PDP and undermining failed government
Last three weeks brother Mahmud Jega wrote in his Monday Column that he did not write on that column for two weeks because there was nothing to write. That time I was enraged, how dare him to say that. Why will he spoil the day of most of us who start our Mondays with his column? But this week I realised what my brother was saying and I quite understand now that some things are better left unsaid. Though I was not among those who threatened to stop buying Daily Trust on Monday because of that but you don’t need to tell how angry I was not to see his columns at that time.
The events happening in Nigeria are sometimes ridiculous, funny and disgusting. We wake up early last week with a news story that some people in the opposition are trying to undermine the PDP led government of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. This is to say that some people are trying to topple the government. Reactions from Nigerians on that alarm are enough to tell you that the Nigerian people have stopped taking PDP serious. PDP is surviving as a party today because they are the custodian of the nation’s resources. Secondly, we are having an opposition led by people who sold their conscience, dignity and betrayed the Nigerian people.
Many including this writer were of the opinion that it was very early to assess the performance of the Yar’adua administration, but two years into his tenure, Nigerians are yet to see any change from the past, in terms of good governance, fighting corruption or the provision of basic amenities to the populace. Although, to be sincere, few Nigerians expected any positive development to come out of this administration, if we consider the controversies that surrounded his selection as presidential candidate of the PDP and his subsequent [s] election as the President. The party itself, that is the PDP, under which Umaru Musa Yar’adua contested, has never won a free and fair election in any constituency in Nigeria – up-turning of elections was what characterised the polity since May 29, 2007, and PDP candidates were mostly affected.
In the first place Obasanjo was forced on us in 1999 and we were made to accept him, since we had little choice, as Nigerians were completely tired of military dictatorship. The party or some group within the party were misled into choosing General Olusegun Obasanjo as the Presidential candidate in 1999. Eight years under Obasanjo was hell, as the rich became richer, ordinary Nigerians were left struggling on how to survive. Obasanjo was able to destroy the internal democracy within PDP and forced its founding fathers out. The party was over taken by garrison commanders who wanted things to be done their own way. The party lost direction and resort to violence, intimidation, blackmail, election rigging and manipulation to perpetuate itself on power. If not because of media outcry, opposition from well meaning Nigerians and Civil Society Groups, Obasanjo and the party leadership would have imposed themselves on us in 2007. Therefore, when it became real that 3rd term has failed, Obasanjo hurriedly selected somebody to succeed him. That person, who was selected was unprepared to face the enormous challenges and came in with no plans or programmes to move the country out of its problems.
Why should anyone dream of undermining the Yar’adua administration? The PDP led government is a failure already and to be sincere if a free and fair election were to be conducted tomorrow PDP would have lost woefully. The PDP as a party has failed Nigeria and the Nigerian people. In 1998, with the calibre of people in the PDP one thought it was the only political party at the time that will bring about the much awaited change after 15 years of military dictatorship. Alas, today what we see under the PDP is people swimming in stinking wealth and affluence not because of hard work but on account of positions they occupy in government. Nigerians are fed up with the PDP. We have to state here that the criticisms of the PDP and the government they are leading were not based on hatred or sheer jealousy but because Nigerians expected higher than what they are seeing today.
The PDP propaganda has failed. As propagandists they employ short-cuts — particularly those which short-circuit rational thought. They always invent lies, pursuing shadows where there was none. The undermining story is just one of many tactics use by the PDP propagandists to capitalise on people emotions, what if the people know that you are lying? Insecurity; why can’t they inform the relevant agencies, why go to the media? Was it meant to seek people’s sympathy? Only those who are benefitting from PDP’s misrule can sympathise with it, not Nigerians who were made to suffer in times of abundance. Nigerians know you are lying, and they know this is just another diversionary tactics employed to take our minds from the failure of the government to implement the Justice Uwais led Electoral Reform Panel recommendation.
By capitalizing on the ambiguity of language, and by bending the rules of logic, as history shows, they can be quite successful sometimes. But we want to remind the PDP and its leaders that it is a matter of time before Nigerians boot it out of Aso Rock. By 2011 and by the will of God, PDP will cease to be a ruling party. This cannot be done by the so-called opposition parties because they are no different from the PDP, but we hope that honest and credible people will form a party that will stand against the PDP in 2011. Nigerians – this poor Nigerians, whether in rural Northern Nigeria, South-West or the Niger-Delta, whose life dreams were shattered in the last ten years will rally behind it and oust PDP come 2011.
It is a belief and hope.
Kabiru Danladi Lawanti,
Area 11, Gaki Abuja
kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
On Badmus, Adamu and Israel on trial, a rejoinder
On Badmus, Adamu and Israel on trial, a rejoinder
Dear Editor,
Permit me a space in your widely read newspaper to talk to Mr Badmus Kura on the above subject. Thank you.
Dear Mr Badmus,
I don't know why I am writing you, but that is the way of our world. Sometimes the argument is amusing. Why should we interfere in a situation where blood brothers are involved. But are we really mere on-lookers? Mr Badmus we are not. That is why Adamu was talking and you responded and prompted me to talk. You talk because you felt Israel has an affinity to you in one way or the other. You are happy when Palestinians are being massacred by Israel, because you feel as a Christian you are more closer to Israelites than the Palestinians. We as Muslims we feel more closer to Palestinians than Israelites because they are Muslims despite the fact quite a significant number of them are Christians. We are happy when a bomb drops and kills and Israelite. That is the way of the world. It will continue like that till dooms day.
But as human beings we have to be sincere to ourselves that our argument has to be partially objective and also take into cognizance that the people of Palestine even though they are not as human beings as the Israelites (anyway according to the new world order), they deserve our pity, at least. And I think that is what is prompting most of these debates. The land was given to Israelites by God according to the scriptures, but the same scritures told us that the Israelites refused the land and told Moses to go and fight the occupants of that land alone. It was last century that the British carved the present Israel to the Jews after they were massacred by Hitler and since then you know what happened.
Kabiru Daladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State, Nigeria
kblondon2003@ yahoo.com08054546764, 08035150369
Dear Editor,
Permit me a space in your widely read newspaper to talk to Mr Badmus Kura on the above subject. Thank you.
Dear Mr Badmus,
I don't know why I am writing you, but that is the way of our world. Sometimes the argument is amusing. Why should we interfere in a situation where blood brothers are involved. But are we really mere on-lookers? Mr Badmus we are not. That is why Adamu was talking and you responded and prompted me to talk. You talk because you felt Israel has an affinity to you in one way or the other. You are happy when Palestinians are being massacred by Israel, because you feel as a Christian you are more closer to Israelites than the Palestinians. We as Muslims we feel more closer to Palestinians than Israelites because they are Muslims despite the fact quite a significant number of them are Christians. We are happy when a bomb drops and kills and Israelite. That is the way of the world. It will continue like that till dooms day.
But as human beings we have to be sincere to ourselves that our argument has to be partially objective and also take into cognizance that the people of Palestine even though they are not as human beings as the Israelites (anyway according to the new world order), they deserve our pity, at least. And I think that is what is prompting most of these debates. The land was given to Israelites by God according to the scriptures, but the same scritures told us that the Israelites refused the land and told Moses to go and fight the occupants of that land alone. It was last century that the British carved the present Israel to the Jews after they were massacred by Hitler and since then you know what happened.
Kabiru Daladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State, Nigeria
kblondon2003@ yahoo.com08054546764, 08035150369
RE: UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE NORTH
Have read your article (Daily Trust, March 18, 2009), wonderfully written. Amma Mallam don't you think the time for talk-talk is now over. Typical Nigerian will analyse issues and proffer solutions theoretically but to put it to practice is what becomes another problem of itself. I made a similar analysis on Understanding Ethno-religious Conflicts in Northern Nigeria (Sunday Trust, March 15, 2009).The question is; are we ready to take the challenge of changing things in the North or shall we continue filling pages of newspapers day-in-day-out without practically coming with something tangible and workable solutions that will help uplift the lives of our people? There are a lot of people with similar views but are scattered in different part of the North, if we can sincerely and honestly come together, I have a strong belief that we can at least stop this and then may be those coming after us finish the job.This demands determination, sincerity, honesty and sacrifice. Are we ready? We are already victims of bad governance, is now left to us to allow these decomposed elements in our society=A0to continue to toil with our destiny and the destiny of our children. We have few options, we don't have a house in GRA, talkless of erecting high walls to protect ourselves from Kalare boys. But we live within them or our relatives may be, since we are lucky to have a job may be in Abuja, which is little bit far from the ghetto and we can confidently say we are more secured from the machette of blood thirsty ethnic chauvinist since we live in the same city with Mr. President.But my friend let's stop deceiving ourselves, the poor people we ignore in the rural areas and the ghettos and shanty towns around us may one day come to us and we have no where to hide. Our actions are going to consume us. We either act now or else we will not have chance, the day our people realised that we have nothing to offer them, that is the day me and you and all those who are responsible for all we see in the North will have nowhere to run.The generation before us are not ready, in fact they are responsible for what is happening to us. This might be harsh but it is the truth. Had it been they care about the North and its people we will not have found ourselves in the present pathetic condition we live in.In my village, in 1980, when I entered primary school, the population of the village was not more than 2500, but today that the population has trippled we maintain the same primary school, with only two additional class room blocks. Our maternity was upgraded by a youth corper in 2006 with the help of the community.We have only three university graduates, 6 diploma, 1 HND and less than 50 secondary school graduates. But who cares? What happened to the rest is anybodies guess? Majority of those who finished secondary school are becoming semi-illiterates? Do you know why? they finished with 9 F9s. Their only source of livelyhood is farming. I don't need to tell you what happened to agriculture in the North.That is why I think we need to do something, but sincerity, honesty, truth and sacrifice have to become our watchwords. Are we ready? If not let's make it a hobby to fill the pages of newspapers everyday with good and well written analysis of the problems in the North. I will read you and send you a message like this; Nice work Mallam Salisu or Kai Mallam Salisunnan ya fadi gaskiya amma manyammunnnan ba ruwansu. Sai a ce yau Mallam Salisu su ne manya a Arewa, then our children will curse us by saying Allah ya tsine wa manyan Arewa, ba abinda suka mana. And it will soon come. Or if we are not lucky they go for the other option.Thanks Mallam Salihu, let's us see how we can change the situation in the North.Kabiru Danladi,Lawanti Village, KM25,Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,Akko LGA, Gombe State, Nigeriakblondon2003@yahoo.com08054546764, 08035150369
Monday, March 16, 2009
Towards a Kalare Free Elections in 2011
Towards a Kalare Free Elections in 2011
Kalare is or are group of people, mostly youth, between the ages of 8 - 35 years, some in secondary schools, while others drop-outs, used by politicians during campaigns and elections in Nigeria to intimidate voters and political opponents into accepting the position of their sponsors. They are violent and mostly drug addicts, although some do not take any drug. They are found almost in every state of the federation with different names but use the same tactics in achieving their goals. They are known as ‘yan daba in Kano, Kawaye or ‘yan mage in Kaduna and Katsina, ecomog in Borno, sara suka in Bauchi, area boys in Lagos etc.
This group of young people are lured by desperate politicians, who have nothing to offer the electorate and want to attain power by all means, and as soon as they attain power they usually dump them. To make ends meet, these young people resort to all forms of crimes, ranging from petty stealing, rape and in some instances even armed robbery or in the case of Niger-Delta kidnapping, oil bunkering and rebellion. In some cases even their sponsors are not spared, it was alleged that in one state of the North, a commissioner had to resort to using a gun to keep them away from his office. And even international organisation are not spared, as it was alleged UNICEF, also in that state, at a time had to pay the sum of thirty thousand naira to these miscreants, before they were allowed to carry a programme sometimes in 2006.
These people and their sponsors are not only threat to democracy, but also to the survival of the country in general. Two things are responsible for this trend, first our attitude of winner-take-all politics and the social situation the youth find themselves in which they are not prepared. It is disheartening to see our youth, who are supposedly the leaders of tomorrow to find themselves in a situation where they will not help themselves, their family or their communities. In fact, they have become a danger to the society in which they live. Little effort has been made so far to address the root causes of the situation, worst is the attitude of some of our politicians, who are most times even worst than these boys. The situation is more pathetic in the states, where wanton disregard of ethics and values of democracy is perpetrated.
The Kalare phenomenon in most states is used first by the opposition to check the winning streak of an incumbent who in most cases has a relative advantage of having the state machinery in his hands. Whether in Kano, which has a long history of political thuggery to the events in Gombe between Goje and Hashidu in 2003/07, the sara-suka phenomenon in Bauchi all have origin from the efforts of an opposition to outs the incumbent governor.
Historically the yan Daba in Kano were used in the first republic by the Northern Peoples' Congress (NPC) to check the winning streak of NEPU. And today as it spread to other states, the same reason that saw the beginning of yan daba in Kano will be said as the reason why the sara-suka groups were formed for instance in Bauchi, or Kalare in Gombe. The sara suka in Bauchi were formed by the supporters of Isa Yuguda to counter Governor Muazu's use of government machinery to stop Yuguda from contesting. Governor Isa Yuguda, however, claims' he inherited the sara-suka problem from the previous regime.
The story is the same in Borno state. Ecomog groups in Borno were formed by the supporters of Ali Modu Sherrif to counter the incumbent governor's opposition to Sherriff's bid for the governorship of the state. The activities of the Kalare groups in Gombe became manifest when opposition PDP wanted to wrestle power from the incumbent ANPP in 2003. In fact, it was a tug of war between the two groups in 2003/07.
We all know that the country and its people have to take new direction if we want to build a nation that will be counted among the 20 most industrial countries of the world. It is time for ‘change’, and what will inspire us more is the fact that it was done elsewhere, first in the United States where impossible becomes possible. A Blackman – a son of an African becomes the first to lead the powerful nation on earth. No body was injured, killed or lost his limb; as his campaign trail sailed through that vast country he sought no support from the hippies or notorious gangs of the East or West-Coast. He had a message and he wisely and persuasively convinced the American electorates that he was the best of all the candidates that contested in 2008. Mr Barrack Obama succeeded in defeating White-Anglo-Saxon-Protestant. We have no reason not to emulate that.
Ghana has done it and an opposition candidate was able to defeat a ruling party, without the use of violence. If it can be done somewhere, why not in Nigeria? Are we trying to tell the world that we are the greediest people on earth? It is time for peace loving Nigerians to come out publicly and say enough is enough and design a road map for purposive and idealistic politics in which a party and political candidate present its/his agenda based on the need of the electorates. Nigerians should be given reasons as to why they should choose candidate A instead of B. They should also be allowed to participate fully in the selection and election of their leaders at the party and general elections level. Parties have to do away with the idea of choosing a candidate based on consensus, this violates the principles of participatory democracy. Which in many cases lead desperate politicians to opt for violence.
May be it is time for all Nigerians – within and outside the country to fully participate in the democratic process. Although some people are of the opinion that the electoral system needs to be reform, yours sincerely believes electoral reform is a waste of time, from 1912 to date we have more than 10 constitutional amendments but tell me what has change in our lives? What we need is general attitudinal change, a constitution is just a document that can be violated or manipulated by anybody to satisfy his whims and caprices especially in power as we saw with Obasanjo in 2003/07.
Only politicians who have nothing to offer the electorates employ thugs to help them attain political position. The issue of denouncing political violence by political parties and candidates or just declaration by authorities or security agencies that there will be no tolerance for political violence is waste of time, because we have seen that in 1999/2003/07, does that change anything? In fact it even gave some politicians more confidence to carry out their activities with impunity.
What we need is active participation of all Nigerians in the political process. This will increase the number of good people in the process thereby crippling the activities of bad ones. With time the good ones will be able to sanitize the whole process. That might be temporary solution but for now might the best.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State, Nigeria
kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Kalare is or are group of people, mostly youth, between the ages of 8 - 35 years, some in secondary schools, while others drop-outs, used by politicians during campaigns and elections in Nigeria to intimidate voters and political opponents into accepting the position of their sponsors. They are violent and mostly drug addicts, although some do not take any drug. They are found almost in every state of the federation with different names but use the same tactics in achieving their goals. They are known as ‘yan daba in Kano, Kawaye or ‘yan mage in Kaduna and Katsina, ecomog in Borno, sara suka in Bauchi, area boys in Lagos etc.
This group of young people are lured by desperate politicians, who have nothing to offer the electorate and want to attain power by all means, and as soon as they attain power they usually dump them. To make ends meet, these young people resort to all forms of crimes, ranging from petty stealing, rape and in some instances even armed robbery or in the case of Niger-Delta kidnapping, oil bunkering and rebellion. In some cases even their sponsors are not spared, it was alleged that in one state of the North, a commissioner had to resort to using a gun to keep them away from his office. And even international organisation are not spared, as it was alleged UNICEF, also in that state, at a time had to pay the sum of thirty thousand naira to these miscreants, before they were allowed to carry a programme sometimes in 2006.
These people and their sponsors are not only threat to democracy, but also to the survival of the country in general. Two things are responsible for this trend, first our attitude of winner-take-all politics and the social situation the youth find themselves in which they are not prepared. It is disheartening to see our youth, who are supposedly the leaders of tomorrow to find themselves in a situation where they will not help themselves, their family or their communities. In fact, they have become a danger to the society in which they live. Little effort has been made so far to address the root causes of the situation, worst is the attitude of some of our politicians, who are most times even worst than these boys. The situation is more pathetic in the states, where wanton disregard of ethics and values of democracy is perpetrated.
The Kalare phenomenon in most states is used first by the opposition to check the winning streak of an incumbent who in most cases has a relative advantage of having the state machinery in his hands. Whether in Kano, which has a long history of political thuggery to the events in Gombe between Goje and Hashidu in 2003/07, the sara-suka phenomenon in Bauchi all have origin from the efforts of an opposition to outs the incumbent governor.
Historically the yan Daba in Kano were used in the first republic by the Northern Peoples' Congress (NPC) to check the winning streak of NEPU. And today as it spread to other states, the same reason that saw the beginning of yan daba in Kano will be said as the reason why the sara-suka groups were formed for instance in Bauchi, or Kalare in Gombe. The sara suka in Bauchi were formed by the supporters of Isa Yuguda to counter Governor Muazu's use of government machinery to stop Yuguda from contesting. Governor Isa Yuguda, however, claims' he inherited the sara-suka problem from the previous regime.
The story is the same in Borno state. Ecomog groups in Borno were formed by the supporters of Ali Modu Sherrif to counter the incumbent governor's opposition to Sherriff's bid for the governorship of the state. The activities of the Kalare groups in Gombe became manifest when opposition PDP wanted to wrestle power from the incumbent ANPP in 2003. In fact, it was a tug of war between the two groups in 2003/07.
We all know that the country and its people have to take new direction if we want to build a nation that will be counted among the 20 most industrial countries of the world. It is time for ‘change’, and what will inspire us more is the fact that it was done elsewhere, first in the United States where impossible becomes possible. A Blackman – a son of an African becomes the first to lead the powerful nation on earth. No body was injured, killed or lost his limb; as his campaign trail sailed through that vast country he sought no support from the hippies or notorious gangs of the East or West-Coast. He had a message and he wisely and persuasively convinced the American electorates that he was the best of all the candidates that contested in 2008. Mr Barrack Obama succeeded in defeating White-Anglo-Saxon-Protestant. We have no reason not to emulate that.
Ghana has done it and an opposition candidate was able to defeat a ruling party, without the use of violence. If it can be done somewhere, why not in Nigeria? Are we trying to tell the world that we are the greediest people on earth? It is time for peace loving Nigerians to come out publicly and say enough is enough and design a road map for purposive and idealistic politics in which a party and political candidate present its/his agenda based on the need of the electorates. Nigerians should be given reasons as to why they should choose candidate A instead of B. They should also be allowed to participate fully in the selection and election of their leaders at the party and general elections level. Parties have to do away with the idea of choosing a candidate based on consensus, this violates the principles of participatory democracy. Which in many cases lead desperate politicians to opt for violence.
May be it is time for all Nigerians – within and outside the country to fully participate in the democratic process. Although some people are of the opinion that the electoral system needs to be reform, yours sincerely believes electoral reform is a waste of time, from 1912 to date we have more than 10 constitutional amendments but tell me what has change in our lives? What we need is general attitudinal change, a constitution is just a document that can be violated or manipulated by anybody to satisfy his whims and caprices especially in power as we saw with Obasanjo in 2003/07.
Only politicians who have nothing to offer the electorates employ thugs to help them attain political position. The issue of denouncing political violence by political parties and candidates or just declaration by authorities or security agencies that there will be no tolerance for political violence is waste of time, because we have seen that in 1999/2003/07, does that change anything? In fact it even gave some politicians more confidence to carry out their activities with impunity.
What we need is active participation of all Nigerians in the political process. This will increase the number of good people in the process thereby crippling the activities of bad ones. With time the good ones will be able to sanitize the whole process. That might be temporary solution but for now might the best.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State, Nigeria
kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
On Rebranding Nigeria
On Rebranding Nigeria
You think the way I think. You are working over there, I am working here, and we know nothing of each other. That is absurd. It would be better if we worked together, if I did my part and you did yours. Would it not be good if we met every month and talked?" Goebbles
So funny, so laughable is the rebranding Nigeria crusade, in which the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is spending billions of tax payers money to white wash what could be termed as the bad image Nigeria earned at the world stage, because of corruption, 419 and money laudering. Nigerian leaders are master jugglers, they started the heart of Africa project, where billions of naira were spent on advertisement all in an effort to lure international investors to come to Nigeria.
Who are we deceiving? Ourselves of course. How can a right thinking individual think of Nigeria as an investment haven when 95% of the country lives in darkness? Let's wake up and remind our leaders that branding can only be associated with a positive value, characteristic, or position. Consumers, in this sense, the investors like products to which they can associate positive qualities. What qualities are we presenting to the world to tell them that we are serious this time? Are we really delivering on our promise of ensuring social justice, good governance and corruption free nation? What have we done or are doing to reduce the suffering of our people? Are we saying Nigeria is for Professor Dora Akunyili and people in her class? What about the other over 100million people that are languishing in poverty, poor infratructure, poor educational system, etc.etc?
Let put a mirror in front of us and tell ourselves who we are and then define what we want to be. Let's us shift our attention from propaganda to a more practical issues. Propaganda is sometimes necessary, but there is a limit to which you can fool people. They would sooner or later come to see the reality and dismiss you as a liar.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
http://us.mc519.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08035150369, 08054546764
You think the way I think. You are working over there, I am working here, and we know nothing of each other. That is absurd. It would be better if we worked together, if I did my part and you did yours. Would it not be good if we met every month and talked?" Goebbles
So funny, so laughable is the rebranding Nigeria crusade, in which the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is spending billions of tax payers money to white wash what could be termed as the bad image Nigeria earned at the world stage, because of corruption, 419 and money laudering. Nigerian leaders are master jugglers, they started the heart of Africa project, where billions of naira were spent on advertisement all in an effort to lure international investors to come to Nigeria.
Who are we deceiving? Ourselves of course. How can a right thinking individual think of Nigeria as an investment haven when 95% of the country lives in darkness? Let's wake up and remind our leaders that branding can only be associated with a positive value, characteristic, or position. Consumers, in this sense, the investors like products to which they can associate positive qualities. What qualities are we presenting to the world to tell them that we are serious this time? Are we really delivering on our promise of ensuring social justice, good governance and corruption free nation? What have we done or are doing to reduce the suffering of our people? Are we saying Nigeria is for Professor Dora Akunyili and people in her class? What about the other over 100million people that are languishing in poverty, poor infratructure, poor educational system, etc.etc?
Let put a mirror in front of us and tell ourselves who we are and then define what we want to be. Let's us shift our attention from propaganda to a more practical issues. Propaganda is sometimes necessary, but there is a limit to which you can fool people. They would sooner or later come to see the reality and dismiss you as a liar.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
http://us.mc519.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08035150369, 08054546764
Friday, March 13, 2009
Of religion and corruption in Nigeria
Of religion and corruption in Nigeria
Kabiru Danladi
Ferm, in 1972, said that "to be religious is to effect in some way and in some measure a vital adjustment (however tentative and incomplete) to whatever is reacted implicitly or explicitly as worthy of serious and ulterior concern." Tiele said "religion is, in truth, that pure and reverential disposition or frame of mind which we call piety. On the other hand corruption is in essence "a product of the way of life of an acquisitive society where ‘money talks,’ where that which works is justified, and where people are judged by what they have rather than what they are" Odegard (1982). It is a situation where all state affairs, from top to bottom are run through bribery. Where an office messenger will not forward your file until you give him "something." Where a police check point becomes a "collection centre." Where corruption changes the normal flow of events and altering judgements, election results and positions of trust.
The questions to be asked are why religious leaders failed to curb this vice upon all the churches and mosques in the country? But how great are men’s ideas about what is right and what is wrong shaped by their religious faith? Although religion has a strong influence on Nigerians –the way we behave, the way we relate to each other, our strong conviction about another world (hereafter) are guided by our religion. It has been argued that religious people, the adherents of the two major religions in Nigeria have not shown outstanding moral qualities as taught by these religions. We have to note also that nothing evil like treachery, bribery, corruption, 419, can be attributed to the teachings of the religions. The only legitimate comparison is that between a person who is a Muslim or Christian.
Therefore, the behaviour and attitude of people cannot be regarded as religion, as some irresponsible people do, since they are just called Christians or Muslims because they tend to be adherents of the religions, though in practice they tend to go against the tenets of the religions.
Corruption has been with societies throughout history, wrote Wriath and Smith (1963). He pointed out for instance that 19th century Britain was marked by great corruption. In pre-Nigerian societies with particular reference to the Hausa, the content and character of corruption is an adaptation of the traditional gift-giving to meet new circumstances. And this is understandable especially in present day Nigeria, where the need to be corrupt derives from obligation to help others in need, to educate one’s children and those of the relatives; feeding kinsmen, and organised feast and funerals etc, since the government has failed on its duty.
In this moral predicament, what obtained in today’s Nigeria, most people believe in God and in afterlife as the essential ingredients of religion, because these are prominent elements. If it is believed that the supernatural sanctions of religion can be bought off by proper observance of purely religious rules, it is not surprising that they carry little weight as motive. Nor is it easy, in a period in which all moral authority is dominated by secular ideology, to determine precisely that extent of the influence of religion on the contents of our moral beliefs.
No doubt corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigerian society. This is even an over-statement, for it has gone deep to the extent that I believe it is at present one of the greatest obstacles to national development. It will not be enough to simply define corruption in Nigeria as simple "bribery," whereby you could not get another Nigerian to perform his duty without receiving a material gratification. I would rather we consider corruption in its various manifestations and ramifications which can be collectively described as "loss of purity in the minds and actions of Nigerians" Odegard (1982). In which case you will find that bribery is just one variety out of various forms of corruption. In fact, in some cases, material corruption like "half truth" which today many Nigerians are peddling from the platform of politics and selection of candidate through allocation of votes as happened in the 419 elections are all forms of corruption.
Due to greed, and other forms of selfishness on the part of our religious scholars, who tend to be corrupt to the extent that they themselves collect bribe in their own way, they used to legalise or cite verses from the holy books, telling people that once the money (public funds) diverted, are used to donate to religious activities, there is no problem. Hence making corruption to become acceptable norm and part of our society. Apart from that the religious leaders, majority of them, depend on their followers to provide them with basic necessities of life. The popular adage that ‘you can’t bite the hand that feeds you’ is very much reflecting here. Therefore it is very difficult for such scholars whether Christians or Muslims to tell these thieves – who pilfer thev public treasury that corruption is prohibited.
Furthermore, I have come to understand that majority of people do not fully understand the teaching of their religion and even those who understood the teaching of the religion, do not follow it the way it should be due to their selfish interest. This is manifested in the way government agencies and parastatals conduct employments, which in some cases you will officials are entrusted with public property do favour those who share the same faith instead of selecting the qualified ones. Scholars, who in ideal society are expected to teach moral values, tend to ignore talking about it or in some cases even encourage it. Instead they shift their attention to trivial issues that tend to create more problems instead of solving them. They concentrate on teaching rituals emphasizing unimportant issues that in essence affect the individuals, instead of the society at large, making the society more individualistic.
Since religious leaders have failed to perform their duty as ordained in the teaching of the religions, their followers ignore their teachings. To add insult to an injury, the religious leaders and scholars nowadays participate fully in dirty politics. This makes religion to be seen not as a bridge to eternity, but as a means of attaining political power. The 419 elections buttressed this point.
From above Nigerians have come to realize that the dictate of religion differs from the way people practice it, unless people follow the dictates of their religion and the government value religious teachings by deriving its value from religion the mess we are seing will continue for sometime.
Kabiru Danladi wrote from Department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Kabiru Danladi
Ferm, in 1972, said that "to be religious is to effect in some way and in some measure a vital adjustment (however tentative and incomplete) to whatever is reacted implicitly or explicitly as worthy of serious and ulterior concern." Tiele said "religion is, in truth, that pure and reverential disposition or frame of mind which we call piety. On the other hand corruption is in essence "a product of the way of life of an acquisitive society where ‘money talks,’ where that which works is justified, and where people are judged by what they have rather than what they are" Odegard (1982). It is a situation where all state affairs, from top to bottom are run through bribery. Where an office messenger will not forward your file until you give him "something." Where a police check point becomes a "collection centre." Where corruption changes the normal flow of events and altering judgements, election results and positions of trust.
The questions to be asked are why religious leaders failed to curb this vice upon all the churches and mosques in the country? But how great are men’s ideas about what is right and what is wrong shaped by their religious faith? Although religion has a strong influence on Nigerians –the way we behave, the way we relate to each other, our strong conviction about another world (hereafter) are guided by our religion. It has been argued that religious people, the adherents of the two major religions in Nigeria have not shown outstanding moral qualities as taught by these religions. We have to note also that nothing evil like treachery, bribery, corruption, 419, can be attributed to the teachings of the religions. The only legitimate comparison is that between a person who is a Muslim or Christian.
Therefore, the behaviour and attitude of people cannot be regarded as religion, as some irresponsible people do, since they are just called Christians or Muslims because they tend to be adherents of the religions, though in practice they tend to go against the tenets of the religions.
Corruption has been with societies throughout history, wrote Wriath and Smith (1963). He pointed out for instance that 19th century Britain was marked by great corruption. In pre-Nigerian societies with particular reference to the Hausa, the content and character of corruption is an adaptation of the traditional gift-giving to meet new circumstances. And this is understandable especially in present day Nigeria, where the need to be corrupt derives from obligation to help others in need, to educate one’s children and those of the relatives; feeding kinsmen, and organised feast and funerals etc, since the government has failed on its duty.
In this moral predicament, what obtained in today’s Nigeria, most people believe in God and in afterlife as the essential ingredients of religion, because these are prominent elements. If it is believed that the supernatural sanctions of religion can be bought off by proper observance of purely religious rules, it is not surprising that they carry little weight as motive. Nor is it easy, in a period in which all moral authority is dominated by secular ideology, to determine precisely that extent of the influence of religion on the contents of our moral beliefs.
No doubt corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigerian society. This is even an over-statement, for it has gone deep to the extent that I believe it is at present one of the greatest obstacles to national development. It will not be enough to simply define corruption in Nigeria as simple "bribery," whereby you could not get another Nigerian to perform his duty without receiving a material gratification. I would rather we consider corruption in its various manifestations and ramifications which can be collectively described as "loss of purity in the minds and actions of Nigerians" Odegard (1982). In which case you will find that bribery is just one variety out of various forms of corruption. In fact, in some cases, material corruption like "half truth" which today many Nigerians are peddling from the platform of politics and selection of candidate through allocation of votes as happened in the 419 elections are all forms of corruption.
Due to greed, and other forms of selfishness on the part of our religious scholars, who tend to be corrupt to the extent that they themselves collect bribe in their own way, they used to legalise or cite verses from the holy books, telling people that once the money (public funds) diverted, are used to donate to religious activities, there is no problem. Hence making corruption to become acceptable norm and part of our society. Apart from that the religious leaders, majority of them, depend on their followers to provide them with basic necessities of life. The popular adage that ‘you can’t bite the hand that feeds you’ is very much reflecting here. Therefore it is very difficult for such scholars whether Christians or Muslims to tell these thieves – who pilfer thev public treasury that corruption is prohibited.
Furthermore, I have come to understand that majority of people do not fully understand the teaching of their religion and even those who understood the teaching of the religion, do not follow it the way it should be due to their selfish interest. This is manifested in the way government agencies and parastatals conduct employments, which in some cases you will officials are entrusted with public property do favour those who share the same faith instead of selecting the qualified ones. Scholars, who in ideal society are expected to teach moral values, tend to ignore talking about it or in some cases even encourage it. Instead they shift their attention to trivial issues that tend to create more problems instead of solving them. They concentrate on teaching rituals emphasizing unimportant issues that in essence affect the individuals, instead of the society at large, making the society more individualistic.
Since religious leaders have failed to perform their duty as ordained in the teaching of the religions, their followers ignore their teachings. To add insult to an injury, the religious leaders and scholars nowadays participate fully in dirty politics. This makes religion to be seen not as a bridge to eternity, but as a means of attaining political power. The 419 elections buttressed this point.
From above Nigerians have come to realize that the dictate of religion differs from the way people practice it, unless people follow the dictates of their religion and the government value religious teachings by deriving its value from religion the mess we are seing will continue for sometime.
Kabiru Danladi wrote from Department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Zaria and its unending water problem
Zaria and its unending water problem
As someone who lives half of his life in Zaria, the ancient city becomes my next home away from my village, Lawanti. I visit Zaria quite often, in fact, if I might be given an option to choose where I want to stay for the rest of my life, I will, with no hesitation choose Zaria. However, over the years the condition of this ancient city has deteriorated because of lack of basic social services, like health care, sanitation, power outages and more disturbing lack of portable water. Although Zaria has the advantage of hosting the great Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, far from that, its people are living in a very pathetic condition. Evidence of this could be deduced from the number of children that died in Zaria and environs as a result of outbreak of measles sometimes last year.
But one issue more disturbing to the residents of this ancient city and visitors alike is the issue of acute water shortage, which for years remained albatross in the ancient city. I cannot fully explain why the issue of providing water to Zaria becomes a problem to successive governments despite huge amount of money allocated to both the state and local governments, from the Federation Account. Although this responsibility rests on the state government, but I think the local governments; which comprise Zaria and Sabon Gari have a role to play. In the 1990s the condition of the city was little bit better than what obtains now, because taps were running, not only in Zaria city, but in other places like Sabon Gari, Tudun Jukun and Samaru. But today as I am talking to you, all these places, except for few areas within the city, one finds it very difficult to get portable water especially during the dry season.
Geographically the whole city, sat on top of the Zaria batholiths which intruded in molten state and made it very difficult to get ground water, therefore, according to Geologists, contributed to what we see today of dry wells. But if geologists can identify why ground water is difficult to come by in Zaria, why is it that other means would not be devised? Zaria is a city that inhibits more than one million people and the population of the city increases daily due to higher institutions of learning cited there. It is estimated that more than two hundred thousand people enter the city every year, either in search of admission, collect their results or just to escort their wards to school after getting admission or for convocation or graduation ceremonies.
Zaria can only be compared to Lagos, Kano, or Abuja when it comes to influx of people into the city. Ahmadu Bello University alone hosts more than one hundred thousand people every year. Talk less of other institutions like the FCE, State Poly, College of Aviation and NITT. Two Local Government hosts these institutions. These are Zaria and Sabon Gari LGAs and considering the huge allocation they receive from the Federation Account, is enough for these two local governments to tackle the issue of water problem in Zaria. For instance, from May 1999 to January 2007, apart from internally generated revenue, Sabongari receives N3.3bn from the Federation Account, while Zaria on its part receives nothing less than N3.8bn, and as I am talking to you no single tap is running in Samaru, Palladan or Zangon Shanu in Sabongari LGA. The main city itself does not have that luxury for years. Even places like Tudun Jukun, where their tabs were running prior to 1999, today after eight years of democratic governance, the tabs in this area are dry, I keep wondering what the priority of most of our leaders is.
Several contracts were awarded to tackle the water problem but to no avail. In fact, over N1 billion contracts were awarded more than six years ago. The two local governments combined, that is, Zaria and Sabongari have a total of 115 bore-holes in the area which are mostly funded by the State government through the World Bank and the MDGs. But these bore-holes are nowhere near what is needed to satisfy the people of Zaria from the acute shortage of water they are suffering from. The reality is that the project is a temporary solution measure, the Zaria water problem would require expansion work on Zaria dam, which is estimated to cost about N6 billion. In the circumstance, why shouldn’t the government prioritise the expansion work on the Zaria dam?
We can set up all kinds of agendas, and coin slogans but the bottom line is that if we have no priority, we end up achieving nothing. Ask any resident of Zaria of his immediate priority, he will tell you water, followed by energy (electric power) in right order. Then others will follow, which if to be itemised may fill pages. I am not saying the government of Kaduna, Zaria and Sabongari don’t have priority, but what I keep emphasizing is the fact that the government of Kaduna with the two LGAs will do the people of Zaria good if they tackle the acute shortage of water head on, and then go for other problems. Water is a precious commodity in Zaria today, which was never 20 years ago.
Like I said earlier, the Zaria water problem needs a holistic approach from the state and the two host local governments. First there is need for the expansion work in the Zaria dam which if completed will supply the whole city. For immediate needs, more boreholes need to be drilled to tally with the number of people living in all the areas in the city. It is wrong to drill a single bore-hole for an area with more than 200 people, because that will not be enough. Instead of solving the problem, you will succeed in creating more. Take for instance in the area I live, there was one bore-hole used by the neighbourhood and more than 500 hundred people live there, which at the end of the day affect all the wells in that area and adding more pressure to the bore-hole. As people in their hundreds line up every morning to fetch water for domestic use.
Both the government of Kaduna State and the local government have to put in their 2009 budget the Zaria water scheme, so that the issue will be solved once and for all. Apart from the eleven points of Arch. Namadi’s administration, I think Zaria water problem should be made a priority.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM 25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State
0805 454 6764, 0803 515 0369, 0809 815 0369
As someone who lives half of his life in Zaria, the ancient city becomes my next home away from my village, Lawanti. I visit Zaria quite often, in fact, if I might be given an option to choose where I want to stay for the rest of my life, I will, with no hesitation choose Zaria. However, over the years the condition of this ancient city has deteriorated because of lack of basic social services, like health care, sanitation, power outages and more disturbing lack of portable water. Although Zaria has the advantage of hosting the great Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, far from that, its people are living in a very pathetic condition. Evidence of this could be deduced from the number of children that died in Zaria and environs as a result of outbreak of measles sometimes last year.
But one issue more disturbing to the residents of this ancient city and visitors alike is the issue of acute water shortage, which for years remained albatross in the ancient city. I cannot fully explain why the issue of providing water to Zaria becomes a problem to successive governments despite huge amount of money allocated to both the state and local governments, from the Federation Account. Although this responsibility rests on the state government, but I think the local governments; which comprise Zaria and Sabon Gari have a role to play. In the 1990s the condition of the city was little bit better than what obtains now, because taps were running, not only in Zaria city, but in other places like Sabon Gari, Tudun Jukun and Samaru. But today as I am talking to you, all these places, except for few areas within the city, one finds it very difficult to get portable water especially during the dry season.
Geographically the whole city, sat on top of the Zaria batholiths which intruded in molten state and made it very difficult to get ground water, therefore, according to Geologists, contributed to what we see today of dry wells. But if geologists can identify why ground water is difficult to come by in Zaria, why is it that other means would not be devised? Zaria is a city that inhibits more than one million people and the population of the city increases daily due to higher institutions of learning cited there. It is estimated that more than two hundred thousand people enter the city every year, either in search of admission, collect their results or just to escort their wards to school after getting admission or for convocation or graduation ceremonies.
Zaria can only be compared to Lagos, Kano, or Abuja when it comes to influx of people into the city. Ahmadu Bello University alone hosts more than one hundred thousand people every year. Talk less of other institutions like the FCE, State Poly, College of Aviation and NITT. Two Local Government hosts these institutions. These are Zaria and Sabon Gari LGAs and considering the huge allocation they receive from the Federation Account, is enough for these two local governments to tackle the issue of water problem in Zaria. For instance, from May 1999 to January 2007, apart from internally generated revenue, Sabongari receives N3.3bn from the Federation Account, while Zaria on its part receives nothing less than N3.8bn, and as I am talking to you no single tap is running in Samaru, Palladan or Zangon Shanu in Sabongari LGA. The main city itself does not have that luxury for years. Even places like Tudun Jukun, where their tabs were running prior to 1999, today after eight years of democratic governance, the tabs in this area are dry, I keep wondering what the priority of most of our leaders is.
Several contracts were awarded to tackle the water problem but to no avail. In fact, over N1 billion contracts were awarded more than six years ago. The two local governments combined, that is, Zaria and Sabongari have a total of 115 bore-holes in the area which are mostly funded by the State government through the World Bank and the MDGs. But these bore-holes are nowhere near what is needed to satisfy the people of Zaria from the acute shortage of water they are suffering from. The reality is that the project is a temporary solution measure, the Zaria water problem would require expansion work on Zaria dam, which is estimated to cost about N6 billion. In the circumstance, why shouldn’t the government prioritise the expansion work on the Zaria dam?
We can set up all kinds of agendas, and coin slogans but the bottom line is that if we have no priority, we end up achieving nothing. Ask any resident of Zaria of his immediate priority, he will tell you water, followed by energy (electric power) in right order. Then others will follow, which if to be itemised may fill pages. I am not saying the government of Kaduna, Zaria and Sabongari don’t have priority, but what I keep emphasizing is the fact that the government of Kaduna with the two LGAs will do the people of Zaria good if they tackle the acute shortage of water head on, and then go for other problems. Water is a precious commodity in Zaria today, which was never 20 years ago.
Like I said earlier, the Zaria water problem needs a holistic approach from the state and the two host local governments. First there is need for the expansion work in the Zaria dam which if completed will supply the whole city. For immediate needs, more boreholes need to be drilled to tally with the number of people living in all the areas in the city. It is wrong to drill a single bore-hole for an area with more than 200 people, because that will not be enough. Instead of solving the problem, you will succeed in creating more. Take for instance in the area I live, there was one bore-hole used by the neighbourhood and more than 500 hundred people live there, which at the end of the day affect all the wells in that area and adding more pressure to the bore-hole. As people in their hundreds line up every morning to fetch water for domestic use.
Both the government of Kaduna State and the local government have to put in their 2009 budget the Zaria water scheme, so that the issue will be solved once and for all. Apart from the eleven points of Arch. Namadi’s administration, I think Zaria water problem should be made a priority.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM 25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State
0805 454 6764, 0803 515 0369, 0809 815 0369
YAR'ADUA'S SACRED HEALTH
YAR'ADUA'S SACRED HEALTH
As a Muslim if there is any subject I want to avoid discussing is the issue of someone's health or the way he was created, that is his physical features. One of the reasons is that, am trying to avoid challenging the Almighty. We Muslim believe God has purpose for everything. Therefore, when the issue of the president's health came up I kept mute, even among friends untill last Friday. I was in Kaduna for the weekend and to meet someone and on that day around 4pm, I came out of the house after a long nap to just have fresh air and stretch my legs. As I was passing I heard the maiguards saying that it was on evening news that the president is dead.
Confused, I don't know where to start. Throughout that day I avoided news, I quite often do that, especially when in weekends to free myself? from the rigorous weekdays of journalism stress. But the attitude often has its negative consequences. I could remember the dead of Abiola came to me through same rumour channel, likewise Sultan Maccido's. I instantly believed their story, I tried making calls unfortunately that day MTN network was very poor in Kaduna. Then I decided to rush back into the house so as to catch the remaining news items on BBC's Focus on Africa. I know it could be the leading story of the day. However, the only thing I heard was the issue of Angolan parliamentary elections.
I decided then that this is another rumour like the one before it peddled in Abuja on the first day of fasting. But there are many lessons to learn from all these incidences. First, we have to understand that information is very vital to the survival of people and whoever tries to undermine it, the resultant consequences is for the people to device a means of narrating their own version of it. The secrecy of the recent illness of the president has been kept as a serious national security which gave every Dick and Harry to become a mobile reporter by speculating on what was happening.
Again, the way the issue was handled by the media is not good. The President has publicly admitted few months ago that he is a human being like any other, he can fall sick and even dies, if that is so I see no reason why the issue is so much over flocked as if this is the first time the President is falling sick.
The reality of the whole issue is that whether the President is healthy or sick, that does not concern an ordinary farmer in a little village who fetches water from the pond for domestic purposes or the one who has to treks 73km to reach the main town to buy salt or maggi. Of the 12 head of states we had since independence only two were offically confirmed ill, that is late General Sani Abacha and President Umar Musa Yar'Adua. Tell me what the healthy Presidents did to change the lives of Nigerians during their stewardship?
It is unfair to criticise Yar'Adua or start castigating him for non-performnce due to his ill health. That argument as they say does not hold salt. We've seen healthy Presidents who inflicted so much suffering on Nigerians that today majority are regretting having them as leaders. Remember how a healthy President devastated the country from 1985 to 1993, instituted corruption and open the gate for all kinds of grafts in high places. Up to this date some Nigerians are calling for the investigation of that regime. Same happened from 1999 to 2008 under a civilian administration, our courts are filled with cases of corruption charges never seen in the history of the nation.
Therefore it is wrong to assume that just because Yar'Adua is ill his government cannot function. The only thing I can accept is may be attributing his poor performance to Nigerian Factor which is not a new phenomenon in Nigeria.
For the PDP and the Governors, it is self-deception to say Yar'Adua is healthy because the man himself admitted he is ill. The only thing Nigerians will accept is to tell them that despite his illness he can be able to rule Nigeria , even that only time can tell, because time dilutes the conviction of the weak.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.
As a Muslim if there is any subject I want to avoid discussing is the issue of someone's health or the way he was created, that is his physical features. One of the reasons is that, am trying to avoid challenging the Almighty. We Muslim believe God has purpose for everything. Therefore, when the issue of the president's health came up I kept mute, even among friends untill last Friday. I was in Kaduna for the weekend and to meet someone and on that day around 4pm, I came out of the house after a long nap to just have fresh air and stretch my legs. As I was passing I heard the maiguards saying that it was on evening news that the president is dead.
Confused, I don't know where to start. Throughout that day I avoided news, I quite often do that, especially when in weekends to free myself? from the rigorous weekdays of journalism stress. But the attitude often has its negative consequences. I could remember the dead of Abiola came to me through same rumour channel, likewise Sultan Maccido's. I instantly believed their story, I tried making calls unfortunately that day MTN network was very poor in Kaduna. Then I decided to rush back into the house so as to catch the remaining news items on BBC's Focus on Africa. I know it could be the leading story of the day. However, the only thing I heard was the issue of Angolan parliamentary elections.
I decided then that this is another rumour like the one before it peddled in Abuja on the first day of fasting. But there are many lessons to learn from all these incidences. First, we have to understand that information is very vital to the survival of people and whoever tries to undermine it, the resultant consequences is for the people to device a means of narrating their own version of it. The secrecy of the recent illness of the president has been kept as a serious national security which gave every Dick and Harry to become a mobile reporter by speculating on what was happening.
Again, the way the issue was handled by the media is not good. The President has publicly admitted few months ago that he is a human being like any other, he can fall sick and even dies, if that is so I see no reason why the issue is so much over flocked as if this is the first time the President is falling sick.
The reality of the whole issue is that whether the President is healthy or sick, that does not concern an ordinary farmer in a little village who fetches water from the pond for domestic purposes or the one who has to treks 73km to reach the main town to buy salt or maggi. Of the 12 head of states we had since independence only two were offically confirmed ill, that is late General Sani Abacha and President Umar Musa Yar'Adua. Tell me what the healthy Presidents did to change the lives of Nigerians during their stewardship?
It is unfair to criticise Yar'Adua or start castigating him for non-performnce due to his ill health. That argument as they say does not hold salt. We've seen healthy Presidents who inflicted so much suffering on Nigerians that today majority are regretting having them as leaders. Remember how a healthy President devastated the country from 1985 to 1993, instituted corruption and open the gate for all kinds of grafts in high places. Up to this date some Nigerians are calling for the investigation of that regime. Same happened from 1999 to 2008 under a civilian administration, our courts are filled with cases of corruption charges never seen in the history of the nation.
Therefore it is wrong to assume that just because Yar'Adua is ill his government cannot function. The only thing I can accept is may be attributing his poor performance to Nigerian Factor which is not a new phenomenon in Nigeria.
For the PDP and the Governors, it is self-deception to say Yar'Adua is healthy because the man himself admitted he is ill. The only thing Nigerians will accept is to tell them that despite his illness he can be able to rule Nigeria , even that only time can tell, because time dilutes the conviction of the weak.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.
United States of America and its many faces
United States of America and its many faces
One issue acceptable all over the world is that the United States of America is good for setting examples. Some of these examples are bad, indeed very bad that they turned to consume the whole world. There is no doubt sometimes they set example worthy of emulation. In fact, whether we like it or not, in terms of democracy we have no option but to take a leave from the United States.
I am not saying this, just because Obama won the election, but going by the way the campaigns were conducted, first for the primaries and later the general elections. It is amazing and wonderful to hear how these candidates kept themselves busy by hammering on issues rather than personality. For the past 12 months or so, the US presidential candidates raised issues after issues and tried to convince American voters that they are the ones who deserved to rule the country.
No where in the whole campaign process did a candidate seek the support of ‘yan daba or ‘yan kalare to achieve his objective, no political campaign office was burn down, no civil servant was victimized because he was a member of a political party, nobody was killed or assassinated, nobody decamped to opposition political party because he lost primaries. That alone is enough to tell us that the United States of America is worthy of emulation, especially to our politicians who are in politics for selfish reasons.
Unlike the charade we have seen here in Nigeria since our inception of democracy in 1999, where the focus was on personalities rather than policy in the name of campaign, both the Republicans and the Democrats main focus was how to move their country forward, help their people and salvage their countrymen from the current economic crisis. Whilst it is not uncommon in our part of the world to hear winners and losers trading barbs about fraud and irregularities, we have seen how the Republican candidate, realising he lost the election congratulates his Democrat opponent even before the official announcement of the results.
Although some might be quick to point to the fact that elections, in this part of the world are manipulated and rigged by party in power, but the problem is that even the opposition parties would not be exonerated from the above accusation. We have seen here in Nigeria, in various states of the federation how party in power in most states swift Local Council polls which in actual sense were far from been free and fair elections.
Most a times Governors in various state of federation select the candidates of their choice who will be inaugurated, after the State Independent Electoral Commission has confirmed them. These candidates mostly are not dear to people or cannot win their polling unit in a free and fair elections.
Although several allegation followed the aftermath of the US presidential elections in 2000, surprisingly the Democratic Party Presidential candidate at the time, Al Gore did not go to court for redress. Moreover, knowing fully that the event in 2000 has brought into fore the lapses of the US electoral system, the US government and the electoral body were quick to address the issue especially in the Florida state.
That was not the case with our Independent Electoral Commission which despite the failure of the commission to conduct a free and fair election in 2003, we repeated the same mistake in 2007 or even worst. It is surprising for a country which pride itself to be an ardent follower of America’s governance, failed to learn from the American Electoral System.
What is more interesting and appealing about this year’s election in the US was the way the Americans conducted themselves during campaign and subsequently the elections. No security agent was involved during the campaign or the elections. Unlike in this country where it is alleged that security agents got themselves involved in ballot thumb printing and snatching of ballot boxes.
We hope that the event in America would be a lesson to our politicians, security agents, ad hoc electoral officers and INEC and their staff that politics is not a do or die affair. They should also do us a favour by allowing us to choose leaders of our choice. Then our country will move from a nascent democracy to a matured one.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
08054546764, 08035150369
One issue acceptable all over the world is that the United States of America is good for setting examples. Some of these examples are bad, indeed very bad that they turned to consume the whole world. There is no doubt sometimes they set example worthy of emulation. In fact, whether we like it or not, in terms of democracy we have no option but to take a leave from the United States.
I am not saying this, just because Obama won the election, but going by the way the campaigns were conducted, first for the primaries and later the general elections. It is amazing and wonderful to hear how these candidates kept themselves busy by hammering on issues rather than personality. For the past 12 months or so, the US presidential candidates raised issues after issues and tried to convince American voters that they are the ones who deserved to rule the country.
No where in the whole campaign process did a candidate seek the support of ‘yan daba or ‘yan kalare to achieve his objective, no political campaign office was burn down, no civil servant was victimized because he was a member of a political party, nobody was killed or assassinated, nobody decamped to opposition political party because he lost primaries. That alone is enough to tell us that the United States of America is worthy of emulation, especially to our politicians who are in politics for selfish reasons.
Unlike the charade we have seen here in Nigeria since our inception of democracy in 1999, where the focus was on personalities rather than policy in the name of campaign, both the Republicans and the Democrats main focus was how to move their country forward, help their people and salvage their countrymen from the current economic crisis. Whilst it is not uncommon in our part of the world to hear winners and losers trading barbs about fraud and irregularities, we have seen how the Republican candidate, realising he lost the election congratulates his Democrat opponent even before the official announcement of the results.
Although some might be quick to point to the fact that elections, in this part of the world are manipulated and rigged by party in power, but the problem is that even the opposition parties would not be exonerated from the above accusation. We have seen here in Nigeria, in various states of the federation how party in power in most states swift Local Council polls which in actual sense were far from been free and fair elections.
Most a times Governors in various state of federation select the candidates of their choice who will be inaugurated, after the State Independent Electoral Commission has confirmed them. These candidates mostly are not dear to people or cannot win their polling unit in a free and fair elections.
Although several allegation followed the aftermath of the US presidential elections in 2000, surprisingly the Democratic Party Presidential candidate at the time, Al Gore did not go to court for redress. Moreover, knowing fully that the event in 2000 has brought into fore the lapses of the US electoral system, the US government and the electoral body were quick to address the issue especially in the Florida state.
That was not the case with our Independent Electoral Commission which despite the failure of the commission to conduct a free and fair election in 2003, we repeated the same mistake in 2007 or even worst. It is surprising for a country which pride itself to be an ardent follower of America’s governance, failed to learn from the American Electoral System.
What is more interesting and appealing about this year’s election in the US was the way the Americans conducted themselves during campaign and subsequently the elections. No security agent was involved during the campaign or the elections. Unlike in this country where it is alleged that security agents got themselves involved in ballot thumb printing and snatching of ballot boxes.
We hope that the event in America would be a lesson to our politicians, security agents, ad hoc electoral officers and INEC and their staff that politics is not a do or die affair. They should also do us a favour by allowing us to choose leaders of our choice. Then our country will move from a nascent democracy to a matured one.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
08054546764, 08035150369
States Creation: Need for Caution
States Creation: Need for Caution
Let me begin by saying I am not oppose to state creation or against agitation for the creation of more states in Nigeria. But I have to state here that agitation for the creation of additional states has to be done with caution. With the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates in the year 1914, Lord Luggard became the Governor General of the Nigerian nation. Nigeria existed as a nation with two protectorates between the years 1914 and 1945. The Creation of 3 regions was done by Sir Arthur Richards in 1945 after serious agitations for the adjustment of our internal boundaries. This marked the beginning of politics of State Creation (regions) in Nigeria, which has continued till this day.
But after the Nigeria civil war, state creation was used as a means, first, to address the imbalances that existed since the time of colonialism and secondly to look into cries of marginalization by minority ethnic groups, thereby reducing the domination of major ethnic groups to the nation’s resources.
However, with time, the issue of states creation became avenue for military adventurists to establish themselves in governance. So, to have people’s acceptance, they devise a means of deceiving people to show that they meant well for the country. The issue became so politicized that the very idea of creating these states was defeated. The reason given by most of those who are agitating for state of their own was more of having control of the subvention coming from the federal government. Some of their cries include ‘their resources are controlled by majority tribes’, while others sighted population as the main reason for their agitation.
Although the creation of states in the past brought about rapid development for most states, but the fact remains that majority of the states especially in the North are a disappointment. Take for instance a state like Yobe; although a giant stride is made by the present administration to change things, Yobe remains a backward state in the whole of the country. Although no clear development index were available, but what I saw sometimes in Yobe last September was really disheartening.
In several villages in this North-Eastern state, human beings drink water from the same pond with their animals – goats, dogs, cattle etc. That was during the rainy season. You don’t need to ask what become of these people this time as the harmattan season set in. With due apology to the people of Yobe state, since its creation over 15 years ago, their having a state does not translate in anyway to the development of the communities in this area. If after all these years such incidences I mentioned are obtained in this state, then the agitation of creation of more states, to me is meaningless. Yobe is just one of the many states of the federation where their creation opens an avenue for some individual to corner resources or subvention coming from the federal government. If not, how can you explain the huge amount of money received from the federation account or the Internally Generated Revenue over the years?
Or take the issue of Taraba state which was created almost the same time with Yobe. If not for fear of being termed enemy of the state, it will be right to say it is the worst in terms of development. The state capital fit the description made in Daily Trust sometimes ago.
The whole concept of Governance in Taraba from the time of Jolly Nyame to the present administration of Danbaba Suntai is an avenue for the ruling elite to corner the subvention coming from the federal government. In Jalingo you will see latest brand of any car advertised in DSTV or internet. Or you will hear of their legislators counting the number of countries they visited last month, a very big atlas map in front of them trying to figure which country is next.
We always blame our underdevelopment to either the constitution or marginalization. From independence to date, we witnessed over 5 constitutional amendments and over twenty states were created, but we still clamour for more amendments and more states creation as if that will solve our problems. But if after 15 years a state cannot change the life of its people despite huge amount of money it received from the federation account what is the rational behind the creation of more? My friends from Katagum for instance will ask me would my view be different if Gombe state was not created. My answer would be yes and will remain yes, especially considering the Yobe example I gave earlier.
It is important those agitating for state to base their argument on development rather than issues of marginalization or population, which to me are not reason enough to warrant creation of states. Let them talk about having a state to improve their roads, power supply, provide health care services to their people and create employment opportunities for their teeming youth who finished school with nothing to do. Let us avoid a scenario whereby since town A have a state let us also have one for town B. It is then that the states will be meaningful and contribute to national development.
But if we fail to do that we will find ourselves in a situation like Yobe and Taraba, where some people will fight for the creation of state and become the only beneficiaries, may be with their close family members, then the exercise becomes meaningless.
Kabiru Danladi Lawanti,
Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Let me begin by saying I am not oppose to state creation or against agitation for the creation of more states in Nigeria. But I have to state here that agitation for the creation of additional states has to be done with caution. With the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates in the year 1914, Lord Luggard became the Governor General of the Nigerian nation. Nigeria existed as a nation with two protectorates between the years 1914 and 1945. The Creation of 3 regions was done by Sir Arthur Richards in 1945 after serious agitations for the adjustment of our internal boundaries. This marked the beginning of politics of State Creation (regions) in Nigeria, which has continued till this day.
But after the Nigeria civil war, state creation was used as a means, first, to address the imbalances that existed since the time of colonialism and secondly to look into cries of marginalization by minority ethnic groups, thereby reducing the domination of major ethnic groups to the nation’s resources.
However, with time, the issue of states creation became avenue for military adventurists to establish themselves in governance. So, to have people’s acceptance, they devise a means of deceiving people to show that they meant well for the country. The issue became so politicized that the very idea of creating these states was defeated. The reason given by most of those who are agitating for state of their own was more of having control of the subvention coming from the federal government. Some of their cries include ‘their resources are controlled by majority tribes’, while others sighted population as the main reason for their agitation.
Although the creation of states in the past brought about rapid development for most states, but the fact remains that majority of the states especially in the North are a disappointment. Take for instance a state like Yobe; although a giant stride is made by the present administration to change things, Yobe remains a backward state in the whole of the country. Although no clear development index were available, but what I saw sometimes in Yobe last September was really disheartening.
In several villages in this North-Eastern state, human beings drink water from the same pond with their animals – goats, dogs, cattle etc. That was during the rainy season. You don’t need to ask what become of these people this time as the harmattan season set in. With due apology to the people of Yobe state, since its creation over 15 years ago, their having a state does not translate in anyway to the development of the communities in this area. If after all these years such incidences I mentioned are obtained in this state, then the agitation of creation of more states, to me is meaningless. Yobe is just one of the many states of the federation where their creation opens an avenue for some individual to corner resources or subvention coming from the federal government. If not, how can you explain the huge amount of money received from the federation account or the Internally Generated Revenue over the years?
Or take the issue of Taraba state which was created almost the same time with Yobe. If not for fear of being termed enemy of the state, it will be right to say it is the worst in terms of development. The state capital fit the description made in Daily Trust sometimes ago.
The whole concept of Governance in Taraba from the time of Jolly Nyame to the present administration of Danbaba Suntai is an avenue for the ruling elite to corner the subvention coming from the federal government. In Jalingo you will see latest brand of any car advertised in DSTV or internet. Or you will hear of their legislators counting the number of countries they visited last month, a very big atlas map in front of them trying to figure which country is next.
We always blame our underdevelopment to either the constitution or marginalization. From independence to date, we witnessed over 5 constitutional amendments and over twenty states were created, but we still clamour for more amendments and more states creation as if that will solve our problems. But if after 15 years a state cannot change the life of its people despite huge amount of money it received from the federation account what is the rational behind the creation of more? My friends from Katagum for instance will ask me would my view be different if Gombe state was not created. My answer would be yes and will remain yes, especially considering the Yobe example I gave earlier.
It is important those agitating for state to base their argument on development rather than issues of marginalization or population, which to me are not reason enough to warrant creation of states. Let them talk about having a state to improve their roads, power supply, provide health care services to their people and create employment opportunities for their teeming youth who finished school with nothing to do. Let us avoid a scenario whereby since town A have a state let us also have one for town B. It is then that the states will be meaningful and contribute to national development.
But if we fail to do that we will find ourselves in a situation like Yobe and Taraba, where some people will fight for the creation of state and become the only beneficiaries, may be with their close family members, then the exercise becomes meaningless.
Kabiru Danladi Lawanti,
Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Re: If Trust Is Burden
Re: If Trust Is Burden
I read Kofar Mata’s piece on the above caption. Nothing is farther from truth. When I read the Trust announcement, not the one placed October, but others before it; I was forced to go into the management’s staff list of the organisation’s website to check whether there is a change in the leadership structure. However, I found that there was none, I think the only addition was Mannir Dan Ali. Knowing Mannir well, and the Trust Editorial Board I know there is no way his coming can change the way Trust used to operate.
I re-read the announcement again to try to comprehend the meaning of the message. I have understood its contents very well. But my assumption was that, the announcement was not talking about the opinions we write to Trust papers, may be, they were referring to advertorial written by politicians accusing their opponents of some misdemeanors. And to exonerate itself, the Trust management felt the need to clarify to their esteemed readers on guidelines for submitting and publishing such materials.
But when I read Kofar Mata, it became clear to me that what the management of Trust Papers is doing does not augur well for the paper. As he sighted majority of Northern papers were out of market due to sycophancy, boot leaking and outright praise singing during the dark days of the military. No doubt the Trust papers have in recent time proved to us that they are taking a different approach to newspapering in Northern Nigeria. Their success in just ten years proved my assertion.
But it will be disastrous for them to restrict what ideas or comment to be published in the paper or suggest or even lay guidelines of publishing comments or debate. In today’s world nothing sells paper most like issues and debates raised in that paper and the management of Trust know fully that the paper became dear to us because of intellectual debates and comment with which they started and sustained over the years since the inception of the paper. It is wrong and indeed very wrong to change from that. We will not and can never accept that.
While acknowledging their concern for accuracy and fairness it is equally important for the management of Trust to know that any change in content will definitely jeopardize its reputation built over the years. I could remember in 1989-1992 I suspended reading the Hotline magazine completely and could not listen to Radio Nigeria because of the way the media houses approached issues especially here in the North. In fact, I boycotted all papers and magazines from the North at the time because of what Kofar Mata said.
When the Weekly Trust appeared in 1998, I was also reluctant to read it, until when I saw the likes of Adamu Adamu, (because he is one journalist who many testified that he is honest and trustworthy and defied the powers that be in the military days and after it in speaking what he believes as right). The contents of the paper proved irresistible with pages like the Friday Column by Tilde and many who showed a shift from the old order. We realized that Trust is not like the Northern papers before it.
Please do not allow some people to destroy the reputation you built over the years or allow it to be shattered by sycophancy and desperateness to defend ‘our own’. Tell magazine faced similar problem after the demise of Abacha and the coming of Obasanjo.
In a news story, if someone or an institution is accused, the need to look for the other side of the story is compulsory. But for an opinion, unless the writer uses abusive or incisive language, I see no fault in publishing it. If the accused felt what was said was not true, then you provide right of reply. It was Michael Novak who said, in his Media Debate, ‘there are no facts ‘out there’ apart from human observers. And human observers become not more, but less astute when they try to be neutral…’
New approaches in news reporting like interpretive reporting, investigative journalism and citizen-oriented journalism are what will make a paper different from its competitors. Your contributors provide you with a hint and is left to you to put your reporters to further investigation to come out with the truth of any matter raised.
Kabiru Danladi
Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
I read Kofar Mata’s piece on the above caption. Nothing is farther from truth. When I read the Trust announcement, not the one placed October, but others before it; I was forced to go into the management’s staff list of the organisation’s website to check whether there is a change in the leadership structure. However, I found that there was none, I think the only addition was Mannir Dan Ali. Knowing Mannir well, and the Trust Editorial Board I know there is no way his coming can change the way Trust used to operate.
I re-read the announcement again to try to comprehend the meaning of the message. I have understood its contents very well. But my assumption was that, the announcement was not talking about the opinions we write to Trust papers, may be, they were referring to advertorial written by politicians accusing their opponents of some misdemeanors. And to exonerate itself, the Trust management felt the need to clarify to their esteemed readers on guidelines for submitting and publishing such materials.
But when I read Kofar Mata, it became clear to me that what the management of Trust Papers is doing does not augur well for the paper. As he sighted majority of Northern papers were out of market due to sycophancy, boot leaking and outright praise singing during the dark days of the military. No doubt the Trust papers have in recent time proved to us that they are taking a different approach to newspapering in Northern Nigeria. Their success in just ten years proved my assertion.
But it will be disastrous for them to restrict what ideas or comment to be published in the paper or suggest or even lay guidelines of publishing comments or debate. In today’s world nothing sells paper most like issues and debates raised in that paper and the management of Trust know fully that the paper became dear to us because of intellectual debates and comment with which they started and sustained over the years since the inception of the paper. It is wrong and indeed very wrong to change from that. We will not and can never accept that.
While acknowledging their concern for accuracy and fairness it is equally important for the management of Trust to know that any change in content will definitely jeopardize its reputation built over the years. I could remember in 1989-1992 I suspended reading the Hotline magazine completely and could not listen to Radio Nigeria because of the way the media houses approached issues especially here in the North. In fact, I boycotted all papers and magazines from the North at the time because of what Kofar Mata said.
When the Weekly Trust appeared in 1998, I was also reluctant to read it, until when I saw the likes of Adamu Adamu, (because he is one journalist who many testified that he is honest and trustworthy and defied the powers that be in the military days and after it in speaking what he believes as right). The contents of the paper proved irresistible with pages like the Friday Column by Tilde and many who showed a shift from the old order. We realized that Trust is not like the Northern papers before it.
Please do not allow some people to destroy the reputation you built over the years or allow it to be shattered by sycophancy and desperateness to defend ‘our own’. Tell magazine faced similar problem after the demise of Abacha and the coming of Obasanjo.
In a news story, if someone or an institution is accused, the need to look for the other side of the story is compulsory. But for an opinion, unless the writer uses abusive or incisive language, I see no fault in publishing it. If the accused felt what was said was not true, then you provide right of reply. It was Michael Novak who said, in his Media Debate, ‘there are no facts ‘out there’ apart from human observers. And human observers become not more, but less astute when they try to be neutral…’
New approaches in news reporting like interpretive reporting, investigative journalism and citizen-oriented journalism are what will make a paper different from its competitors. Your contributors provide you with a hint and is left to you to put your reporters to further investigation to come out with the truth of any matter raised.
Kabiru Danladi
Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Vicious attack on families
Vicious attack on families
Last week I received a forwarded message from my friend, Comrade Sani Bala Shehu of the Civil Liberties Organisation, written by Alhaji Ahmad Salisu, titled KANO INCESSANT JUVENILE DEFILEMENTS. I was extremely shocked by the story and it makes me wonder what kind of society we are living in. For those who were not privileged to read the story, the story was not talking about indecent dressing in Hausa films or acting immorally or jeeps controversy, which in recent time occupied headlines from Kano but a true life story of shameless adults whose animalistic behaviour could not only ‘stir emotion but draw a stream of tears to any right minded human being’.
But one place where I tend to disagree with Mallam Salisu is his outright blame of the government of Mallam Shekarau on what was happening. We cannot completely exonerate the government, especially considering that it is the responsibility of the government to protect the lives of its people but the fact remains government alone cannot be blame for the upsurge of moral decadence in our society. To me the problem lies in our total disregard for the family unit which is regarded as the foundation upon which the society is built.
A stable family unit is the one that brings about not only social order, but offers peace and security and is seen as essential for the spiritual growth of its members. It is accepted by majority of Islamic sociologists that the family unit create harmonious social order in which children are treasured. Islam exhorts its adherents to maintain close contact with family members and to care for each other including the elderly and the extended family.
The importance of the family unit stems from the fact that family is the foundation of each and every society. The strength or weakness of this building block makes it a distinctive mark on the social and cultural structure of a society. The weakness of a nation as well as destructive recipes for a well-maintained one, start and end with the family. Today, not only in Kano but in other places like Gombe or Bauchi or worst Adamawa, Taraba and Borno, the family, or what is left of it is under vicious attack from various fronts. Our families are splited, mutilated, alienated and polarized and we are living in a society where the bond - harmony, love and respect that is the feature of our society is completely destroyed.
Mallam Salihu, it is unfortunate that marriage today, which binds the family, has been bastardized, relegated and instead of being a shield for married men and women from committing Zina, it has even become a license for some people to engage in it. Majority of our people today don’t regard zina as harem or sin. I am not trying to pretend being holier than anybody, but it is pathetic the way these set of people shamelessly engage in illicit sex without considering the consequence of their action.
Take a trip to Abuja or Kaduna or even Zaria and see how married men in their dozens, shamelessly pick young ladies young enough to be their daughters to go and have sex with them. Lagos street in Garki or Zone 4 in Wuse are two most popular places in Abuja. If you are in Zaria please visit Magume where the state polytechnic is located or FCE Zaria or ABU Zaria, you will wonder if this is happening in another community not a Muslim community. Therefore, the issue is not of the failure of Shekarau’s social re-orientation and whether the programme is working or some people find an avenue to enrich themselves, but the fact remains that moral decadence in our society has reached an alarming rate, and my believe is that while government can take a substantial amount of the blame, we as individuals take the largest share. Women everywhere are turned into sex machines, enslaved for lust not minding age or status. There are a lot of rape cases which are not reported, because people involved are members of the same family or very close relatives or the women involved do not want the world to know about it.
These are few problems that most girls or women face in our society today. The most pathetic thing is that so many women groups are created daily but most of these groups have become a platform for some opportunists to make money from international donors without really helping those in need. I was equally shocked when I had a discussion with Mrs. Anita Dogo, the Gombe state coordinator of the WRAPPA, who told me how women are abused either by their husbands or relatives especially the issue of inheritance.
Change in any society starts from the individual, who translate it to the family unit and subsequently moves to the whole society. But in a situation where by a husband can cheat on his wife or a wife cheating on her husband, tell me Mallam Salisu how are we going to have a stable society? Or what do you think Mallam Shekarau’s social re-orientation can do? Families today, not only Muslim families alone but other societies living with them have to cope with the problems of rapid urbanization, and the pressures of living in cities and in cramped accommodation. A father, mother and their grown up children live in the same room and palour apartment in a large compound that combines people of different background and culture, what do you expect?
Comrade wallahi sometimes I don’t like talking about Nigeria’s problem, not because they don’t bother me but I find it difficult at the end to proffer a convincing solution to solve these problems. Corrupt leaders, disorganised society, moral decadence, yan kalare, unemployment, poor social welfare system, poor education system, unstable economy, no basic amenities, poor housing, poor roads etc etc the list is endless and then you just add another to this endless list, that is incest, rape and violation and abuse of small children. Our scholars always tell us to be prayerful and that is what we are doing daily.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Last week I received a forwarded message from my friend, Comrade Sani Bala Shehu of the Civil Liberties Organisation, written by Alhaji Ahmad Salisu, titled KANO INCESSANT JUVENILE DEFILEMENTS. I was extremely shocked by the story and it makes me wonder what kind of society we are living in. For those who were not privileged to read the story, the story was not talking about indecent dressing in Hausa films or acting immorally or jeeps controversy, which in recent time occupied headlines from Kano but a true life story of shameless adults whose animalistic behaviour could not only ‘stir emotion but draw a stream of tears to any right minded human being’.
But one place where I tend to disagree with Mallam Salisu is his outright blame of the government of Mallam Shekarau on what was happening. We cannot completely exonerate the government, especially considering that it is the responsibility of the government to protect the lives of its people but the fact remains government alone cannot be blame for the upsurge of moral decadence in our society. To me the problem lies in our total disregard for the family unit which is regarded as the foundation upon which the society is built.
A stable family unit is the one that brings about not only social order, but offers peace and security and is seen as essential for the spiritual growth of its members. It is accepted by majority of Islamic sociologists that the family unit create harmonious social order in which children are treasured. Islam exhorts its adherents to maintain close contact with family members and to care for each other including the elderly and the extended family.
The importance of the family unit stems from the fact that family is the foundation of each and every society. The strength or weakness of this building block makes it a distinctive mark on the social and cultural structure of a society. The weakness of a nation as well as destructive recipes for a well-maintained one, start and end with the family. Today, not only in Kano but in other places like Gombe or Bauchi or worst Adamawa, Taraba and Borno, the family, or what is left of it is under vicious attack from various fronts. Our families are splited, mutilated, alienated and polarized and we are living in a society where the bond - harmony, love and respect that is the feature of our society is completely destroyed.
Mallam Salihu, it is unfortunate that marriage today, which binds the family, has been bastardized, relegated and instead of being a shield for married men and women from committing Zina, it has even become a license for some people to engage in it. Majority of our people today don’t regard zina as harem or sin. I am not trying to pretend being holier than anybody, but it is pathetic the way these set of people shamelessly engage in illicit sex without considering the consequence of their action.
Take a trip to Abuja or Kaduna or even Zaria and see how married men in their dozens, shamelessly pick young ladies young enough to be their daughters to go and have sex with them. Lagos street in Garki or Zone 4 in Wuse are two most popular places in Abuja. If you are in Zaria please visit Magume where the state polytechnic is located or FCE Zaria or ABU Zaria, you will wonder if this is happening in another community not a Muslim community. Therefore, the issue is not of the failure of Shekarau’s social re-orientation and whether the programme is working or some people find an avenue to enrich themselves, but the fact remains that moral decadence in our society has reached an alarming rate, and my believe is that while government can take a substantial amount of the blame, we as individuals take the largest share. Women everywhere are turned into sex machines, enslaved for lust not minding age or status. There are a lot of rape cases which are not reported, because people involved are members of the same family or very close relatives or the women involved do not want the world to know about it.
These are few problems that most girls or women face in our society today. The most pathetic thing is that so many women groups are created daily but most of these groups have become a platform for some opportunists to make money from international donors without really helping those in need. I was equally shocked when I had a discussion with Mrs. Anita Dogo, the Gombe state coordinator of the WRAPPA, who told me how women are abused either by their husbands or relatives especially the issue of inheritance.
Change in any society starts from the individual, who translate it to the family unit and subsequently moves to the whole society. But in a situation where by a husband can cheat on his wife or a wife cheating on her husband, tell me Mallam Salisu how are we going to have a stable society? Or what do you think Mallam Shekarau’s social re-orientation can do? Families today, not only Muslim families alone but other societies living with them have to cope with the problems of rapid urbanization, and the pressures of living in cities and in cramped accommodation. A father, mother and their grown up children live in the same room and palour apartment in a large compound that combines people of different background and culture, what do you expect?
Comrade wallahi sometimes I don’t like talking about Nigeria’s problem, not because they don’t bother me but I find it difficult at the end to proffer a convincing solution to solve these problems. Corrupt leaders, disorganised society, moral decadence, yan kalare, unemployment, poor social welfare system, poor education system, unstable economy, no basic amenities, poor housing, poor roads etc etc the list is endless and then you just add another to this endless list, that is incest, rape and violation and abuse of small children. Our scholars always tell us to be prayerful and that is what we are doing daily.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Plateau state: When an Election becomes nuisance
Plateau state: When an Election becomes nuisance
We boarded a Gombe line bus, in the early hours of Thursday, 6:30am, to be précised with high hopes on a journey to Abuja. All the 14 passengers in the bus with a different assignment to accomplish in the capital city, others were on their way to various places beyond Abuja. For those not so conversant with North-east, Jos the capital city of Plateua state is the only route that links the region with other parts of the country. All vehicles coming from Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa, and Bauchi, have to pass through Jos to reach Kaduna, Abuja or the Southern part of the country.
Unknown to us, the authorities in Jos have imposed what I can call a curfew to regulate the movement of people in the state, due to LG elections taking place that Thursday. What most of us can’t comprehend was the idea of stopping people passing through Jos on their to way other places, which must have to be through Jos. That stranded more than 3000 passengers, who have nothing to do with the elections in Jos for more than four hours. Blockade which was at the entry gate to Jos city left us in the middle of nowhere, because most of us left our houses early in the morning, so we had no opportunity of taking our breakfast.
That was unnecessary. Although Plateau state has become a boiling point of religious and ethnic crisis in Nigeria, the decision of the authorities in Plateau to stop people on their way just because they are conducting local council elections is uncalled for. Similar elections were conducted in places like Kaduna, another boiling point for ethnic and religious crisis, but the approach of the Kaduna authorities and security agents was no where near what I saw in Jos. We acknowledged their concern for security, but it is not fair for them to hold people for ransom in a situation they had nothing to do with. Plateau state is not the only state in the federation and cannot therefore act different.
Our hope is that the people of Plateau state will be given leaders of their choice not ones decided by the ruling party. It is only then that we will forgive those who are responsible for holding us in Jos entry gates for hours without food or water.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi state,
Akko LGA, Gombe state.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
We boarded a Gombe line bus, in the early hours of Thursday, 6:30am, to be précised with high hopes on a journey to Abuja. All the 14 passengers in the bus with a different assignment to accomplish in the capital city, others were on their way to various places beyond Abuja. For those not so conversant with North-east, Jos the capital city of Plateua state is the only route that links the region with other parts of the country. All vehicles coming from Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa, and Bauchi, have to pass through Jos to reach Kaduna, Abuja or the Southern part of the country.
Unknown to us, the authorities in Jos have imposed what I can call a curfew to regulate the movement of people in the state, due to LG elections taking place that Thursday. What most of us can’t comprehend was the idea of stopping people passing through Jos on their to way other places, which must have to be through Jos. That stranded more than 3000 passengers, who have nothing to do with the elections in Jos for more than four hours. Blockade which was at the entry gate to Jos city left us in the middle of nowhere, because most of us left our houses early in the morning, so we had no opportunity of taking our breakfast.
That was unnecessary. Although Plateau state has become a boiling point of religious and ethnic crisis in Nigeria, the decision of the authorities in Plateau to stop people on their way just because they are conducting local council elections is uncalled for. Similar elections were conducted in places like Kaduna, another boiling point for ethnic and religious crisis, but the approach of the Kaduna authorities and security agents was no where near what I saw in Jos. We acknowledged their concern for security, but it is not fair for them to hold people for ransom in a situation they had nothing to do with. Plateau state is not the only state in the federation and cannot therefore act different.
Our hope is that the people of Plateau state will be given leaders of their choice not ones decided by the ruling party. It is only then that we will forgive those who are responsible for holding us in Jos entry gates for hours without food or water.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi state,
Akko LGA, Gombe state.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Nigeria: 50 Wasted Years Of Independence
Nigeria: 50 Wasted Years Of Independence
Fifty years ago (or rightly 48 years), our countrymen and women waved the green-white-green flag of self determination, filled with proud and confidence, with a lot of hope and aspiration, in their minds. Six years later, less than a decade into the independence, a group of disgruntled, unpatriotic and greedy soldiers staged a coup plot and overthrown the nationalists government of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, killing the Prime Minister and many other top government officials, including the Premier of Northern and Western regions, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Samuel Akintola.
This singular incidence in 1966 drew the hands of clock backward and open door for crop military adventurists, who ushered in dictatorship in place of credible leadership. No doubts the years of military rule, if not for few months of General Murtala Ramat Muhammad of blessed memory and his friend General Buhari can be termed as wasted years of the Nigeria's history.
The generations of Nigerians born for instance after Nigeria's civil war have never for once experienced good governance in their lives, as a result, many are regretting why the British made a mistake of handing over power to Nigerians. They came to the conclusion that our independence years were wasted years, at best should be considered to the dustbin of history.
The Nationalists, who struggled to chase the British imperialists and founded independent Nigeria, were men of integrity. In their short stay in power, they were able to lay a solid foundation, designed plans and executed projects that were to drive this nation to a league of industrialised countries of the world. Unfortunately, these founding fathers' lives were cut short as I said earlier by a group of selfish soldiers hungry for power. The exit of these patriotic leaders early in the march left the stage according to Onyekakeyah, 'military card players who toyed with the nation's destiny'.
After the civil war that followed the 1966 bloody coup, General Yakubu Gowon, who took over was faced with arduous task of re-uniting and reconciling a hitherto divided nation. It was during this time that the oil boom came. Huge amount of money flowed into the country's economy. The oil boom provided a rare opportunity for the country to be part of world leading industrial nations. Sadly, this opportunity was squandered. The money accrued to the nation's treasury was misappropriated; the government main concern at the time was how to perpetuate itself as civilian government. Until when it was toppled by General Murtala Muhammad, who came with a well designed plans to tackle the country's problems. Unfortunately, some disgruntled soldiers under the pretence of patriotism assassinated him on January 13, 1976.
Subsequently General Obasanjo took over as Commander In Chief. Out of what one described as 'fear and infancy in governance', he quickly handed over power to a civilian government under Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Shagari's government lasted for only five years before it was ousted by the military on alleged corruption and attempt to perpetuate itself in power by all means.
The military exchanged power among themselves for fifteen years, until 1999, when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was elected? as the President. Of all the presidents that ruled Nigeria since independence, Obasanjo was the luckiest. Out of its 48 years of independence, Chief Obasanjo steered the country for twelve years. He held the reins of power longer than any Nigerian. Even with that he wanted to succeed himself, in 2007, if not for strong opposition from well meaning Nigerians - civil groups, trade unions and the media. He staged managed an election regarded by election observers as the worst in the nation’s history. It saw the emergence of Mallam Musa 'Yar'Adua as the new president of Nigeria.
Discussing Nigeria's history and its independence, is very sad not because we are not part of the major players, but the way this country was run in the last forty years was pathetic. Our 48 years of existence has produced little or nothing to impact on our lives as ‘independent Nigerians’. The Nation is still grappling with issues of poverty, hunger and underdevelopment; we are still yet to fight the killer diseases; polio, malaria, cholera, infant mortality and other curable diseases. Our country is still suffering from serious leadership crisis at all levels. Corruption remains a major obstacle in our quest for national development.
The return to democracy in 1999 gave us hope but that hope was soon dashed, no thanks to Obasanjo's maladministration. Nigeria is celebrating another historic day, October 1, but with little to make its citizens proud. Today, the Niger-Delta region remains a curse to us. Hopeless youths, who were used by politicians during campaigns, have turned into monsters; killing not only political opponents but everybody unlucky to come their way.
I always belief that the country will not continue the way it is now. Though am still pessimistic about whether 'Yar'Adua will salvage this nation or not. We are still yet to take the way to development. Nigerians are suffering and nobody is even talking about ways to alleviate our immediate problems, not to talk of the ones to come next year or in ten years later. We are working towards becoming one of the 20 industrial nations in 2020, but majority of our children are out of school, even those who managed to go to school are not gainfully employed. As long as we continue to pay lip service to major issues and concentrate on white elephant projects, the dream of attaining a status of industrial country by 2020 remains wishful thinking.
Instead of celebrating October 1, Nigerians are suppose to shed tears, because countries that attained independence the same time with Nigeria are not complaining of power, malaria or poverty. October 1, is a time for sober reflection not fanfare, but as the say 'endless hopes are better than hopeless end'. Our independence, therefore, is a mission yet to be accomplished; and only when our leaders channel our resources towards national development for all that we can proud ourselves as independent nation and then come to realize the importance of Independence Day. But for now the day is less important to majority of Nigerians who find it very difficult to survive.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.
Fifty years ago (or rightly 48 years), our countrymen and women waved the green-white-green flag of self determination, filled with proud and confidence, with a lot of hope and aspiration, in their minds. Six years later, less than a decade into the independence, a group of disgruntled, unpatriotic and greedy soldiers staged a coup plot and overthrown the nationalists government of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, killing the Prime Minister and many other top government officials, including the Premier of Northern and Western regions, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Samuel Akintola.
This singular incidence in 1966 drew the hands of clock backward and open door for crop military adventurists, who ushered in dictatorship in place of credible leadership. No doubts the years of military rule, if not for few months of General Murtala Ramat Muhammad of blessed memory and his friend General Buhari can be termed as wasted years of the Nigeria's history.
The generations of Nigerians born for instance after Nigeria's civil war have never for once experienced good governance in their lives, as a result, many are regretting why the British made a mistake of handing over power to Nigerians. They came to the conclusion that our independence years were wasted years, at best should be considered to the dustbin of history.
The Nationalists, who struggled to chase the British imperialists and founded independent Nigeria, were men of integrity. In their short stay in power, they were able to lay a solid foundation, designed plans and executed projects that were to drive this nation to a league of industrialised countries of the world. Unfortunately, these founding fathers' lives were cut short as I said earlier by a group of selfish soldiers hungry for power. The exit of these patriotic leaders early in the march left the stage according to Onyekakeyah, 'military card players who toyed with the nation's destiny'.
After the civil war that followed the 1966 bloody coup, General Yakubu Gowon, who took over was faced with arduous task of re-uniting and reconciling a hitherto divided nation. It was during this time that the oil boom came. Huge amount of money flowed into the country's economy. The oil boom provided a rare opportunity for the country to be part of world leading industrial nations. Sadly, this opportunity was squandered. The money accrued to the nation's treasury was misappropriated; the government main concern at the time was how to perpetuate itself as civilian government. Until when it was toppled by General Murtala Muhammad, who came with a well designed plans to tackle the country's problems. Unfortunately, some disgruntled soldiers under the pretence of patriotism assassinated him on January 13, 1976.
Subsequently General Obasanjo took over as Commander In Chief. Out of what one described as 'fear and infancy in governance', he quickly handed over power to a civilian government under Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Shagari's government lasted for only five years before it was ousted by the military on alleged corruption and attempt to perpetuate itself in power by all means.
The military exchanged power among themselves for fifteen years, until 1999, when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was elected? as the President. Of all the presidents that ruled Nigeria since independence, Obasanjo was the luckiest. Out of its 48 years of independence, Chief Obasanjo steered the country for twelve years. He held the reins of power longer than any Nigerian. Even with that he wanted to succeed himself, in 2007, if not for strong opposition from well meaning Nigerians - civil groups, trade unions and the media. He staged managed an election regarded by election observers as the worst in the nation’s history. It saw the emergence of Mallam Musa 'Yar'Adua as the new president of Nigeria.
Discussing Nigeria's history and its independence, is very sad not because we are not part of the major players, but the way this country was run in the last forty years was pathetic. Our 48 years of existence has produced little or nothing to impact on our lives as ‘independent Nigerians’. The Nation is still grappling with issues of poverty, hunger and underdevelopment; we are still yet to fight the killer diseases; polio, malaria, cholera, infant mortality and other curable diseases. Our country is still suffering from serious leadership crisis at all levels. Corruption remains a major obstacle in our quest for national development.
The return to democracy in 1999 gave us hope but that hope was soon dashed, no thanks to Obasanjo's maladministration. Nigeria is celebrating another historic day, October 1, but with little to make its citizens proud. Today, the Niger-Delta region remains a curse to us. Hopeless youths, who were used by politicians during campaigns, have turned into monsters; killing not only political opponents but everybody unlucky to come their way.
I always belief that the country will not continue the way it is now. Though am still pessimistic about whether 'Yar'Adua will salvage this nation or not. We are still yet to take the way to development. Nigerians are suffering and nobody is even talking about ways to alleviate our immediate problems, not to talk of the ones to come next year or in ten years later. We are working towards becoming one of the 20 industrial nations in 2020, but majority of our children are out of school, even those who managed to go to school are not gainfully employed. As long as we continue to pay lip service to major issues and concentrate on white elephant projects, the dream of attaining a status of industrial country by 2020 remains wishful thinking.
Instead of celebrating October 1, Nigerians are suppose to shed tears, because countries that attained independence the same time with Nigeria are not complaining of power, malaria or poverty. October 1, is a time for sober reflection not fanfare, but as the say 'endless hopes are better than hopeless end'. Our independence, therefore, is a mission yet to be accomplished; and only when our leaders channel our resources towards national development for all that we can proud ourselves as independent nation and then come to realize the importance of Independence Day. But for now the day is less important to majority of Nigerians who find it very difficult to survive.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.
LEDF/CISNAN: Taking the HIV/AIDS Campaign to the Grassroots
LEDF/CISGHAN: Taking the HIV/AIDS Campaign to the Grassroots
By
Kabiru Danladi
kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08035150369, 08054546764, 08098150369
In sub-Saharan Africa, the issue of HIV/AIDS has become a matter of life and death due to poverty, weak public health systems, fear of stigmatization and the high cost of testing the virus. The spread of the disease due to these problems, according to the United Nations, have allowed the virus to spread virtually unchecked.
In Nigeria as in many African countries the issue is the same, however no area is worst affected like the rural areas of Northern Nigeria. Realising this Non Governmental Organization, the Lawanti Education Development Foundation in collaboration with CISGHAN took the HIV/AIDS awareness campaign to the grassroots.
Although LEDF initial objective was to help its immediate community in uplifting the deteriorating standard of education in that area, they were quick to realize that it is equally important to include the issue of HIV/AIDS in their campaign. This was due to the link LEDF realized between poverty, illiteracy and HIV/AIDS. Using the door to door campaign our members have gone round the village and all surrounding villages which include; Toungo, Wuro Konkeje, Marori, Kan Dam, Jouro Haruna, Kan Kwari and even Dolli to help enlighten people on the causes of HIV/AIDS, prevention, and advising people to come for voluntary counseling and testing.
Since its inception in 2003 (5 years ago), LEDF has succeeded in enlightening our people of the importance of Western education. Our belief is that we can fight HIV/AIDS if we have an informed and educated society. As I said earlier the main objective of LEDF was how to solve the deteriorating standard of education in the area. In a village with a population of over 20,000 people, we have only one primary school with only two blocks of classrooms.
Therefore, we embarked on community effort, first to have additional classroom block, secondly to see how we can have a community secondary school. In 2004, we started the building of a classroom block which we completed in 2005 just two years after the formation of the organization. Not only that, we wrote a proposal to the Community Based Poverty Reduction Programme to help us build a community secondary school. The community provided 10% of the needed money to execute the project, while the Agency provided the remaining. Today we have a functional community secondary school with over 300 students.
LEDF was able to rehabilitate the village maternity and upgrade it to a Maternal and Child Care Centre, which was commissioned on the 23rd December, 2006. The Health Centre received a boost from State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA), by opening a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre in the maternity where people come every month for testing and counseling.
LEDF was also able to sponsor 10 traditional birth attendants in Lawanti and training of 2 maternity staff in School of Health Technology, Kaltungo on how to take charge of VCT activities. The NGO also sponsored the training of 6 of the maternity staff.
With the collaboration of Ministry of Women Affairs, Gombe State, we gave assistance to OVC members that include books, food items and clothes. As I said earlier our activities are numerous and we are leaving in a community that needs help because the community is cited as one of the backward communities in the state.
The organization as part of its HIV/AIDS campaign awareness, organized an advocacy visit to so many places in and around Lawanti area to educate people on stigmatization and discrimination for persons living with HIV/AIDS. We used that opportunity to also encourage them to go for HIV test. We showed them the advantages of one to know his HIV status.
Above all, LEDF registered with so many NGOs in the state capital with the sole aim of partnership in the fight against HIV and AIDS. For instance we have partnership with AON, SOHEFA, NIPTHRI, and CISHAN. We have shown our seriousness and commitment to HIV/AIDS reduction and control in our community. Lawanti has a culture of hosting so many people especially from different part of the country in the months of August to February. The village hosts more than 500 people every year – normally they come to work on farms, since majority of our people are farmers.
With the construction of International Airport, we saw additional influx of people to the village ranging from construction workers to people in search of work. Normally these are the most vulnerable people in the society. Therefore, we need to put more efforts in our campaign.
Unfortunately we are handicapped by lack of finance. The projects and programmes are numerous and they need funding, we have to use this opportunity to call on donor agencies to come to our aid in our efforts to make life easy for our community and free it from the dangers of world’s most dreaded disease – HIV/AIDS.
By
Kabiru Danladi
kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08035150369, 08054546764, 08098150369
In sub-Saharan Africa, the issue of HIV/AIDS has become a matter of life and death due to poverty, weak public health systems, fear of stigmatization and the high cost of testing the virus. The spread of the disease due to these problems, according to the United Nations, have allowed the virus to spread virtually unchecked.
In Nigeria as in many African countries the issue is the same, however no area is worst affected like the rural areas of Northern Nigeria. Realising this Non Governmental Organization, the Lawanti Education Development Foundation in collaboration with CISGHAN took the HIV/AIDS awareness campaign to the grassroots.
Although LEDF initial objective was to help its immediate community in uplifting the deteriorating standard of education in that area, they were quick to realize that it is equally important to include the issue of HIV/AIDS in their campaign. This was due to the link LEDF realized between poverty, illiteracy and HIV/AIDS. Using the door to door campaign our members have gone round the village and all surrounding villages which include; Toungo, Wuro Konkeje, Marori, Kan Dam, Jouro Haruna, Kan Kwari and even Dolli to help enlighten people on the causes of HIV/AIDS, prevention, and advising people to come for voluntary counseling and testing.
Since its inception in 2003 (5 years ago), LEDF has succeeded in enlightening our people of the importance of Western education. Our belief is that we can fight HIV/AIDS if we have an informed and educated society. As I said earlier the main objective of LEDF was how to solve the deteriorating standard of education in the area. In a village with a population of over 20,000 people, we have only one primary school with only two blocks of classrooms.
Therefore, we embarked on community effort, first to have additional classroom block, secondly to see how we can have a community secondary school. In 2004, we started the building of a classroom block which we completed in 2005 just two years after the formation of the organization. Not only that, we wrote a proposal to the Community Based Poverty Reduction Programme to help us build a community secondary school. The community provided 10% of the needed money to execute the project, while the Agency provided the remaining. Today we have a functional community secondary school with over 300 students.
LEDF was able to rehabilitate the village maternity and upgrade it to a Maternal and Child Care Centre, which was commissioned on the 23rd December, 2006. The Health Centre received a boost from State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA), by opening a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre in the maternity where people come every month for testing and counseling.
LEDF was also able to sponsor 10 traditional birth attendants in Lawanti and training of 2 maternity staff in School of Health Technology, Kaltungo on how to take charge of VCT activities. The NGO also sponsored the training of 6 of the maternity staff.
With the collaboration of Ministry of Women Affairs, Gombe State, we gave assistance to OVC members that include books, food items and clothes. As I said earlier our activities are numerous and we are leaving in a community that needs help because the community is cited as one of the backward communities in the state.
The organization as part of its HIV/AIDS campaign awareness, organized an advocacy visit to so many places in and around Lawanti area to educate people on stigmatization and discrimination for persons living with HIV/AIDS. We used that opportunity to also encourage them to go for HIV test. We showed them the advantages of one to know his HIV status.
Above all, LEDF registered with so many NGOs in the state capital with the sole aim of partnership in the fight against HIV and AIDS. For instance we have partnership with AON, SOHEFA, NIPTHRI, and CISHAN. We have shown our seriousness and commitment to HIV/AIDS reduction and control in our community. Lawanti has a culture of hosting so many people especially from different part of the country in the months of August to February. The village hosts more than 500 people every year – normally they come to work on farms, since majority of our people are farmers.
With the construction of International Airport, we saw additional influx of people to the village ranging from construction workers to people in search of work. Normally these are the most vulnerable people in the society. Therefore, we need to put more efforts in our campaign.
Unfortunately we are handicapped by lack of finance. The projects and programmes are numerous and they need funding, we have to use this opportunity to call on donor agencies to come to our aid in our efforts to make life easy for our community and free it from the dangers of world’s most dreaded disease – HIV/AIDS.
Jos crisis: When sentiments becloud reason
Jos crisis: When sentiments becloud reason
When my lecturer, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, of the Political Science Department, ABU Zaria, wrote ‘The Role of Chief Bola Ige in the Destabilisation of Nigeria’, few took him serious; others like Femi Awomiyi accused him of misrepresenting history. But in actual sense what happened in Nigeria in the last ten to fifteen years reflects what Doctor wrote in that essay. The person in question, the late Bola Ige compared Fulanis with the Rwandan Tutsis. As quoted by Dr. Sadiq, Bola Ige, provocatively proclaimed that the Fulani of Nigeria are likely to end up sharing the same bloody fate with the Tutsis of Rwanda! Nothing is farther from the truth. These incisive essays, like the one written by Bola Ige, and other ethnic chauvinists like him, gained momentum in the Lagos/Ibadan axis press throughout the independence years, to military dictatorships. That paved way for ethnic minorities, whether in the South or North, to see the Hausa/Fulani as foreigners and enemies and easy target for killing, who according to sponsors of that evil agenda, for centuries exploited their grandparents and now the children of those oppressors are ensuring the continuation of the hegemony.
From the Kafanchan crisis, Zangon Kataf, Tafawa Balewa, Shagamu, Aba to Taraba crisis in the late 80s to early 90s, and the recent bloody mayhem in Kaduna and Jos, it is very easy to say that the University don is right for making the assertion. Like Fulanis the Tutsis - traditionally herdsmen - from northern Africa lived with their neighbours the Hutus. For 600 years the two groups shared the business of farming, essential for survival, between them. They have also shared their language, their culture, and their nationality. There have been many intermarriages between the two groups also.
Today, just like the built-up to the Rwandan genocide, the signs are glaring that there is agenda by some elements within the minority groups in Northern Nigeria, especially the so-called Middle Belt to exterminate the Hausa/Fulani in their midst. Some might liking me to prophet of doom, but if a simple local council election, could lead to the wanton killing of innocent people and destruction of property, then I can’t imagine where the country is heading to. Jos, until September 2001, had always been viewed as a peaceful city. To many Nigerians, the Plateau State motto of "Home of Peace and Tourism" was more than an empty slogan. Indeed, many people fleeing conflicts in their own areas had sought protection and safety in Jos; some had even settled there. But this rather peaceful city is taken over by hoodlums, gangs of terrorists, who believe that the country Nigeria belongs to them alone.
I can’t imagine after living in a town for more than 100 years, where even your great grandfather was born, having no other town than it, just for someone, whose identity is even questionable, to tell you that you are a settler, in century where a son of black Kenyan is elected as the President of the most powerful country on earth. Whether these spate of ethnic cleansing were planned or not, one thing is quite clear, all these crisis are masterminded by leaders of the various ethnic groups, who find pleasure in killing their fellow human beings. As many writers said, the Jos crisis is as a result of failure of leadership which the Northern country suffered after the death of our great leaders in the 1966 bloody coup. Worst affected by this syndrome are the Middle Belters, who for years are being exploited by their leaders.
One person needs to be commended; this person is no other but General Ibrahim Babangida. Apart from Sardauna, no any other leader in Northern Nigeria empowered the people of this area like Babangida. He made their sons and daughters governors, ministers, advisers, and ambassadors. Unfortunately these people misused the opportunity given to them, for them now to come back and start blaming Hausa/Fulani or Muslims for their woes. They left their people wretched, with no basic amenities, no education or social services. Therefore, the people became very easy to mobilize in slightest provocation.
Of all the Generals, former ministers, Ambassadors, and top government functionaries the region had, little could be shown to tell that the region produced these set of people. But one thing I want to assure the Jos ‘indigenes’ is that even if all Hausa/Fulani eventually decide to go back to their roots in Katsina, Zaria, Kano and elsewhere, the poverty of the region or their condition will not change. The problem they face today whether in Mangu, Langtan or Quanpan, is a general problem all over the country. There is no different between a poor man in Jesu, Balanga LGA Gombe State with that of Jengre of Plateau state or those leaving in remote areas of the South-west or South-east or the Niger-Delta. Therefore, instead of directing our anger to our fellow countrymen, why can’t we go directly to the root of the problem?
On the part of the government, enough is enough! The government has to take drastic measures to address the indigene/settler issue once and for all. The constitution is categorical about that, so is left for the government to implement it. One other issue is how to avoid the repetition of what happened. Here I think we need the input of people like the former Governor of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmad Muhammad Makarfi, Former Governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame, and Kano State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau. The Federal Government and the Government of Plateau State need the assistance of these people to address this issue once and for all. Makarfi was able to bring peace to hitherto the most volatile state in the whole of the federation, likewise Rev. Nyame. On the other hand Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau was able to contained Kano which is well known for the wave of reprisal killings.
I think with the involvement of these experienced people, the security agents and well meaning Nigerians something tangible might come up. But I have to emphasize that unless people like Jonah Jang express willingness to involve everybody in his government, ba’a rabu da Bukar ba. Religious and traditional rulers have to be seriously warned that anyone found to be involved in any ethnic or religious riot should be executed. That worked in Kaduna and I think if that method is adapted in Jos or Plateau State in the next one year you will not hear any problem.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
080854546764, 08035150369
When my lecturer, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, of the Political Science Department, ABU Zaria, wrote ‘The Role of Chief Bola Ige in the Destabilisation of Nigeria’, few took him serious; others like Femi Awomiyi accused him of misrepresenting history. But in actual sense what happened in Nigeria in the last ten to fifteen years reflects what Doctor wrote in that essay. The person in question, the late Bola Ige compared Fulanis with the Rwandan Tutsis. As quoted by Dr. Sadiq, Bola Ige, provocatively proclaimed that the Fulani of Nigeria are likely to end up sharing the same bloody fate with the Tutsis of Rwanda! Nothing is farther from the truth. These incisive essays, like the one written by Bola Ige, and other ethnic chauvinists like him, gained momentum in the Lagos/Ibadan axis press throughout the independence years, to military dictatorships. That paved way for ethnic minorities, whether in the South or North, to see the Hausa/Fulani as foreigners and enemies and easy target for killing, who according to sponsors of that evil agenda, for centuries exploited their grandparents and now the children of those oppressors are ensuring the continuation of the hegemony.
From the Kafanchan crisis, Zangon Kataf, Tafawa Balewa, Shagamu, Aba to Taraba crisis in the late 80s to early 90s, and the recent bloody mayhem in Kaduna and Jos, it is very easy to say that the University don is right for making the assertion. Like Fulanis the Tutsis - traditionally herdsmen - from northern Africa lived with their neighbours the Hutus. For 600 years the two groups shared the business of farming, essential for survival, between them. They have also shared their language, their culture, and their nationality. There have been many intermarriages between the two groups also.
Today, just like the built-up to the Rwandan genocide, the signs are glaring that there is agenda by some elements within the minority groups in Northern Nigeria, especially the so-called Middle Belt to exterminate the Hausa/Fulani in their midst. Some might liking me to prophet of doom, but if a simple local council election, could lead to the wanton killing of innocent people and destruction of property, then I can’t imagine where the country is heading to. Jos, until September 2001, had always been viewed as a peaceful city. To many Nigerians, the Plateau State motto of "Home of Peace and Tourism" was more than an empty slogan. Indeed, many people fleeing conflicts in their own areas had sought protection and safety in Jos; some had even settled there. But this rather peaceful city is taken over by hoodlums, gangs of terrorists, who believe that the country Nigeria belongs to them alone.
I can’t imagine after living in a town for more than 100 years, where even your great grandfather was born, having no other town than it, just for someone, whose identity is even questionable, to tell you that you are a settler, in century where a son of black Kenyan is elected as the President of the most powerful country on earth. Whether these spate of ethnic cleansing were planned or not, one thing is quite clear, all these crisis are masterminded by leaders of the various ethnic groups, who find pleasure in killing their fellow human beings. As many writers said, the Jos crisis is as a result of failure of leadership which the Northern country suffered after the death of our great leaders in the 1966 bloody coup. Worst affected by this syndrome are the Middle Belters, who for years are being exploited by their leaders.
One person needs to be commended; this person is no other but General Ibrahim Babangida. Apart from Sardauna, no any other leader in Northern Nigeria empowered the people of this area like Babangida. He made their sons and daughters governors, ministers, advisers, and ambassadors. Unfortunately these people misused the opportunity given to them, for them now to come back and start blaming Hausa/Fulani or Muslims for their woes. They left their people wretched, with no basic amenities, no education or social services. Therefore, the people became very easy to mobilize in slightest provocation.
Of all the Generals, former ministers, Ambassadors, and top government functionaries the region had, little could be shown to tell that the region produced these set of people. But one thing I want to assure the Jos ‘indigenes’ is that even if all Hausa/Fulani eventually decide to go back to their roots in Katsina, Zaria, Kano and elsewhere, the poverty of the region or their condition will not change. The problem they face today whether in Mangu, Langtan or Quanpan, is a general problem all over the country. There is no different between a poor man in Jesu, Balanga LGA Gombe State with that of Jengre of Plateau state or those leaving in remote areas of the South-west or South-east or the Niger-Delta. Therefore, instead of directing our anger to our fellow countrymen, why can’t we go directly to the root of the problem?
On the part of the government, enough is enough! The government has to take drastic measures to address the indigene/settler issue once and for all. The constitution is categorical about that, so is left for the government to implement it. One other issue is how to avoid the repetition of what happened. Here I think we need the input of people like the former Governor of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmad Muhammad Makarfi, Former Governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame, and Kano State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau. The Federal Government and the Government of Plateau State need the assistance of these people to address this issue once and for all. Makarfi was able to bring peace to hitherto the most volatile state in the whole of the federation, likewise Rev. Nyame. On the other hand Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau was able to contained Kano which is well known for the wave of reprisal killings.
I think with the involvement of these experienced people, the security agents and well meaning Nigerians something tangible might come up. But I have to emphasize that unless people like Jonah Jang express willingness to involve everybody in his government, ba’a rabu da Bukar ba. Religious and traditional rulers have to be seriously warned that anyone found to be involved in any ethnic or religious riot should be executed. That worked in Kaduna and I think if that method is adapted in Jos or Plateau State in the next one year you will not hear any problem.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
080854546764, 08035150369
When Indecency Becomes Fashion
When Indecency Becomes Fashion
Indecent dressing in recent years has become an issue especially in our higher institutions of learning, offices, and even Churches. A lot of churches in Lagos and other areas in Nigeria have to force their members to adopt a dress code or uniform before they could be allowed to enter the churches. One will not be surprised by the upsurge of indecent dressing in our higher institution of learning considering the assumed freedom most students coming straight from secondary school think they have especially as they were (or we were told, because when we were in secondary school we were told that in university, a person is so free that he can wear knickers to class). That was the mentally most of us had.
Research by sociologists shows ‘that some of these girls dress indecently because they fear that since they are not beautiful enough, they may never get married. Also, ‘girls dress indecently because of inferiority complex, that is, most girls dress indecently because they believe they are not beautiful enough, and want to make up for their ‘ugliness’ by exposing some sensitive parts of their bodies to attract attention and possibly love.’
Most of these findings if not all are true, though I am not a lady and I can’t speak for them. But since we interact with them, discuss such issues, we hear their views concerning why they dress the way they do. The problem now lies in how to tackle the problem?
Universities like the University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria adopted the dress code option which they felt was a sure way of solving the problem. But trust our people, as soon as the dress code order started taking effect some undesirable elements within the institution gave it a different meaning by saying that some ‘fanatics’ want to turn the country into an Islamic state. This happened in ABU Zaria in 2006.
Under the pretext of fighting for their assumed ‘right’ some students went on rampage destroying all signboards put in strategic places to promote decent dressing, alleging that the pictures used in the signboards symbolized Islam. That was what led to the closure of the school. The issue was dropped by the school authorities or relaxed, because there was no agreement as to what is a ‘decent’ dress. I could remember having a heated debate with a lady at that time as to why should anyone determine the way she dress?
It is unfortunate that we are living in a society where immoral behaviour becomes fashion and whenever an effort is made to bring order into the society, some people will use religion as a shield to defend their immoral behavior. The issue of dress code was brought into the National Assembly but was dropped because some women groups felt that the bill violates women rights.
One other issue was the role of parents in ensuring that their children are decently dress. Islam for instance spelt out categorically how a woman can dress when going out of her house, whether married or not, provided she reached the puberty age. And I am not aware of any Christian teaching that says women must go naked. The portrait of Virgin Mary and the pictures of Nuns we see everywhere, show well covered ladies with only their faces shown, I don’t know why some Christians claim that dress code adoption means turning the country into an Islamic state.
Many a time you will see parents escorting their children to school, the children half naked, for registration without remorse or concern about the way the children are dressed. In the past, we thought that most of these girls don’t dress the way they do in school when they get home, but when you see a lady naked, accompanied by her father or mother in school for registration, you know something is wrong and indeed seriously wrong.
It is evident that parents do support the indecency of their children. How many times will you hear a parent telling his daughter that ‘she is a big girl’ so she knows what is good for her. This is wrong. Because that was not the kind of training we were given by our parents. One other thing is the role of the media in promoting decent dressing. Unfortunately, media are not helping matters. Go to Wuse market in Abuja today, you will see vendors selling all kinds of phonographic materials, and openly. I could remember reading a report in one of the national dailies that reported the issue but up till now, these vendors are still selling these materials openly, this is even moving to Kaduna and Jos around Leventis roundabout.
One other issue is the national television progammes on NTA - you wonder what they want to achieve by these programmes. Violating all rules that established them for financial reason, the NTA broadcast all kinds of materials which are very harmful to the thinking of our youths. Sometimes I wonder what the sponsors of such programmes want to achieve by such programmes. If they are really searching for talents as they say, why not go to universities to look for brilliant students and offer them scholarships?
For the NTA, you will find even some of their presenters wearing skimpy dresses, exposing contours of their bodies, live on TV. Can’t these presenters realize that they are role models? The NTA ought to know this. It is not Nigerian to pretend that what we are doing is right, knowing fully it is wrong. For instance, the programme sponsored by Maltina aired 10pm daily on NTA+ or the one sponsored by MTN – talents search, what do the programmes teach youths?
We have to redefine what our national culture is. As long as such programmes are allowed to go, and on a station regarded as an institution of promoting our culture then lets not deceive anybody of having a national culture.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti village,
Km25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA,
Gombe state.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com08035150369,08054546764
Indecent dressing in recent years has become an issue especially in our higher institutions of learning, offices, and even Churches. A lot of churches in Lagos and other areas in Nigeria have to force their members to adopt a dress code or uniform before they could be allowed to enter the churches. One will not be surprised by the upsurge of indecent dressing in our higher institution of learning considering the assumed freedom most students coming straight from secondary school think they have especially as they were (or we were told, because when we were in secondary school we were told that in university, a person is so free that he can wear knickers to class). That was the mentally most of us had.
Research by sociologists shows ‘that some of these girls dress indecently because they fear that since they are not beautiful enough, they may never get married. Also, ‘girls dress indecently because of inferiority complex, that is, most girls dress indecently because they believe they are not beautiful enough, and want to make up for their ‘ugliness’ by exposing some sensitive parts of their bodies to attract attention and possibly love.’
Most of these findings if not all are true, though I am not a lady and I can’t speak for them. But since we interact with them, discuss such issues, we hear their views concerning why they dress the way they do. The problem now lies in how to tackle the problem?
Universities like the University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria adopted the dress code option which they felt was a sure way of solving the problem. But trust our people, as soon as the dress code order started taking effect some undesirable elements within the institution gave it a different meaning by saying that some ‘fanatics’ want to turn the country into an Islamic state. This happened in ABU Zaria in 2006.
Under the pretext of fighting for their assumed ‘right’ some students went on rampage destroying all signboards put in strategic places to promote decent dressing, alleging that the pictures used in the signboards symbolized Islam. That was what led to the closure of the school. The issue was dropped by the school authorities or relaxed, because there was no agreement as to what is a ‘decent’ dress. I could remember having a heated debate with a lady at that time as to why should anyone determine the way she dress?
It is unfortunate that we are living in a society where immoral behaviour becomes fashion and whenever an effort is made to bring order into the society, some people will use religion as a shield to defend their immoral behavior. The issue of dress code was brought into the National Assembly but was dropped because some women groups felt that the bill violates women rights.
One other issue was the role of parents in ensuring that their children are decently dress. Islam for instance spelt out categorically how a woman can dress when going out of her house, whether married or not, provided she reached the puberty age. And I am not aware of any Christian teaching that says women must go naked. The portrait of Virgin Mary and the pictures of Nuns we see everywhere, show well covered ladies with only their faces shown, I don’t know why some Christians claim that dress code adoption means turning the country into an Islamic state.
Many a time you will see parents escorting their children to school, the children half naked, for registration without remorse or concern about the way the children are dressed. In the past, we thought that most of these girls don’t dress the way they do in school when they get home, but when you see a lady naked, accompanied by her father or mother in school for registration, you know something is wrong and indeed seriously wrong.
It is evident that parents do support the indecency of their children. How many times will you hear a parent telling his daughter that ‘she is a big girl’ so she knows what is good for her. This is wrong. Because that was not the kind of training we were given by our parents. One other thing is the role of the media in promoting decent dressing. Unfortunately, media are not helping matters. Go to Wuse market in Abuja today, you will see vendors selling all kinds of phonographic materials, and openly. I could remember reading a report in one of the national dailies that reported the issue but up till now, these vendors are still selling these materials openly, this is even moving to Kaduna and Jos around Leventis roundabout.
One other issue is the national television progammes on NTA - you wonder what they want to achieve by these programmes. Violating all rules that established them for financial reason, the NTA broadcast all kinds of materials which are very harmful to the thinking of our youths. Sometimes I wonder what the sponsors of such programmes want to achieve by such programmes. If they are really searching for talents as they say, why not go to universities to look for brilliant students and offer them scholarships?
For the NTA, you will find even some of their presenters wearing skimpy dresses, exposing contours of their bodies, live on TV. Can’t these presenters realize that they are role models? The NTA ought to know this. It is not Nigerian to pretend that what we are doing is right, knowing fully it is wrong. For instance, the programme sponsored by Maltina aired 10pm daily on NTA+ or the one sponsored by MTN – talents search, what do the programmes teach youths?
We have to redefine what our national culture is. As long as such programmes are allowed to go, and on a station regarded as an institution of promoting our culture then lets not deceive anybody of having a national culture.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti village,
Km25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA,
Gombe state.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com08035150369,08054546764
I Still Love Her
I Still Love Her
Nana I am a guy of thirty and seriously in love with a girl I met only once. All our conversations were done first on the net, and later she sent me her number. I wish she is reading this.
It is a kind of mistake that most men do. We are too eager to pronounce our feelings and I think that was exactly what happened between me and Aunty Ha. The first day we spoke on fon we were all nervous. But later we became relaxed and we talked about our likes and dislikes, what she wants in a man and so on. Sometimes we even talk during night calls and it was very interesting and sweet, I liked it. She is very good in keeping someone happy when she talks.
The first mistake I made was to insist on seeing her. She told me there was no need for that. But I insisted. She reminded me that is better we continue the way we started, that is, online friendship. She told me how ugly she was and I’d run if I see her – bla bla...ladies talk. But I know she was joking. My other problem was I am too temperamental; I get pissed off on slight things that I can overlook.
The first day we met she did not hide her disappointment. It was not what she expected. She was expecting to see a huge, big broad shoulders man; a description of a handsome man in novels - 007. And you know ladies of today, since I told her I am working, she was expecting to see me in a big car holding three or four handsets depending on GSM providers available in town.
That was the beginning of the end of our relationship. If I call her numbers she won’t pick my call or would allow it to be reading without answering it. She stopped replying my SMS.
Sincerely speaking I was also disappointed, not by her physical appearance but by her intellectual capacity. She is intelligent no doubt after finishing from a prestigious University in Nigeria, but her thinking is very myopic. She does not think beyond her nose.
My problem, Nana is that, I still love her and it takes a great courage from me every single day to resist calling her numbers. In fact, I have to write them on a sheet of paper and put them in the inner pocket of my wallet and delete them from my fon memory altogether to avoid the temptation of calling her. How I wish she will make the first move. One other problem is that we are separated by hundreds of kilometers.
Should I forget her and look for another girl or continue waiting for her to make the first move? Please advice me.
Kabir
Nana I am a guy of thirty and seriously in love with a girl I met only once. All our conversations were done first on the net, and later she sent me her number. I wish she is reading this.
It is a kind of mistake that most men do. We are too eager to pronounce our feelings and I think that was exactly what happened between me and Aunty Ha. The first day we spoke on fon we were all nervous. But later we became relaxed and we talked about our likes and dislikes, what she wants in a man and so on. Sometimes we even talk during night calls and it was very interesting and sweet, I liked it. She is very good in keeping someone happy when she talks.
The first mistake I made was to insist on seeing her. She told me there was no need for that. But I insisted. She reminded me that is better we continue the way we started, that is, online friendship. She told me how ugly she was and I’d run if I see her – bla bla...ladies talk. But I know she was joking. My other problem was I am too temperamental; I get pissed off on slight things that I can overlook.
The first day we met she did not hide her disappointment. It was not what she expected. She was expecting to see a huge, big broad shoulders man; a description of a handsome man in novels - 007. And you know ladies of today, since I told her I am working, she was expecting to see me in a big car holding three or four handsets depending on GSM providers available in town.
That was the beginning of the end of our relationship. If I call her numbers she won’t pick my call or would allow it to be reading without answering it. She stopped replying my SMS.
Sincerely speaking I was also disappointed, not by her physical appearance but by her intellectual capacity. She is intelligent no doubt after finishing from a prestigious University in Nigeria, but her thinking is very myopic. She does not think beyond her nose.
My problem, Nana is that, I still love her and it takes a great courage from me every single day to resist calling her numbers. In fact, I have to write them on a sheet of paper and put them in the inner pocket of my wallet and delete them from my fon memory altogether to avoid the temptation of calling her. How I wish she will make the first move. One other problem is that we are separated by hundreds of kilometers.
Should I forget her and look for another girl or continue waiting for her to make the first move? Please advice me.
Kabir
How not to practice Public Relations!
How not to practice Public Relations!
The practice of public relations, especially with the inception of democracy in Nigeria, has become an all comer job, as politicians select and choose their spokesperson with little or no consideration for the person’s competency. In other places, even where professional image makers were employed to work for a politician, little freedom is given to them to really work the way they should.
The whole idea of public relations according to Ford (1976) is to evaluate public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual or an organization with the public interest, and plans and executes a program of action to earn public understanding and acceptance. But for people like Botan (1992) and Taylor (2000) public relations is the use of communication to establish, develop and negotiate relationships between organizations and their strategic publics.
Most of these definitions focused on establishing a good relationship between an organization and its ‘targeted public’. Although no reference was made to the use of public relations in governance, public relations experts believe that the idea of public relations came about as a result of government desire in any country to earn public confidence.
But the problem most PROs face today in Nigeria is from their employers. Not all PROs, even those employed based on merit have the freedom to work as publicity officials or allow at anytime to protect their organizations or institutions. Most of them are left at the mercy of journalists or even get a hint of what is happening in their organizations through their journalist friends.
Yushau A. Shuaib, author of Financial Public Relations and A Dozen Tips for Media Relations in an article titled when an editor becomes the spokesperson, wrote ‘whilst an editor can easily have unfettered access to top management and confidential information, a lucky spokesperson may likely have only the listening ears of the boss and not necessarily the information required for the job.
He pointed out that ‘while editors enjoy the right to express their opinions on any issue through editorials and columns’, a PRO is restricted on the kind of official information he can divulge to the public. An editor according to him is highly revered and respected by the society, while a spokesperson is seen as an errand boy that only speaks the voices of his masters. Public Officers are afraid to mess with editors, but cannot hesitate to maltreat their spokespersons as if they were spies.
So instead of being part of the management, a PRO is left hanging between management and junior staff. He is seen like a bat – he is neither a bird nor animal. The management on one hand considers him a threat, who can connive at anytime with the media an expose the excesses of the management. On the other hand junior staff see him as a run away member of their club, who feels too big to identify with them.
However, even the PROs themselves contribute to their predicaments. Many times PROs relegate themselves to background. Just to explain to their bosses that this is how things are done they can’t. Public Relations emphasizes equal opportunity for all to speak and be heard. Unlike advertisement, which sticks to a product in the face of a potential customer and give them every reason to buy it, the public relations approach is a lot less direct.
Public relations will let your target audience know what else you've got going on besides your product or service - like what kind of good you are doing in the community and how you plan to help more in the future. Though it's not as bold as advertising, a good public relations department can aid in building good reputation as much as advertising.
In government circles, which involves dealing with politicians, who are always conscious of what they utter or who is observing them, public relations will always help in enhancing the personality of an individual and their image in the eyes of the public. A public relations officer, who enjoys the goodwill of his boss, will do a lot in ensuring the success of his boss, but he can do this through good public relations. But the most important thing is communication.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.
kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
The practice of public relations, especially with the inception of democracy in Nigeria, has become an all comer job, as politicians select and choose their spokesperson with little or no consideration for the person’s competency. In other places, even where professional image makers were employed to work for a politician, little freedom is given to them to really work the way they should.
The whole idea of public relations according to Ford (1976) is to evaluate public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual or an organization with the public interest, and plans and executes a program of action to earn public understanding and acceptance. But for people like Botan (1992) and Taylor (2000) public relations is the use of communication to establish, develop and negotiate relationships between organizations and their strategic publics.
Most of these definitions focused on establishing a good relationship between an organization and its ‘targeted public’. Although no reference was made to the use of public relations in governance, public relations experts believe that the idea of public relations came about as a result of government desire in any country to earn public confidence.
But the problem most PROs face today in Nigeria is from their employers. Not all PROs, even those employed based on merit have the freedom to work as publicity officials or allow at anytime to protect their organizations or institutions. Most of them are left at the mercy of journalists or even get a hint of what is happening in their organizations through their journalist friends.
Yushau A. Shuaib, author of Financial Public Relations and A Dozen Tips for Media Relations in an article titled when an editor becomes the spokesperson, wrote ‘whilst an editor can easily have unfettered access to top management and confidential information, a lucky spokesperson may likely have only the listening ears of the boss and not necessarily the information required for the job.
He pointed out that ‘while editors enjoy the right to express their opinions on any issue through editorials and columns’, a PRO is restricted on the kind of official information he can divulge to the public. An editor according to him is highly revered and respected by the society, while a spokesperson is seen as an errand boy that only speaks the voices of his masters. Public Officers are afraid to mess with editors, but cannot hesitate to maltreat their spokespersons as if they were spies.
So instead of being part of the management, a PRO is left hanging between management and junior staff. He is seen like a bat – he is neither a bird nor animal. The management on one hand considers him a threat, who can connive at anytime with the media an expose the excesses of the management. On the other hand junior staff see him as a run away member of their club, who feels too big to identify with them.
However, even the PROs themselves contribute to their predicaments. Many times PROs relegate themselves to background. Just to explain to their bosses that this is how things are done they can’t. Public Relations emphasizes equal opportunity for all to speak and be heard. Unlike advertisement, which sticks to a product in the face of a potential customer and give them every reason to buy it, the public relations approach is a lot less direct.
Public relations will let your target audience know what else you've got going on besides your product or service - like what kind of good you are doing in the community and how you plan to help more in the future. Though it's not as bold as advertising, a good public relations department can aid in building good reputation as much as advertising.
In government circles, which involves dealing with politicians, who are always conscious of what they utter or who is observing them, public relations will always help in enhancing the personality of an individual and their image in the eyes of the public. A public relations officer, who enjoys the goodwill of his boss, will do a lot in ensuring the success of his boss, but he can do this through good public relations. But the most important thing is communication.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.
kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Government Of National Unity
Government Of National Unity: Towards a One Party System in Nigeria.
Ogbeifun, 2008 quoting Kiiza, 2005 when defining democracy and the role of parties said “democracy is a term derived from two Greek words – demos (or people) and kratos (rule)”. The key components in this definition are people and rule, therefore according to him the system will ultimately involve a process in which people of a given constituency, come together as specified by their electoral laws, to vote and elect some people to rule over them for some specified period. But this has to be in consonance with the provision of constitution. In a multi-party system like ours, democracy offers alternative choices to the citizenry.
The choices in a true democracy are informed by the parties’ manifestoes, credibility of the candidates, their contributions to the welfare of the people and the upliftment of society. Unfortunately, in most democracies especially here in Africa and particularly Nigeria, the people are hardly allowed to elect leaders of their choice because thugs; yan kalare, yan daba and goons normally do hijack the electioneering process on one hand, and the Independent National Electoral Commission fraudulently manipulate the electoral system and select those they want as leaders over the wishes of majority. We have seen in the past nine years how politicians fraudulently and sometimes violently select those who they want to be candidate in primary elections and subsequently become leaders in general elections.
However, whatever happens at the end of the day, some set of people would emerge at both the Executive and legislative levels. Logically, all the political parties cannot form the central government. Therefore, the party with the majority of vote counts will be given the mandate to form the central government while the rest would constitute the minority groups or the opposition.
In a true democracy opposition is the bedrock of sustainable democracy and opposition parties are encouraged, and are given access to information and the media so that their voice could be heard. It is through the opposition that the political party in power will come to know that within the population there are huge silent majority, who did not vote for them but have the right to express their position in certain aspect of governance and it is through that their views can be passed to the government.
Historically the founding fathers of modern Nigeria laid its foundation on multi-party democracy. The idea of multi-party system logically is simple. To have a government that would be very conscious of what they are doing and a strong opposition that would challenge actions taken by the party in power, perceived to be detrimental to the nation’s interest and the interest of the majority of its citizen. In the colonial days, political parties were formed to protect the interest of the various regions the country had then.
This is a fact. Except for the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon which metamorphosed to National Council of Nigerian Citizens, all the other parties have regional outlook. Notwithstanding their ideology or regional inclination, opposition parties at that time remained what they are known for, i.e criticizing the government in power for good governance. This was evident considering the fact that many of our nationalists leaders in the first republic – a time when a party needed the support of other parties to form a government, the turbulent nature of the political landscape at the time, serious agitation for breakup from all angles; opposition parties remained steadfast to what they believed in. The great Awo for instance led a strong opposition against the government at the centre, maintaining what he thought at the time was good for the nation. That does not stop them from contributing meaningfully to national development.
Even in the second republic, which political commentators described as the beginning of the end of democratic governance in Nigeria, opposition parties remained strong and provided the needed opposition that the nation required at the time to push it, in its quest for instituting democracy and good governance. Mallam Aminu Kano and his PRP led an opposition that forced the NPN government to consider the pros and cons of any decision they wanted to take.
However, we have reached an era where someone is telling us that opposition has to be part of government as a ‘necessity in order to forestall the chaos that would have erupted after the 2007 elections’. The question is; what was the chaos? From whom? Nigerians? No Nigerian said anything that would threaten the security of the country after the 2003 or 2007 elections. Even Buhari that called for mass protest did not say ‘violent mass protest’, he suggested a peaceful one. And the ‘turbulent’ nature of the aftermath of 2007 election was no near to what happened in 1993. Yet the country survived it.
The only argument that would have been accepted was for those in favour of Government of National Unity to tell Nigerians that, their own form of political ideology was to be in government at all cost even if it warrants compromising the interest of their supporters. There are so many ways of joining the ruling party, simply, without taking anybody for a ride. Politics in Nigeria, especially in recent years has become an investment venture where people are hired under the pretence of being members of a political party to come and destroy a party so that there would not be opposition at all. It is just sheer providence and only God knows how the opposition ANPP is still a political party.
From its inception the party was led by hired individuals, whose agenda was to ensure the party does not go beyond state level. They came into the party, wowed people into accepting them, sell their ideology, only for them to turn round and accept appointments in the federal government after ‘their party’ lost the election. I never believed in the ANPP or its leaders, I never considered even for once that what they are doing is for the good of Nigerians. Most of them are group of opportunists that used the popularity of some few individuals within the party to achieve their personal goals, and it shows, considering utterances from some of their leaders.
History has proved that since its formation in 1998, the party has never been led by its members but by hired individuals from the PDP who connived with their masters in the PDP to field a candidate who in turn will loose the election for the preferred candidate. Most of them that achieved what they were hired to do have gone back to where they came from, that is PDP. Example abound in each state, some were even former governors.
What majority of Nigerians were expecting when the party lost the presidential election in 1999/2003/07 contest was for its members to provide a strong opposition based on purpose, ideology, with constructive criticisms that can ginger the government in power to perform and provide good governance. But alas, the moment the party lost that election, the party lost direction. Most of its leaders defected to the opposition PDP, accepted position and since then nobody could say where they are.
I have deliberately avoided discussing other opposition parties because they are almost similar to or even worse than that of ANPP. For AC, I still don’t believe that the party is any different from PDP. They came from the PDP, and are part of what happened in the last eight years of Obasanjo. The only party worthy of mention here is AD, which was one of the strong opposition parties in Nigeria prior to 2003; however the party leaders, playing the tribal card succeeded in helping the PDP to destroy the party in its base – the Southwest. The PDP needs not to hire anybody to do that for them, they just employed tribalism, and all the 6 states under AD in 1999 – 03 became PDP states with the exception of Lagos.
Nigerian politics, especially in the present dispensation was not build on any political ideology or agenda but on how to attain power by whatever means. We are not suggesting that the opposition should just oppose any programme the ruling party put forward just to pull it down, but they should provide constructive criticisms, proffer better, workable and viable options. It is through this, not formation of Government of National Unity that the country will be saved from the present crisis it finds itself.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.
kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08035150369, 08054546764
Ogbeifun, 2008 quoting Kiiza, 2005 when defining democracy and the role of parties said “democracy is a term derived from two Greek words – demos (or people) and kratos (rule)”. The key components in this definition are people and rule, therefore according to him the system will ultimately involve a process in which people of a given constituency, come together as specified by their electoral laws, to vote and elect some people to rule over them for some specified period. But this has to be in consonance with the provision of constitution. In a multi-party system like ours, democracy offers alternative choices to the citizenry.
The choices in a true democracy are informed by the parties’ manifestoes, credibility of the candidates, their contributions to the welfare of the people and the upliftment of society. Unfortunately, in most democracies especially here in Africa and particularly Nigeria, the people are hardly allowed to elect leaders of their choice because thugs; yan kalare, yan daba and goons normally do hijack the electioneering process on one hand, and the Independent National Electoral Commission fraudulently manipulate the electoral system and select those they want as leaders over the wishes of majority. We have seen in the past nine years how politicians fraudulently and sometimes violently select those who they want to be candidate in primary elections and subsequently become leaders in general elections.
However, whatever happens at the end of the day, some set of people would emerge at both the Executive and legislative levels. Logically, all the political parties cannot form the central government. Therefore, the party with the majority of vote counts will be given the mandate to form the central government while the rest would constitute the minority groups or the opposition.
In a true democracy opposition is the bedrock of sustainable democracy and opposition parties are encouraged, and are given access to information and the media so that their voice could be heard. It is through the opposition that the political party in power will come to know that within the population there are huge silent majority, who did not vote for them but have the right to express their position in certain aspect of governance and it is through that their views can be passed to the government.
Historically the founding fathers of modern Nigeria laid its foundation on multi-party democracy. The idea of multi-party system logically is simple. To have a government that would be very conscious of what they are doing and a strong opposition that would challenge actions taken by the party in power, perceived to be detrimental to the nation’s interest and the interest of the majority of its citizen. In the colonial days, political parties were formed to protect the interest of the various regions the country had then.
This is a fact. Except for the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon which metamorphosed to National Council of Nigerian Citizens, all the other parties have regional outlook. Notwithstanding their ideology or regional inclination, opposition parties at that time remained what they are known for, i.e criticizing the government in power for good governance. This was evident considering the fact that many of our nationalists leaders in the first republic – a time when a party needed the support of other parties to form a government, the turbulent nature of the political landscape at the time, serious agitation for breakup from all angles; opposition parties remained steadfast to what they believed in. The great Awo for instance led a strong opposition against the government at the centre, maintaining what he thought at the time was good for the nation. That does not stop them from contributing meaningfully to national development.
Even in the second republic, which political commentators described as the beginning of the end of democratic governance in Nigeria, opposition parties remained strong and provided the needed opposition that the nation required at the time to push it, in its quest for instituting democracy and good governance. Mallam Aminu Kano and his PRP led an opposition that forced the NPN government to consider the pros and cons of any decision they wanted to take.
However, we have reached an era where someone is telling us that opposition has to be part of government as a ‘necessity in order to forestall the chaos that would have erupted after the 2007 elections’. The question is; what was the chaos? From whom? Nigerians? No Nigerian said anything that would threaten the security of the country after the 2003 or 2007 elections. Even Buhari that called for mass protest did not say ‘violent mass protest’, he suggested a peaceful one. And the ‘turbulent’ nature of the aftermath of 2007 election was no near to what happened in 1993. Yet the country survived it.
The only argument that would have been accepted was for those in favour of Government of National Unity to tell Nigerians that, their own form of political ideology was to be in government at all cost even if it warrants compromising the interest of their supporters. There are so many ways of joining the ruling party, simply, without taking anybody for a ride. Politics in Nigeria, especially in recent years has become an investment venture where people are hired under the pretence of being members of a political party to come and destroy a party so that there would not be opposition at all. It is just sheer providence and only God knows how the opposition ANPP is still a political party.
From its inception the party was led by hired individuals, whose agenda was to ensure the party does not go beyond state level. They came into the party, wowed people into accepting them, sell their ideology, only for them to turn round and accept appointments in the federal government after ‘their party’ lost the election. I never believed in the ANPP or its leaders, I never considered even for once that what they are doing is for the good of Nigerians. Most of them are group of opportunists that used the popularity of some few individuals within the party to achieve their personal goals, and it shows, considering utterances from some of their leaders.
History has proved that since its formation in 1998, the party has never been led by its members but by hired individuals from the PDP who connived with their masters in the PDP to field a candidate who in turn will loose the election for the preferred candidate. Most of them that achieved what they were hired to do have gone back to where they came from, that is PDP. Example abound in each state, some were even former governors.
What majority of Nigerians were expecting when the party lost the presidential election in 1999/2003/07 contest was for its members to provide a strong opposition based on purpose, ideology, with constructive criticisms that can ginger the government in power to perform and provide good governance. But alas, the moment the party lost that election, the party lost direction. Most of its leaders defected to the opposition PDP, accepted position and since then nobody could say where they are.
I have deliberately avoided discussing other opposition parties because they are almost similar to or even worse than that of ANPP. For AC, I still don’t believe that the party is any different from PDP. They came from the PDP, and are part of what happened in the last eight years of Obasanjo. The only party worthy of mention here is AD, which was one of the strong opposition parties in Nigeria prior to 2003; however the party leaders, playing the tribal card succeeded in helping the PDP to destroy the party in its base – the Southwest. The PDP needs not to hire anybody to do that for them, they just employed tribalism, and all the 6 states under AD in 1999 – 03 became PDP states with the exception of Lagos.
Nigerian politics, especially in the present dispensation was not build on any political ideology or agenda but on how to attain power by whatever means. We are not suggesting that the opposition should just oppose any programme the ruling party put forward just to pull it down, but they should provide constructive criticisms, proffer better, workable and viable options. It is through this, not formation of Government of National Unity that the country will be saved from the present crisis it finds itself.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.
kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08035150369, 08054546764
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
