By Professor John Gambo Laah
There is no doubt that the political landscape of Kaduna State is beginning to heat up as we move towards 2019, the year of the mother of all elections. We are beginning to see several nocturnal meetings being held and under-the-mango-tree discussions on, to be or not to be, come 2019. In Southern Kaduna, the discussions and the scheming are following predictable pattern. There are younger people without political history and ideas but with burning desire to take charge and there are older ones dying to maintain the status quo. In between is the army of prayer warriors, praying and hoping for the best for the region. The common denominator of these groups is that there is no synergy between the young and the old and also, there is no specific agenda for Southern Kaduna.
There is no doubt that although Southern Kaduna is strategically located in a rich agricultural and solid minerals belt, it is still the epicenter of poverty. The Southern Kaduna situation is largely as a result of several years of repressive policies by successive governments. Unfortunately, instead of evolving workable strategies to deal with the problem, the Southern Kaduna people have spent time blaming real and imagined enemies. It is high time we light a candle instead of cursing the darkness.
While, we pride ourselves as very educated people that should project economic and political powers, we lack the character that will enable us succeed and overcome our political, economic and social challenges. Every politician that has ever contested an elective post from Southern Kaduna has been abused, tamed and even tattooed with evil names and deeds. We want to see and feel the dividend of democracy, yet we have not developed the mechanisms that will make those who are elected or appointed into government to be answerable to us. No zone or area in Nigeria that treats its political office holders, both elected and appointed with disdain like Southern Kaduna. That was why, when Sir Patrick Yakowa died, some of us could not reconcile the outpour of emotions and empathies by the Southern Kaduna people vis-à-vis the way he was treated while he was governor. Several examples are bound. Are we still wondering why those with good ideas, history, and vision are not ready to contest election in Southern Kaduna?
In the last two years or so, we have come to the painful realization that not all that glitters is gold. The Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El Rufai, in the eyes of many, has defined himself more by the enemies that he has made. Many politicians in the state are beginning to think that indeed, there could be a change of guards in Kaduna State come 2019. But what we have seen and heard are politicians from the Zaria area that are strategically positioning themselves to contest come 2019. In an era where the patient dog no longer eats the fattest borne, one may be tempted to question the siddon look attitude of the Southern Kaduna people. It is just that, a man that wants to grow a long tooth, should have the lips to cover it.
We keep making the same mistakes again and again. A lot of people think that the solution to our problems is through prayers. Make no mistake about it, I believe in prayers. But like the Gambian Pastor said the other day, prayer is in the revelation equation, while planning is in the success equation. The Holy Bible is very clear, heaven helps those who help themselves. You cannot be naked and still expect that there will be an opportunity for you to put your hands in your pocket. Prayers will only strengthen our resolve. What will make us succeed in the forthcoming election is if we encourage ourselves to register to vote, update our voters registration, especially those that have changed locations and on election day, mobilize all out to vote the party and candidates of our choice. We need the right character to enable us achieve success. Our prayers should be for God to guide us in making the right choices. Prayers will not blindfold the INEC official and the security agents on Election Day to enable us vote without registering. It will not move us from the bear parlors to the polling stations. Our God is not a magician but a miracle worker.
We will like to encourage our religious leaders to raise their voices. We cannot have good governance unless we encourage the good breed amongst us to participate in politics. When the missionaries came to Southern Kaduna they discouraged us from going into politics. Today good political attributes anywhere in the world, are built on sound religious principles. Separating religion and politics in the strictest sense of the word, will take us back to colonial days, and this will be using 20th Century solution for 21st Century problem. Those who go to church and mosque on Sundays and Fridays are not spirits, but human beings (indeed, they are political animals).
We have made considerable headway into the politics and political contestation in Kaduna State and indeed Nigeria. The general believe is that Southern Kaduna cannot produce a governor in Kaduna State and I use to hold that view. However, as I became more involved, I realized that with share political calculus, not only can Southern Kaduna produce the governor, but can consistently determine who becomes governor always. Under the principle of Tsotson Tat, we can tap into a Nerzit philosophy to drive our aspirations as a people. The principle of Tsotson Tat simply explains that although we have had a chequered history, it does not matter anymore as we have woken up from our slumber. The principle route will enable us reach the promise land.
Trust in our politicians is declining not necessary because they are not performing, but because we are misplacing our priorities. What we consider as indices of development, are based on individualistic aspirations and not group hegemony. Our assessment of their performance is driven by mundane issues. We have never presented anything to them in form of a social contract. Swirling around Southern Kaduna like a hurricane, are forces of distrust, character assassination and pillars of uncertainty. There are vuvuzelas of misinformation and many granites of bad judgement.
It is high time we come together to build rock-solid principles that will consistently guide our aspirations as a people. We have to stop using the strategies of yesterday to fix today’s problems. According to an American writer and philosopher, Elbert Hubbard, a man is not paid for having a head and hands, but for using them. We cannot boast of been educated unless we use our education to transform our society for good. We must develop environmentally and socially friendly templates for constructive engagement and efficiency. As the centrifugal forces of disequilibrium swirl round us, as a panacea, we need to think outside the box.
We need to align our actions with our aspirations, but as long as we continue to drift apart we will continue to play second fiddle in the scheme of things in Kaduna State. We need to develop a crankshaft of good behavior as a people. By share accident, we find ourselves naturally united through similarities of culture and tradition. These have reduced the obstacles to our unity.
Let us isolate and neutralize the agents of disunity and anti-development. Before Dubai became what it is, about five Emirs who opposed the vision of the founding fathers were deposed. Let us create an island of good neighborliness so that irrespective of religion and creed, we can forge ahead as a people.
While, we hold firmly to the idea that as people from Southern Kaduna we are not to be toyed with, let us learn from the ants. Ants are one of the world smallest creatures but they are very organized and purposeful with very clear foresight. They can be as many as 35 million in a colony, but every ant knows what it should be doing at any given point in time. No ant doubts its ability and always ever ready to carrying out its duties to ensure the survival of the colony. As brothers and sisters, we have to learn to be as purposeful as the ants.
In 2019, Southern Kaduna will speak with one voice. We are aware that many people are already encouraging politicians to come and swim in Southern Kaduna waters. While we encourage politicians to feel free to extend their reach to Southern Kaduna, it is important to note that we, the Southern Kaduna people, will be united in deciding what is best for us come 2019. As a Southern Kaduna person be prepared to be part of the solution and not the problem.
Laah is a member of the Forum of Southern Kaduna Professors
