My sadness also stems from the realisation that Nigeria may be in trouble because those you feel have the moral suasion to drag the country by the force of their characters cesspit we have been taken to, to the Eldorado our politicians always promise to take us to, are turning out to be not better than the worst of the lot.  My sadness stems from the fact of knowing that most of us who grandstand on most national issues actually use our grandstanding as a vehicle for personal gain and nothing altruistic.

The defection of Nuhu Ribadu from the All Peoples’ Congress (APC) to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) came as a very rude awakening to those of us who still believe that it is possible to change the country through the force of our collective characters.  What Ribadu did to us is akin to thumping his nose on all those who still believe in him and those like him, but to be fair to him he has only toed a line earlier toed by some of his former colleagues in the Obasanjo administration like Femi Fani-Kayode.  Much as one may not like to lump Ribadu in the same political and ideological category with Fani-Kayode, one is forced by Ribadu’s action to do so.  This singular act by the former EFCC Chairman gives credence to the conspiracy theorists who went to town in 2011 with the rumour that Ribadu and Shekarau were bribed with huge amounts of money to ensure that Buhari wasn’t the only candidate from the north, thereby ‘dividing’ the northern vote between the three of them.  I refused to believe the nonsense then.  I am now compelled to reassess my perception of the story now that both Ribadu and Shekarau belong to the PDP.

My personal bellyaching aside, is there anything that Ribadu wants to prove by jumping into the PDP train?  Is he in the PDP to spoil the chances of those who have been in the party fighting the course of the party and for the entrenchment of democratic norms in the general polity?  Has Ribadu done a’Shekarau’ or is he continuing a project he began in 2011 and might have enjoyed the fruits of that particular misadventure?  Much as one may respect the ex-policeman, his latest move has effectively put paid to any claims of perpendicular leadership.  We just hope that Ribadu is not going to the PDP as Mu’azu’s battering ram in Adamawa.  There is already a long list of eminently qualified aspirants in all the political parties vying to contest the by-election without Ribadu joining the fray and muddying the waters.  There is also already so much rancour in our politics and personal relationship without some people trying to pour fuel into the cauldron. 

The talk on the streets is that Ribadu has never been averse to lending himself to be used and most often negatively.  This, I refused to believe.  Proponents of this line will quickly point his role in the production of the “advisory list” during Obasanjo’s disastrous third term campaign.  It was a list wich contained all those who stood against the actualisation of the demonic agenda.  Next they rehash his presidential aspiration of 2011, which termed as infantile.  It was prove-positive to many in the north that Goodluck Jonathan was bent on creating a third front in the north to scuttle any dream of a northern president.  And he has now being drafted to come and play the same role in Adamawa.  I refuse to believe this.

Though the PDP has its own way of doing things, I just hope for the first time they will get it right for the sake of the long suffering people of Adamawa State.  The herd of aspirants from the stable of the party are all imminently qualified to fly the party’s flag in the forthcoming October 11^th by-election.  If I were to have had a voice in how the affairs of the party are to be conducted, I would have suggested other considerations for the nomination of a candidate besides eligibility and suitability of the candidates.  It is conventional wisdom that whenever you have primaries in any of the parties, you are left with the burden of managing rancour, animosity and bitterness.  Most times, these acrimonies lasts the live time of an administration or even that of the contestants.  Also the malice, mutual suspicion and the distrust generated by Nyako’s impeachment are yet to go with the winds in some quarters.  Nyako’s tenure itself midwifed these problems we are trying to overcome. My suggestion to the PDP is simple – without appearing to be autocratic, the party can present the acting governor of the state in the October 11^th, 2014 by-elections to contest for the residual tenure of Nyako.  This way, the party won’t have to go through two primaries in the spate of two months.  Another primaries for the February 2015 general elections will hold in November 2014.

The other gladiators may then go for the mother lode – the February 2015 general elections when you will have the chance of being a governor for four years and not anybody’s residual tenure.  The current acting governor will then be advised to excuse himself from the contest, be a statesman and superintend the elections.

All I could wish Ribadu is – GOODLUCK.

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DEMOCRACY AND VIGILANT YOUTH

 

There are many school of thought in the discipline of Political Science which informs us about the best System of Government in practice which ensure Good Governance and Economic Development for instance Benthem Utopian, Green Anarchy and many argue that Socialism is just like a chameleon pieces which change colors; but Marx believe it is the best system that will wipe class struggle while others are in support of Capitalism because it promote the wellbeing of the master; Aristotle classify Democracy as a perverted form of government.

To me the best government is Democracy because it gave sovereignty to the people and government drives their power and authority from the constitution, it also provide transparency, guarantee equality before the law, freedom to the communities, economic development and above all vigilant society. Countries like USA, Britain, China, Malaysia and others are vivid examples of a good Democratic state, but in case of Nigeria is one step forward, three steps backward! What an irony? My interest in Democracy is social responsibility of people which makes Democracy as an evolving Democracy in Nigeria especially in Jos Plateau state.

A month ago there was bomb explosion in Jos plateau state which climbs lives and properties of thousand innocent people to which both Muslim and Christian are victim to the tragedy. The elders and youth of Jos plateau state feels that the best way to protect themselves against perpetrators is through vigilant groups societies in collaboration with state police commissioner on which each street has its own vigilantes for instances ‘Yan shanu’, ‘Gangare’, ‘U/Rukubu’ to cite but few. I most comfiest that, the vigilant groups are doing a very good job because a night that is made for sleep is use to protect and watch over their neighbor.

There used to be a loggerhead between the National vigilant groups of Nigeria which were register nationwide and the neighborhood watch of Jos north endorse by State Police Commissioner, the former are well trained and oriented therefore felt that they are in best position to protect their neighborhood. This created rivalry among the groups, also the neighborhood watch became an avenue through revenge, embarrassment, trickery and conflict among youth, so many factions vigilant groups arise in quest of leadership which serve as a path to collect resources from individuals, politicians and businessmen and be diverted into their pocket.

Urge the parties involved to join hand and work together, also advising the neighborhood watch to negate putting roadblock on main road, to be prudent in recruitment and proper orientation on how to execute their duties to avoid clash of responsibilities between police and vigilantes.  The government should try and support the group in all ramifications

Sadiq Ibrahim Ayuba

Ibrahimsadiq194@gmail.com

Aspiring leader.

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SIGN-OUT BUK

It just as yesterday 2007 I came for diploma program, in 2009 I secure admission to study the ‘science of state’ with patient, hardworking and endurance, today am a graduate of Bayero University, kano concluded my exams waiting for result. It was never an ease especially at final round on which I engage in so many struggle such as ZTC Chairman, Photo Album coordinator, NAPSS welfare officer, PA to NAPSS president, have experiences a lot of things especially when we when to excursion to Abuja-Bauchi and also when am handling a diverse interest groups of my class member for photo album of which I try my possible best to see we have a united interest and have attain it, with the help of the following people below; acknowledgment directly from my final year project.

I have no doubt that ALLAH is one and Prophet Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger, therefore uncountable thanks, Praise and Gratitude goes to ALLAH for everything HE has done to me as a mercy and blessing in this world, sincere gratitude goes to my hardworking and ever ready father, for so much he has done to me, may ALLAH give me the chance to do good to him as well to depart in peace together.

My sincere gratitude and special appreciation goes to my supervisor for whom I wish to call my father, mentor and indeed a friend, in person of Alhaji Mallam M. M.YUSIF,   with you sir, I have learn beyond Political Science, may ALLAH gives us long life with health and prosperity.(Amin) THANKS

My profound gratitude goes to my level coordinator Mallama Hafsat Y.Yakasai, my H.O.D Dr. Aisha Abdul Isma’il and all lectures of the Department especially  Malam Abubakar Salihu, Dr. Muhmud M. Lawal, Malam Ibrahim Mu’azzam, Prof. Habu Muh’d, Prof.Shehu Dalhatu, Malam Maisara Nuhu Wali, Dr. Abubakar Jika Jiddrere, Dr. Fatima O. Ibrahim, Malama Halima Idris From Geography Department and Malam Gambo Na Baba from Mass Communications Department, may the gentle soul of Dr. Haruna Salihi rest in peace (Amin) our demise HOD.

I will like to register my great appreciation to my concern uncle in person of  Muh’d Adamu for so much care, love and support, a big thanks to uncle kabir Adamu, Maman kano, Shamsu Shehu Soda, Salisu Hassan, Abubakar (babamiwo), Engr. L.D Abdul, Hajiya Zaliha my Grand Mum, lovely sister Hadiza Muh’d and brother Aliyu Ibrahim  

Friends indeed are friends especially Na Baba Badamasi (BABEE), NAPSS President in person of Wakili and his kind wife Asma’u, Shamma, Al-Amin, Abubakar (202), Maryam honorable, Zainab Bala, Unche Ibekalam, kega, umma kulsum, Anka, Abdulaziz, Tofa, Najibullahi, Muh’d Dauda,  Bara’u, Abdullahi, Gabello, Malam Ali, T-boi, nasiru jigawa and all that support me in the course of this research and  during campus politics struggle, they are worthy of remembrance in future.

Global age, thanks to my laptop because work has become easy with you, also a big thanks to all relatives and fellows that, I was unable to write their name’s to be sincere their effort is highly appreciated and May ALLAH reward them abundantly.

 

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