National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Views
Friday, May 31, 2013
17
North’s long wait for another Sardauna RIDHWANULLAH ABDULLAH
T
he state of emergency recently declared in the three North Eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, following the unrelenting insurgency of the dreaded Boko Haram, is a manifestation of the open confession by General TY Danjuma earlier this year that the North is in the middle of a civil war. When the former army chief raised the concern, it did not come to many of the watchers of Northern Nigeria politics as a surprise. This is because the preindependence and the immediate post independence Northern Nigeria, which witnessed the late Sarduana of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as the region’s leading political light, was stifled by the events of January 15th, 1966. What remained since then had been the broken shells of a once monolithic, cohesive edifice whose inheritors are now unable to concretely patch together. So, since then the North has been awaiting a reincarnation of the Gamji, Sir Ahmadu Bello, one of the casualties of the 1966 putsch. The region has witnessed many sacrileges committed under the cover of primordial considerations alien to the North of the Gamjis and the Balewas. From the neglect of education to non-appreciation of positive development programmes, Arewaland has seen it all. Now, it is harvesting these sacrileges that are blood chilling, confounding and distracting.
There was Maitatsine; now, there is Boko Haram, the birth of which a worthy personality like the Sultan of Sokoto, His eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, linked to negligence by the northern ruling political class. Between the Sultan’s confession and the horrendous attacks being witnessed in the region, and the eventual declaration of a state of emergence, is a thin veil of the tragedy of leadership value decline. This sad development needs the reincarnation of another Sir Ahmadu Bello to redeem. Nigerian political pundits flimsily categorize regional talent endowment (with its advantages) in the country into political, commercial and educational. In this schema, the Yoruba are said to be the custodian of education and public service, Igbo in charge of commerce, while the Hausa/ Fulani are in custody of political power. This has largely been substantiated by the political history of Nigeria since independence in 1960. Unfortunately the tradeoffs arising from this categorization have not been converted to national development gains. The North suffers the most. The other segments are also accomplices in the desolation of the nation. Now each of the tripodal legs on which Nigeria stands is weak and wobbling waiting for other solid trees to replace them. The Gamji was the tree on which the North stood in the 1st Republic; Awo the Iroko that revolutionized the West; while Zik of Africa and the Owelle of Onitsha the Araba that provided shade in the East. Since these three mighty trees fell in the large compound called Nigeria, their leaves have been withering, their fruits
THE SARDAUNA WAS NOT CELEBRATED
FOR HIS WEALTH, BUT FOR HIS WORTH AND HIS WORK AS THE ARCHITECT OF MODERN
NORTHERN NIGERIA
drying, and their taproots rotting. Now we wait for the rising of new Gamjis, Irokos and Arabas. Today, I will speak more on the Gamji and its dried fruits. With the elimination of Sarduana and Tafawa Balewa, the North lost its soul. Even though most Nigerian leaders have been produced by the North, none has a large enough shoulder to bear the burden of trust he bears. Now many of Ahmadu Bello’s heirs only romanticize about him, but lack his charisma. Many adore his frugality, but they jettison his simplicity and piety. Many love his politics, but they don’t anchor theirs on his political philosophy of accommodation. Ask how many houses did Sardauna of Sokoto build in Raba or Wurno or Sokoto or Kaduna, where he was shot in the presence of his family members. Ask how fat was his bank account or how rich was his wardrobe. The Sardauna was not celebrated for his wealth, but for his worth and his work as the architect of modern Northern Nigeria. He inspired the establishment of
GAMJI Bank, Northern Nigeria Development Corporation, New Nigerian Newspapers. He worked for the North as an unforgettable icon, because in the politics of the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, he tried to weld the region into one. Under him, the motto was ‘One North, One destiny’. But he also wanted a handshake across the Niger even though it was misconstrued as a subtle ploy of northernization. One of his chosen aides was an Okun man from Kabba, in the present day Kogi State, Chief Sunday Awoniyi. He was personally responsible for discovering some of the future leaders of the North, mentoring and fixing them where their potentials would be developed to the maximum. Many were northerners that the Sardauna personally drafted into the military, police and public service, from Barewa College. Although he had an aristocratic background, he did not despise the lower class, nor did he promote tribal chauvinism within the region. His influence was so strong that most major northern landmarks are dedicated to his memory, beginning with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. If this is the esteem with which the Sardauna is held, it is regrettable that not many candidates have emerged to continue in his name. In the South Western Nigeria too, there is insinuation that there cannot be another Awo just as the East are romanticizing on the life of Zik of Africa and the struggles of Ikemba Nnewi. Abdullah, rabdullah@gmail.com, wrote from Malumfashi, Katsina State
Ndoma-Egba’s kind gesture MICHAEL JEGEDE
J
ude Okwe, a hard-working journalist covering Cross River State for ThisDay newspaper is reported to be suffering from a life threatening heart-related ailment. It has been widely reported that this Calabar-based reporter is in urgent need of over N8 million for an operation in India that will keep him alive. Reports have it that after a series of futile effort in hospitals in Calabar, Okwe with the backing of the Cross River State government, was flown to Abuja and admitted into the Primus Inter Specialty Hospital, Karu, Abuja, for almost a month before he was discharged. Series of tests at Echo-Scan Heart Centre and Heartland Cardiovascular Consultants in Abuja were said to have revealed that the journalist has enlarged heart. Medical reports from Heartland signed by the Medical Director, Dr. Onye Achilihu indicated that, “Mr. Okwe has severe heart failure due to cardiomyopathy. He will urgently need proper treatment, which will include optimal medical therapy, cardiac catheterization, and angiogram to exclude a reversible cause. In addition, he will need internal defibrillator to prevent sudden cardiac death.” Okwe, who is said to be currently lying helpless at his 8, Edem Oyom Street, off Mbukpa Road residence with a failing
THE DOCTOR SAID MY HEART HAS ENLARGED TWICE THE SIZE OF A NORMAL HEART AND FOR IT TO NORMALISE
AGAIN, I NEED HEART TRANSPLANT
heart and swollen legs, recently cried out: “The heart problem is still there, but it has been brought under control. But the doctor said I have an enlarged heart and I need N8 million for heart transplant in India. If the money can be raised quickly, it would be better because the doctor said too much delay might lead to sudden death. The doctor said my heart has enlarged twice the size of a normal heart and for it to normalise again, I need heart transplant. My heart has become flat and the blood circulation is very poor.” Continuing, he added: “Government should assist me because I don’t have N8 million. Where will I get such money? I am appealing to members of the public, churches, philanthropists to help me out of this condition because I still have enough to offer journalism and the society. This sickness is weighing me down and I am really missing journalism. Each time I miss news, I don’t feel happy. It’s affecting my
family already. I have four children in the university and for a man who is down, it is not easy. I am just appealing to the public and the government for help. I know Governor Liyel Imoke has tried, but I urge him to do more. My brother, who is a teacher, has done the little he could within the limit of his resources. My younger ones are not financially strong. Please, I need help.” Perhaps, it was this cry of the dying newsman that fell into the ears of the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), who recently made a donation of N1.5 million as his own contribution to saving the life of the man, who believes very strongly that he still has a lot to offer in the pen profession. Ndoma-Egba, a three-term senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District and lawyer turned politician is known as a man with high philanthropic spirit, who has made significant impact in the service to humanity and contributed greatly to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria. While making the donation in Calabar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator pointed out that he was moved by the worsening health condition of the writer. Represented by his Special Assistant on Media, Sam Arikpo, the Senate Leader appealed to other well-meaning citizens to come to the aid of the journalist so that his life can be saved. Ndoma-Egba’s kind gesture towards Okwe has been commended by many Nigerians, who noted that it was quite be-
nevolent of him to have deemed it fit to make the said donation. They therefore, called on other well-to-do Nigerians to follow suit. Among those that celebrated this gesture is Dr. Ijeoma Duru, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gender Care Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation. In a piece authored by Mr. Emeka Alex Duru, Group Features Editor of Daily Independent, titled, “Ndoma-Egba: A senator’s lifeline to ailing journalist”, she was quoted to have said: “Ndoma-Egba has taken the lead. That is a good one…other endowed Nigerians should follow suit. The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Ndoma Akpet, while applauding Senator Ndoma-Egba for his act of magnanimity, equally urged other philanthropists, organisations and Okwe professional colleagues to support this life saving mission. According to him, the Union cannot afford to allow Okwe go the way of all flesh as his service is still much needed. Jegede, a journalist and public affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.