By Auwal A. Dankano, Assistant Associate Editor, Concern Magazine, Kano. 08034677490, [email protected] Dear Mother Nigeria I do not intend to disrupt the forth-coming anniversary, taking place in less than two months. Will be busy celebrating 48 years of independence from British colonial masters, granted on 1st October, 1960, rather let you be informed of the critical conditions, your siblings are in, at the hands of those at the helm of affairs.
By Auwal A. Dankano, Assistant Associate Editor, Concern Magazine, Kano. 08034677490, [email protected] Dear Mother Nigeria I do not intend to disrupt the forth-coming anniversary, taking place in less than two months. Will be busy celebrating 48 years of independence from British colonial masters, granted on 1st October, 1960, rather let you be informed of the critical conditions, your siblings are in, at the hands of those at the helm of affairs. There is no gainsaying, we live in a country where whoever call a spade with its own name is termed a cynic, disgruntled element or enemy of progress. Honesty and patriotism is no doubt paid in bad coins while sycophancy is rewarded handsomely. Mum, are you listening? To be precise five months ago, I wrote an article titled “Shekarau; between worshipping and serving God” which was published in the Daily Trust of 26th March, 20008. In article I vividly expressed my concern over unfortunate happenings in my dear state, under the leadership of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau. This patriotic acts of mine cost me the source of my livelihood! Comrade Kabiru Inuwa Tsakuwa, Kano born public and political analyst, was unofficially banned from featuring in the ‘opinions column’ of our national dailies. His offence is hatred towards un-exemplary leadership displayed by our so-called leaders, who have sworn to an oath of looting, misappropriation of public funds, contracts inflation and intimidation of opponents. Those are the true parasites; Alhaji (Chief) Mujaheed Asari Dokibo could have pointed at clearly as he was talking about “national parasites”. The erstwhile EFCC boss Nuhu Ribadu despite his undisputed honest war against corruption with about 600 convictions secured while serving as a commission’s boss and 600 billions Naira recovered from the fraudsters, who spent stupendous money on sponsoring their relatives for higher educations in foreign countries, leaving behind children of the common man in public schools, wrestling with the shortage of instructional facilities and depending on Parents Teacher’s Association (PTA) to supply the teaching aids and educational facilities. Our teachers have since become reference point of poverty. Nuhu Ribadu was (il) logically sacked from the chairmanship of the commission and directed to proceed on study leave at NIPPS, Kuru-Jos and later demoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). Only God knows what will happen to him if proper care is not taken. The fact that our young ones are in dilemma, not knowing what to choose between honesty and dishonesty. Mummy! Our people resemble their rulers more than they resemble their mothers and it is get scary! Only those who are economical with truth will deny the fact that the former FCT Minister, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai served his motherland with high level of dedication, zeal and diligence. It is vain to praise the light of the sun. The fact is that our leaders are closer to Judas than Peter. El-Rufai faced unparalleled scrutiny before the joint senate Committee, which also resulted in the House of Representatives to ban him from holding public office. If similar probes were to be conducted on ‘honorable members’ and even this poor writer, hardly a day will pass without banning our offspring from further occupying any position in this country’s political or public space for life. A veteran Nigerian lawyer, Gani Fawahenmi is renowned for his campaign against anarchy, dictatorship, oppression and man’s inhumanity to man. The 70-year old attorney has been detained twenty seven times, in thirteen federal prisons, eight police stations and five detention camps, with fifteen politically motivated charges, while his chamber was searched thirteen times and his International Passport seized on sixteen different occasions. He is down with Lung Cancer in a London hospital, it is still unclear how he came about a disease associated with smokers when he never smoke or drank all his life, but guess what? Even the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Agagu won’t let Chief Fawehinmi enjoy the benefit of a ‘honorary’ degree from the university of his home state. What a country? Dear mother, it is dishearting to observe that journalists, seen, as vanguards of masses have no doubt metamorphosed to corrupt institutions struck by a deadly disease called “ courtesy calls” something they engage in on a daily basis. All those mottos of our national dailies; “truth is a burden”, “truth and reason”, “conscience nurtured by truth”, “truth in defense of democracy”, “for God and country”, “voice of the nation towards better life for the people” e.t.c need to be double-checked and updated by the publishers to reflect the reality of the rot in the nation’s media. This is a big challenge to the president Nigeria Guild of editors, Francis Gbenga Adefaye. When I was dismissed from the service of Kano State Government by the present administration of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, I consulted a lot of journalists residing in Kano, and they all promised that the incidence would be made public by balancing the story. Up to this moment with the exception of my bosom friend Ahmed Rasheed Makarfi who wrote an article titled “Shekarau correct this injustice” published in Daily Trust of 26th June, 2008 and another one from Kabiru Inuwa Tsakuwa published in Gamji.com; not a single other newspaper carried the story. On the other hand I was left receiving dangerous phone calls, threatening my life. Dear mother, until all politician regard criticism as a positive, and see them as a means of impacting the well being of the people, and until the hardworking and honest are repaid with medals, until journalists desist from collecting brown, white or perforated envelopes, and until those who commit fraudulent acts are brought to book. We will surely never move forward towards actualization the long awaited “vision 2020”. The conclusion is not complete without quotation from one of your prestigious son late Malam Aminu Kano and I quote, “I have seen light on the far horizon, and I intended to march into it’s full circle either alone or with any one who cares to go”.
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