Humans + Materialism

‘’He gives twice who gives promptly.’’  -Publilius Syrus (1st century BC)

By Ahmed Dodo

The current refugees’ flights from Syria and other part of the earth have once again exposed our claim to be the most intelligent creature in the world as mere fallacy of the human imagination. The daily migration of human species is a sign that all is not too well in our celebrated planet; because unlike few fortunate once amongst us with roofs, clothes and steamy food to grub on our tables, other humans like us are daily trekking through thick and thin to survive under the sun; thus exposing a compelling sketch of the reality of the battered world we live in and the glaring truth on the ground.

The veracity is the fact that upon all our intelligence, celebration of power, position and intellectualism we are still yet to get the gears of life on the right course. We have failed to glance back to the past and comprehend the reality before us that we are slowly sneaking onto another form of modern slavery, fascism and other glaring realism of class, colour and economic segregation. We are yet to really gawk at our existence in this temporary space that everything under the sun is all illusion that must one day melt into ruins.

 Our celebrated great nations and fortified countries are mere fallacy which would in the future be a topic of discussion among the next generations in class rooms as part of history. Just like the tyrannical stories of King Pharaoh and his failed realm, the now once upon a time great Roman Empire, the futile human degradation of Africans called slavery, and the illusive Aryan dream of Hitler.

Presently we are all witnesses to another historical tragedy playing before our eyes, as we selfishly gaze at other human beings like us, kids and innocent children struggled across the Atlantic to have a better life in this temporary world some of us are greedily holding unto. We are playing ‘a –look- and -sleep attitude to this present  modern day tyranny, allowing power hungry  dictator like Assad send millions of men ,women and children scampering like beast across the globe; while we  merely keep on discussing and talking politics as innocent children and their parents gets daily drown on high seas.

Thank God, there are still thoughtful human species among us today that are boldly standing up to this human degradation call refugee. Great motherly women like Germany chancellor, Angela Merkel, whose sole compassion as a true human being makes her voice and her personality in my view and I believe in other prudent minds the undisputable number one woman in our ephemeral world.

Gratefully we are also witnesses to the tremendous role she has been playing against this human disgrace. Her voice so far is the loudest and the most comforting since the beginning of this idiocy. Her mind has remain the most generous and her hands the most warmly and safe. This woman’s frame and image is no doubt currently the most outstanding among us today, and I believe the fate of life would be kind to her and place her among saints.

She has dared to give from her shelter, while others have closed their barns and hide their keys. She is standing boldly and daily addressing this blight, while men and women in position like her or greater are daily chickening out to hide under the comforts of their vanity and materialism.

It is my believe therefore that when the time come for those who stood up against this current human depredation Angela Merkel shall stand tall like an Iroko tree among men and women. Syrians and the other hundreds of refugees from other oppressed nations who were fortunate to be alive today through her kind motherly gesture would stand up bold tomorrow to remember her mink of kindness and their children and grand children would be proud to sing her folklore, and her consciously believe  and famous statement that ‘’ We can do it.’’ ; Would always resonate in generations to come.

The fact that we have long abandoned the famous Geneva agreement of freedom and equality to all races and the reality that we are now more self-centered and enmeshed in cheap materialism worship and preservation as witnessed across Hungary, Snovia, Croatia, Bulgaria and other not so friendly nations who brazenly closed their gates to these traumatized humans no doubt has cast a shame on us as the most intelligent species on earth.

It is a shame that we are holding on voraciously to the free geographical land created by God and daily dehumanizing one another over border crossings and mercilessly maiming innocent lives over shelter and other materialistic comforts that would at long run metamorphose into ruins and eyesores.

Again the verity that the so-called super powers like America, Russia, France and Germany who have long folded their hands but are now waking up after the barbaric Paris showcased their nonchalant attitudes to the hundreds of lives being daily wasted in Africa, specifically in Nigeria through deadly attacks by Boko Haram.

 They had all hitherto been playing politics with the lives of millions of endangered humans across traumatized countries while their nations continue to burn in flame through the selfish ambitions of few greedy men and women. This made nonsense their artificial grip in world’s affairs and exposed their weakness as modern colonists with sole interest in wealth pilfering and plundering.

The celebrated richness of Europe and its vast web of different nations and various lands have remained obscure in this current human migration as the daily internal squabble among them on ideology and the best sensible way to arrest this pathetic situation has still remained a mirage to them.  Thanks to Angela Merkel, whose sole voice has remained firm and audible amidst other squeaking voices of European leaders;  the situation could have been worse and greater catastrophe would have befall these helpless fleeing human beings among us.

While the Arab world itself has failed its Arab neighbors, their back-stab they should comprehend would someday hit them on the face. The fact that they folded their hands while Assad and his cohorts lighted the dangerous flame in Syrian and watch the IS take over their land should not be view as a distance fire that could not reach their lands, because common sense has thought us that a raging fire knows no bound. They should be ready to face their own blaze alone when the flames spray dangerously over their fortified nations.

There is no doubt that we can still prove ourselves to be that species of creation with the most intelligent caring minds and helpful hands if we can stop playing politics with the lives of other human beings like us and give assistance promptly to these deserving men and women, children and the elderly whose only desire is to live peacefully and resourcefully in their lands until that final day that they will definitely and naturally bade farewell to this materialistic world, just like all of us someday.

 

Humans + Technology

By Ahmed Dodo

As a kid growing up in Africa in the 70s, I was lucky to be among the fortunate kids in my community to have the privilege to come across the TV. Then, television was one of the most expensive awed striking man-made devices on earth. And to many of us in the then developing and still developing Africa continent, the TV was not only a privilege to own or have the opportunity to view, it was also a magical box with some hidden mysteries in the eyes of many of us.

The television to me was something out of the ordinary, just like the telephone and I could remember those tiny TV toys and imagined being able to speak back to the static images that stared back lifeless at me. And true to some of my imaginations the world today could speak back to each other via SKYPE and other 21^st century technological inventions across the globe.

The power of tweeting ourselves across anywhere our spirits decides to prod us to and see first-hand in visual some of the wonderful things going on across the world  through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, MySpace and other various sites would mesmerize our ancestors. The fact that we can now sit down in the comfort of our zones, view and read some of the good, bad and ugly sides of life, I believe still remains one of the greatest triumphs of human existence on earth.

 Again, the reality that we can find ourselves participating in these human activities from our distances or in some cases coming to meet in physical flesh after all the oral and visual contacts seems like something out of those old science-fiction books or movies long visualized by intelligent writers and scientists across our planet.

However, just like everything man made, the social media has also exposed our weakness and put into doubt our claim of being the most superior creature on earth.  Our intelligence could not stop the daily criminal activities going in the cyber world. We now have e-thieves daily milking people off millions of dollars through the internet, hackers hacking their ways into protected accounts and broken relationships and marriages, including terrorism and loss of innocent lives now rampant via the social media.

Our lives are no longer private or secure as it used to be. There is the damning BIG EYES that seems to see everything we now do under the sun, while our activities and sentences are no longer restrictive to ourselves as we are now under the influence of information syndrome and a global movement of technology.

But as the pendulum of our time daily swings ,enticing us to each other technologically, so also is our fate playing openly before us as we daily fulfils our destiny on earth with unexpected serendipity of events through new inventions that will continue to shrink us closer via the intelligent cobwebs of the internet. May be someday, someone, somewhere would be gifted with the intelligence to invent a technology app that will make it possible for us to have a friendly handshake across the Atlantic without stepping out of our bedrooms.

Patience for President Muhammadu Buhari

“ The Devil takes a hand in what is done in a hurry’’ – Turkish Proverb

I had the privilege some few years back-around 2009 to be precise, to sit down for an exclusive interview with President Muhammadu Buhari in his office in Kaduna. As a Journalist and writer, I still believe it has been one of the most interesting interviews in my career.

What comes out of a Man’s mind defines who he is and sitting close to four hours exclusively with the man who is now our current president afforded me an ample opportunity to make a personal judgement of the kind of person he is. Some significant facts I noted about him was his organised setting, his tall slim frame, his charisma and most importantly his simplicity and frankness.

His forthrightness throughout our close to four hours encounter is still embedded in my memory. I could still recall his unexpected answer when I asked when has been his happiest moment in life. A question that had took him some few seconds to answer after some reflection. ‘’ I think my most happiest moment in life so far was the day the Nigerian civil war ended.’’ His answer till date carved a personal respect for him and made me a fan of the most resilient Nigerian I have ever come across.

Though, all these are not the main reasons why I decided to pen this article. I just wanted the reader to have a feel of the on –the- spot experience I had with the current Nigerian president so that he or she might be able to make a personal choice about my request on behalf of Mr President, although unauthorised by neither the subject nor his media team.

I am soliciting for the generosity of patience from Nigerians irrespective of political, tribal or religious affiliation for our current president. I am doing this based on the fact that I consciously believe that one of the greatest things that have happened to this great country after our independence from the colonial forces is the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as the President of this famous Africa country.

As a Nigerian, I have also been aware of the tremendous influence the devil is trying to play in our current political change through some fifth elements among us. If not, what sensibility does it portray as these various selfish individuals and groups kept insisting that the president must hasten up to name his cabinet and also take us to the long awaited Promised Land. An intangible Promised Land the failed Peoples Democratic Government (PDP) could not ferried us to in sixteen years despite all the resources and goodwill at its disposal.

It is quite shameful that the same PDP through its elements are now the ones trying to grab the devil’s hands to propel our embryonic change into a dismay haste we don’t really need at the moment. I am amused at the unpatriotic call by a failed political party that betrayed our collective trust for sixteen years to imagine that Nigerians would fall suckers to their lopsided views.

It is actually unrealistic for those with open mind to see that the Buhari presidency cannot clean the stench left over by the PDP within the shortest possible time, unless if we are willing to keep covering our noses with their poisonous pong while we pretend that all is well.

And like the President rightly told them a few days back that the Nigerian corrupted and almost sunk stable was being clean of the filth left behind by the past PDP government; A herculean task that requires patience and not selfish haste. We should comprehend that Buhari like all of us is human and not a super angel that could strike a finger and make things happen in a swift.

I am appealing for more of our trademark tolerant nature to cross our fingers faithfully and kindly donate some patience to President Buhari so that our nation would rise up and stand boldly as the giant it was meant to be. I passionately believe that it will be to our good as a nation if we can be generous with some patriotic patience to the current capable captain navigating our almost sunk ship away from the deep hole hitherto headed blindly by our past confused captain and his greedy crew. We should be grateful to God for saving us from the hands of these few selfish men and women and dish out some sweet patience to the current government, headed by Ship-Captain Buhari.

I am confident to say that the Buhari I interacted with some few years ago given his forthrightness will cleanse our rich nation of the maladministration and corruption that has eaten deep into its fabric. If only we can be generous with some patience and understanding. I am confident that our railway would work again, and that our homes, offices and industries would come back to life with uninterrupted power supply. I am enthusiastic with a strong hope that our public schools would bounce back strongly and that we will enjoy the wind-fall of being an oil producing nation and the other goodies that has long eluded us.

This will only be possible if we can be considerate in our judgement and bestow some unquantifiable patience on Buhari and his administration. It is important to note like the Turkish proverb above rightly cautioned not to allow the devil and its supporters to take hand in doing the right thing for our country as cautiously being done by President Buhari in his few weeks in office.

It is only the devil that will have the audacity to say the president has not performed since assuming office. I guess the devil and his supporters must have been drunk with sleep when the president hit the ground few hours after his swearing in, and intelligently raced towards Niger, Chad, Benin republic and the G-7 summit in Germany all in his sincere efforts to rally round supports to defeat the forces of the devil masquerading as Boko Haram around our beloved country.

We must stand far ahead of the scheme of the devil and his self-centred devotees to plant their deceptive fangs into our collective reasoning and make us support their wasteful act of haste. For as rightly pointed out by Benjamin Franklin, the American Philosopher, inventor, author, diplomat and scientist: ‘’ Take time for all things great. Haste makes great waste.’’ We should be wise enough to understand that these selfish few among us are greedily trying to push us to their unfruitful ways of waste, long enmeshed in their haste to get things done.

Please a little patience for Mr President as we democratically saunter towards a new beginning that is gleaming with hope from afar, away from the wasteful haste lavishly embarked by the past government for sixteen years.

God bless Nigeria.

Ahmed Dodo

yarodangari@gmail.com

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A LETTER TO Malam

Dear Malam,

Congratulation on your well deserved victory as the next executive governor of this great ‘state of learning’. Your coming, I must confess, was timely and viewed by many like me across the state and beyond as a gift from God to this battered beautiful state.

This letter Ranka shidede, is to intimate you of my sudden home return as one of your citizens who had hitherto packed his mat, pillow, stove and bucket, hastily out of this beloved state due to the various katakata and wahala, that over the years have been bedevilling Kaduna- garin gobnor; including the daily decaying of virtually all the social, economy and political structures long enjoyed by the citizens of the once liberal state.

I had to shuffle myself as I could no longer stand all the ethno-religious crises, nepotism and the disgraceful community segregation and myopic division fast gaining strength across the state.  I was sick and tired of seeing the ruins that had became our once vibrant public schools. Our once upon a time popular and resourceful L.E.A primary schools and famous secondary schools now looking faded in their tired colonial paints; just like the colonial roads leading to them.  

My curious eyes could not just keep feeding itself on old relics and the deteriorated state of the various communities and its people due to lack of proper planning or the genuine presence of reasonable government policies. I just could not stand the sight of old towns like Tudun Nupawa, Tudun Wada, Asiko Laye, Unguwar Shanu , Badarawa , Unguwar Dosa, Kawo, Hanyi Banki , Unguwar Kaji, Unguwar Sunusi Unguwar Rimi, Malali, Unguwar Yero, Nasarawa, Kabala Doki. Kabala West, Barnawa, Sabo, Television, Mando and the others still wearing the same dilapidated old roads, the same unorganised markets and outdated hospitals. Even the so-called segregated G.R.A’s are not left out in this decay.

Hope you would understand with me for writing you this opened letter, I thought it would be sensible to pen it out like the famous patriotic letter from Baba Ota to our erstwhile Presido which has thought many of us writers to be open in our letters to top office holders so that the world might know what is going on.   As a writer yourself, I believe you know what I am talking about.

It is important to inform you that part of the reason why I unceremonious left Kaduna was the fact that I noticed that our beloved state was retrogressing shamefully into a third world state. I could not see any reason why we could not surpassed where we were, as other new and old states across the country left us staring in awe at their development.

I have just breezed back into the state after almost three years of self-imposed asylum and could not see all the excitement about the new Keke NAPEP inter-city transport system.  I must admit that I actually felt let down given the fact that not long ago residents of this state had the privilege of boarding clean Taxi right from their various streets.  I vehemently believe that Kaduna State and its people should not be transported in an unbalanced three wheels, dangerously every day, in this 21^st century. I am also consciously of the opinion that Kaduna state deserves the best in anything made by man.

My expectation was further deflated when I noticed that majority of the state residents were now resulting to Mai Ruwa for their daily water supply. Wondering what happened to the effective water supply from the state water board that flows like waterfall across most homes those days.

The excitement of coming back home to see Ahmadu Bello way still looking the same, and the glaring fact that the longest and one of the oldest  streets, Ibrahim Taiwo road still had the same feature and poor drainage system left me unexcited. I am still finding it difficult to understand why the sport complex by the Stadium is still standing disgracefully uncompleted for more than thirty years, creating an eyesore to residents and visitors alike. Or why Magajin Gari, the oldest local government area council in the north should still remain analog and its old structure still reek of the past despite the glaring digital age.  

It will be improper to complete this letter without mentioning the appalling Nnamdi Azikwe Way, one of the gateways into the city. I could not believe my eyes that the express by-pass was still festooned in its cheap cover and death-trap holes, while the communities around still look like something out of the 19^th century.

In fact, there are many areas I would have loved to touch, but time and space would not permit. All the same I hope to draw your attention and curiosity to some of these important infrastructures that might appeal to your judgement as we move through your tenure. I pray that my eyes would be able to snoop out some of the underdevelopment decay and stench emitting across the 23 local government areas that made up this resilient state.

 I am sure your famous ‘Ruso’ bulldozers would do justice to the decays fast eating this heterogeneous state away, in hope that you would use all the necessary tools available at your disposal to bulldoze the strange walls of segregation across the crocodile city. Better a ‘Mai Ruso’ to me, than a ‘Mai Karya’.

Finally, nothing would gladden my soul and I am sure others with same view if you could breakdown the man made barrier separating the northern and southern part of the state, this, I believe you can do by making the people see and comprehend that the so-called north and south demarcation along the famous Kaduna River is just a figment of human imagination. And the only way you can do this is to sever this blinkered line of reasoning through social, economy and political development without religious or tribal colouration. You will be doing service to humanity if you can overlook the retrogressive idea of zoning in carrying out your vision and policy for the state.

Thank you for taking time from your tight cumbersome task in going through this letter.  Please accept the assurance of my sincere consideration.

I remain,

Your obedient citizen

Ahmed Dodo

Yarodangari@gmail.com

ATIKU’S PROFITABLE VISION

Staff writer Ahmed Aliyu, examines the rising profile of APC Presidential candidate and former V.P Alhaji Abubakar Atiku among some electorates across the geo-political divide in the country and his recently released draft policy.

Ask Solomon Ogboh, a 36 year old indigene of one of the states in South- south  Nigeria why he wants Atiku Abubakar as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the first thing he is sure to tell you is the famous generous character of the former number two man in  the country. The ‘Atiku’s’ windfall’ they call it.

 And believe it, Solomon is not just the only one with this view, many Nigerians cutting across all the geo-political regions subscribes to this outlook.

The Nigerian political history no doubt will not be in full compilation without the name:     Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Nigerian Vice-President and undoubtedly the most popular and undisputable number two man since Nigeria Independence. 

He is widely acknowledged to be one of the champions of democracy in Nigeria and a strong political force; credited with bringing about some landmark judicial rulings in the country’s political system. It was he, who boldly fought his then boss, former President Obasanjo on his unconstitutional third term bid and also thwarted his unconstitutional and vindictive effort to have him removed as the then vice president.

 “Atiku is the only candidate that can solve the current economy problem of this country. He his rich, so he is not after money. He has the international collection and most importantly he his generous. What this country need at this critical moment is a generous, rich and well connected President. “Solomon summed it up with a confident grin.

Collaborating this disposition, Mary Alade a Banker from the southwest says only the Turaki Adamawa ,as the former vice president is popularly call, can chase the ruling People’s Democratic Party out of office.  “Atiku has the money. He has the knowledge and political manifesto to chase the PDP out of Aso Rock in 2015.’’

For Salisu Umar, Atiku’s Presidency would solve the current lack of cash-flow in the country and also create more jobs through his years of experience as a reputable business man.

  Eche Ugo is another great fan of the former VP as attested to on her FACEBOOK post. “Your Excellency you have overtime showcased the parent, Democrat and progressive that you are. Your own politics is different and typifies what our future desperately needs. It is beyond ethnicity, it is beyond politics, you're not just a good leader but also a great person. I wish you the best in your entire endeavour; I'm a big fan of yours. “

While these views are in part a strong endorsement of the Turakin Adamawa few are not. Like Bassey Isoh whose FACEBOOK post suggested that Atiku should throw his rich support behind another candidate. “ Hello sir, with all due respect am sure you would have known or being told that majority of Nigerians want Buhari...You can do a great sacrifice to Nigeria by throwing your resources behind Buhari, God bless you as you do this great sacrifice for country.’’

But why does the name Atiku tickles?  Perhaps no one summed it better than Garba Shehu his professional and loyal media adviser in an interview granted popular online publisher Premium Times in 2013, on his relationship with his boss.

’’He is a man who shoots from the hip. He is not a pretender. He speaks his mind as he deems fit and you know yourself that truth and politics don’t always mix. There are times he speaks and you literally have to put your heart in your mouth. There is always tension with us because Turaki will depart from the written script at public events and tell you what is on his mind.’’

Indeed, this is another popular attribute of the charismatic Atiku noted during the course of this article: a straight shooter with no malice. ’’Those who know Turaki’s modus operandi will say that he is not a man who bandies about sack threats. There was never such an incident. What I find most fulfilling in the work I am doing for him is in the fact that he is trusting and has respect for my professional judgment. He respects my professional decisions all the time, in the same way I respect him as a guru politician. Politics is his specialty and I give the hats to him.’’ Garba Shehu further revealed.

Yes, take it or leave it, Atiku Abubakar is a political specialist with a dream to turn around the fortune of this rich nation and this he has already unveiled through his draft policy, with a vision to create a modern profitable government where the private sector will lead the way to economic revival.

The former Vice President while unveiling his policy agenda said he would use the instrumentality of tax rebates to encourage the private sector to create jobs. According to him “A lot of time people have asked me if my strategy of using tax rebate as a tool for private sector job creation will not reduce the income coming from government.

“My answer is that those people who will be employed in the jobs that are created will be taxable as well and thus government is even going to make more money. The way to run a modern government is to run it as a business. If you do not know how to run businesses, you certainly don’t have any business running government,” Atiku said. Speaking further  “the draft policy was drawn up within the context of the manifesto of the APC and the document provides an overview of our policy position – the main thrust of which is the explicit bid to modify the way the machinery of the Federal Government works.”

The draft policy contains key policy areas which include employment generation and wealth creation; infrastructure and power; education and skill acquisition; security; citizenship and governance; agriculture and food security and Niger-Delta and North-East re-integration.

 Part of the appeal of the Atiku’s policy is the fact that there is provision for sub-components that make allowance for broad inclusiveness which will make the policies have direct impact on ordinary Nigerians.

In the specific area of energy and infrastructure, which are among some of the biggest challenges militating against the proper development of the country, the Atiku draft policy says government will, “create sustainable funding structures to drive infrastructure and power development; invest in local government capacity to develop and expand infrastructural provision and review the federation account and restructure government finances to boost infrastructure development.”

In the area of security, the draft policy promises to: “aggressively combat the scourge of terrorism and insurgency by increased resources and better co-ordination between the security agencies; replace the security adviser with a National Security Council; improved civil-military relations; pave way for the establishment of state police and clarify local government and state boundaries to pre-empt and defuse inter-communal conflicts.”
Whatever way the political pendulum of this great country decides to swing at the end of the day, the name and image of this political gladiator would remain imbibe in the political landscape of the country for a long-time.

 

A LETTER TO Malam

Dear Malam,

Congratulation on your well deserved victory as the next executive governor of this great ‘state of learning’. Your coming, I must confess, was timely and viewed by many like me across the state and beyond as a gift from God to this battered beautiful state.

This letter Ranka shidede, is to intimate you of my sudden home return as one of your citizens who had hitherto packed his mat, pillow, stove and bucket, hastily out of this beloved state due to the various katakata and wahala, that over the years have been bedevilling Kaduna- garin gobnor; including the daily decaying of virtually all the social, economy and political structures long enjoyed by the citizens of the once liberal state.

I had to shuffle myself as I could no longer stand all the ethno-religious crises, nepotism and the disgraceful community segregation and myopic division fast gaining strength across the state.  I was sick and tired of seeing the ruins that had became our once vibrant public schools. Our once upon a time popular and resourceful L.E.A primary schools and famous secondary schools now looking faded in their tired colonial paints; just like the colonial roads leading to them.  

My curious eyes could not just keep feeding itself on old relics and the deteriorated state of the various communities and its people due to lack of proper planning or the genuine presence of reasonable government policies. I just could not stand the sight of old towns like Tudun Nupawa, Tudun Wada, Asiko Laye, Unguwar Shanu , Badarawa , Unguwar Dosa, Kawo, Hanyi Banki , Unguwar Kaji, Unguwar Sunusi Unguwar Rimi, Malali, Unguwar Yero, Nasarawa, Kabala Doki. Kabala West, Barnawa, Sabo, Television, Mando and the others still wearing the same dilapidated old roads, the same unorganised markets and outdated hospitals. Even the so-called segregated G.R.A’s are not left out in this decay.

Hope you would understand with me for writing you this opened letter, I thought it would be sensible to pen it out like the famous patriotic letter from Baba Ota to our erstwhile Presido which has thought many of us writers to be open in our letters to top office holders so that the world might know what is going on.   As a writer yourself, I believe you know what I am talking about.

It is important to inform you that part of the reason why I unceremonious left Kaduna was the fact that I noticed that our beloved state was retrogressing shamefully into a third world state. I could not see any reason why we could not surpassed where we were, as other new and old states across the country left us staring in awe at their development.

I have just breezed back into the state after almost three years of self-imposed asylum and could not see all the excitement about the new Keke NAPEP inter-city transport system.  I must admit that I actually felt let down given the fact that not long ago residents of this state had the privilege of boarding clean Taxi right from their various streets.  I vehemently believe that Kaduna State and its people should not be transported in an unbalanced three wheels, dangerously every day, in this 21^st century. I am also consciously of the opinion that Kaduna state deserves the best in anything made by man.

My expectation was further deflated when I noticed that majority of the state residents were now resulting to Mai Ruwa for their daily water supply. Wondering what happened to the effective water supply from the state water board that flows like waterfall across most homes those days.

The excitement of coming back home to see Ahmadu Bello way still looking the same, and the glaring fact that the longest and one of the oldest  streets, Ibrahim Taiwo road still had the same feature and poor drainage system left me unexcited. I am still finding it difficult to understand why the sport complex by the Stadium is still standing disgracefully uncompleted for more than thirty years, creating an eyesore to residents and visitors alike. Or why Magajin Gari, the oldest local government area council in the north should still remain analog and its old structure still reek of the past despite the glaring digital age.  

It will be improper to complete this letter without mentioning the appalling Nnamdi Azikwe Way, one of the gateways into the city. I could not believe my eyes that the express by-pass was still festooned in its cheap cover and death-trap holes, while the communities around still look like something out of the 19^th century.

In fact, there are many areas I would have loved to touch, but time and space would not permit. All the same I hope to draw your attention and curiosity to some of these important infrastructures that might appeal to your judgement as we move through your tenure. I pray that my eyes would be able to snoop out some of the underdevelopment decay and stench emitting across the 23 local government areas that made up this resilient state.

 I am sure your famous ‘Ruso’ bulldozers would do justice to the decays fast eating this heterogeneous state away, in hope that you would use all the necessary tools available at your disposal to bulldoze the strange walls of segregation across the crocodile city. Better a ‘Mai Ruso’ to me, than a ‘Mai Karya’.

Finally, nothing would gladden my soul and I am sure others with same view if you could breakdown the man made barrier separating the northern and southern part of the state, this, I believe you can do by making the people see and comprehend that the so-called north and south demarcation along the famous Kaduna River is just a figment of human imagination. And the only way you can do this is to sever this blinkered line of reasoning through social, economy and political development without religious or tribal colouration. You will be doing service to humanity if you can overlook the retrogressive idea if zoning in carrying out your vision and policy for the state.

Thank you for taking time from your tight cumbersome task in going through this letter.  Please accept the assurance of my sincere consideration.

I remain,

Your obedient citizen

Ahmed Dodo

Yarodangari@gmail.com

2015: NIGERIA’ S WATERSHED, who Occupies Aso Rock?

The 2015 elections are around the corner, and top on the list is the presidential election, which could be the decisive factor that would determine the continued existence of the country. Ahmed Dodo examines some of the intrigues that might shape the election and the chances of the contesting parties the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressive Party (APC) in the race.

Perhaps no election in the history of Nigeria has been more controversial and more decisive than the forth - coming general elections; Most importantly the presidential election. Who occupies the Nigerian seat of power- Aso Rock, come May 29, 2015?

This important question seems to be the watershed that would determine the continuedF existence of the most populous nation in Africa, and a practicable answer is expected to surface on the 28^th, of March, 2015, through the ballot box.

  But like everything created and done by man under the sun divergent views and interest have been pouring in from different quarters across the country and beyond. And as expected issues and controversies have been trailing the forth-coming elections, with tribal and religion sentiments playing a big role as Nigerians and indeed the world wait to see the outcome of the 2015 Presidential election between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who is the incumbent and his challenger the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate Muhammadu Buhari, a retired Nigerian military general and former head of state.

While this important election has been dubbed the Nigeria political battle of the century, SEE Magazine in this Special Edition went to town to sample opinions from Nigerians cutting across the regions in the country.

 For Ibrahim Ibrahim, a Yoruba from Kwara state, nothing is going to stop the wind of change that the APC is carrying along with it. According to him the next presidential election is not all about tribe or religion, but rather it is about a change that the people all across the country have been yelling for. ‘’ Look to be sincere with you, nothing is going to stop the APC from winning the presidential election. I want to assure you that Buhari will win the election if it is done in a free and fear manner. No amount of political blackmail like the present cheap media propaganda being used by people like Ayo Fayose, Fani Kayode, AIT, NTA and the others can stop this change.  The only thing that could bring problem is when the real winner is refused his victory at the end of the day.’’

The issue of political crisis in Nigeria is not new.  And like Alhaji Shakiru Onalapo, a PDP member from Kwara rightly pointed out ‘’ The current political atmosphere in the country is highly charge. What could bring in trouble is when the umpires decide to give out victory to the wrong winner. But if everything goes on free and fear I don’t foresee any crisis.’’ For this member of the opposition in Kwara state  who  has the view that the  current  APC administration in the state has failed in almost all aspect of governance there was no way the party could deliver the state to the national level. Instead he foresees a victory for the PDP gubernatorial candidate Senator S.S Ajibola, who he believes would swap the peoples supports for the ruling party. ‘’ Our people are now well informed and aware of  the political  gimmicks of the ruling party in the state. They all need change from the Saraki political dynasty and Senator Ajibola is the only candidate that can deliver Kwarans from this grip. Today Kwara has a strong deficit in infrastructural development across the state, so the people need a change.’’

While these views are shared among people from Kwara part of the northern state of Nigeria, other opposing views are those from Kaduna, the seat of northern political power.  Abubakar Araba is a public affair analyst and holds the view that most people in the north and across the country are yelling for a change and the APC is the only political party that could bring that change. ‘’ I must be frank with you, the Jonathan administration has failed. It has failed in security matter, we have more graduate unemployment in the country today than before and there is now a strong tribal and religion bigotry  among the people, all these through the PDP policies.  The likes of Tompolo and Asari Dokubo are misleading the president and have added more problems to his re-election. Again the recent diminish statement from the first lady against the north and its people would definitely work against the re-emergence of Jonathan as the president of this country. It was a total anti-nationalist statement from the wife of a sitting president.’’

Araba’s assessment of the divisive utterances of  some of  Jonathan’s supporters and kinsmen no doubt  is an issue that will play a decisive role in  the presidential election, this given the fact that some of these utterances  are  blinkered and could inflame an already lighted political  and religion division  in the country. The 2015 elections connote an introduction of more tribal and religion division into the Nigerian political system. This is visible in the open participation of clerics, sheiks, pastors and Imans in the current political turmoil; they have been heard and seen preaching more about politics during their sermons, with some opening anointing or endorsing the candidates of their choice.

‘’ I think the 2015 elections is more of tribal and religion expression. The politicians have been able to indoctrinate the minds of some of the electorate with tribal and religion bigotry with the help of some of our so-called religion leaders. Our churches and mosques today are filled with sermons on political preaching.’’ Alfred Tokuna, an engineer from Benue state summed it up this way.

Violence in Nigeria politics through religion instigations caused by preachers, turned politicians is also not something new, but the current trend is way out of something else.  The silence division in churches and mosques across some states testify to this synthesis and using money and other materialist inducements the politicians have been able to infiltrate the churches and mosques and bought over the pulpits.

 

 

 

 

The Anglican Bishop of Kaduna, Josiah Idowu Fearon having been a witness to election violence in the country recently warned the politicians to refrain from using religion as a weapon to cause problems in the country. He gave out this warning at a workshop on the role of the community and traditional leaders in promoting peace and violence free elections. He said the violence events that followed the 2011 elections were regrettable.

Lending his voice to violent free elections, the former Nigeria Permanent Representative at The United Nations, Professor Ibrahim Gambari while speaking to journalist after a meeting with Obasanjo recently berated violent rallies in the country. He cautioned people including the first lady against indulging in utterances that are capable of undermining peaceful polls. He avowed that whosoever plunge the country into violence would be made to account for it by the International Criminal Court, ICC.

For Hashimu Aliyu, a young politician from Kaduna the 2015 election will definitely bring the change his state and the country needed over the years. He is of the view that the opposition would form the next government in the state and across the country. ‘’ Kaduna state have been operating on roads built by the colonial masters , so by the time the APC formed the next government Kaduna state is going to witness massive development and this would also transit to the national level with Buhari in charge. I don’t foresee any violence this time around, unless if there is injustice. But we the youths are now wiser and sharper.’’ Mallam Jamilu of Tudun Wada a APCsupporter says what the country need at the moment is a change. According to him live has become unbearable due to the current policies of the PDP. ‘’ We must tell ourselves the truth, a rich country like Nigeria deserves  better than what is currently going on in the political system of the country. We need good jobs, our children are more into scavenging and this have turned most of them into engaging in bad vices.’’

This view is also shared by Isiaku Geogio  a Mechanical Engineer in Kaduna. ‘’ I see the opposition winning the next election in the state and the country at large. Take Kaduna for instance, all the industries are shutdown and the next government will fix them given the pedigree of the two people, Buhari and El-Rufai.   There won’t be any violence, the electorates are now more aware and know that the politicians are using them for their selfish aims. I urged them to just come out to vote. And if at the end of the day APC failed in proper governance we will sweep them away  just like we are going to the PDP now’’.

 But for Railwanu Abdullahi the Sole Administrator of  Kaduna North ,the oldest local government in the north, he is confident that his party would come out victorious in the coming elections. ‘’ I want to assure the general public that the PDP as a government is a responsible one with sanity, equity, justice and prosperity to all. My advice for the contender of the governorship of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai is to reconsider his ambition and endorse governor Yero for the betterment of the people and the state at large.’’ He said.

 

While there seems to be hope of a violence free elections in some part of the north, analysts are predicting a victory for the APC in the South-west states, made up of Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti,Ondo, and Ogun, including  Kwara, with a large population of Yoruba speaking people. ‘’ The South-west is going to be the decisive factor that would determine the 2015 presidential election. Remember Buhari was able to garner 12million votes in the south-west and then the support was not as strong as this. But right now all the states in the south-west are for the APC. Even in Ekiti, Nigerians now know what happened there.’’ Though the south west is known with its own political violence, but it’s a different ball game from the ones usually experienced in the northern part, normally laced with tribal and religion undertone.

The road towards 2015 elections has not been easy on Nigerians, with various crises rearing its heads dangerously from different angle of the federation.  The highest being the worse insecurity situation in the history of the country apart from the civil war. The current act of terrorism going on in the North-East where the Nigeria military are still daily battling the deadly Boko Haram sect has remained a mystery to the people.  It has become an issue that has been politicised amid daily waste of lives and property.

 One of the greatest factors that helped fuelled the current political tension in the country is the now famous prediction by the United State of America, that the country presently existing as the Federal Republic of Nigeria might not be existing in the year 2015. This disturbing information emitted from the Central Intelligence Agency CIA, one of the world’s efficient security agency under the America system.

With utterances of division coming from some part of the south-south and part of the north, the prediction gained momentum and resulted into the present political division. Apart from the polluted forecast of the Americans, division in development and resource control creep in and since then the political atmosphere has never been the same again.

But one factor that would play a vital role on who occupies Aso-Rock in 2015 is the support of some of the political gladiators in the country. Men like Atiku Abubakar, a political stallion with a strong political muscle and followership across all the geo-political zones in the country.   Another strong political gladiator who holds a strong ace towards the 2015 elections is Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the fearless and resourceful leader of APC. A story of move to buy him over and form an Interim Goverment is one of the damaging controversies confronting the presidency.

The influence of strong political figure like Olusegun Obasanjo the former occupier of Aso-Rock would also determines who emerge the next president of the country. His political battle with the present administration is popular among the people. And some analysts are pointing out his underground strategies of imposing his effluence on the political landscape of Nigeria; though others have also pointed out his contribution to the current political situation of god-fatherism in Nigerian politics.

One other strong figure with a strong clutch on the political system is former president, Ibrahim Babangida whose romance with various political office holders in both the ruling party and the opposition is legendary. Seen as an unpredictable political gladiator that works behind the curtain; his influence is expected to determine who emerge the next elected president of Nigeria.

‘’ Men like IBB are still working behind the scene, his influence could switch the votes for the PDP and give us our deserve victory.’’ Clement  Nwanko  a diehard PDP  member from the South-East summarised it this way.

Feelers from the South-south, south-west and some part of the middle belt indicate a surprise competitive race between the PDP and the APC. One figure that has stood out boldly is that of Ameachi the outgoing APC governor of River State and a strong critic of the present administration. Seen as enemy number one of the president, Ameachi influence in the political decimal of the south-south has become something of a phenomenon. Bold, articulate and swift; he is seen as the joker that might caused the PDP to lose its support in some of the south-south states.

No election in the country since the first republic has seen an open attack on personality like the 2015 elections and the battle for the presidency takes the lead in this aspect. News and reports of daily degrading of each other on both policies and personal life is top on the list of the skirmishes that has characterized this election. Both the PDP presidential candidate Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari of the APC seems to have willing supporters and aides ready to fire back at each other verbal utterances or political statements made from both sides. While this might be seen as part of democracy, many of these campaign war of words have helped exposed some weakness in the polity, and if not make more popular one of the candidate.

The controversies surrounding the 2015 elections are still ongoing, and they seem to surface as the days roll towards that watershed that would determine the continuance existence of the country.  The card reader issue is still on and the all important PVC problem is still ongoing.  Whatever the outcome, the 2015 elections rest squarely on who occupies Aso-Rock as the next elected president come 28^th, March, 2015, and this election could be the decisive force that would determine the continuous existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

 

First published on the 28^th March, 2014 in the SEE Magazine