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Shekarau's Presidency: Between Sheme's Fear And The Truth
Of The Matter
09 August 2010 By Saka Raji Audu
I read the Saturday Column
of Ibrahim Sheme of the Leadership newspaper
titled, "My Fear for Shekarau" published in the August
7, 2010 edition of the paper. In his attempt to
showcase the good qualities of Malam (Dr)
Ibrahim Shekarau
that should qualify him to be voted as the next
President of Nigeria
in 2011, Sheme, at the same time, expressed some fears
about certain factors that might hinder the
realization of Shekarau's presidency next year.
Although, Ibrahim Sheme has the right to express his
opinion but I do not necessarily think that the
factors that warranted his fear are strong enough to
undo Shekarau's presidential ambition if truth is to
be told.
Before I debunk the factors
against Sheme's phobia on Shekarau's presidency, it
would not be out of place to correct the wrong
impression created by Sheme's piece about the word "Mallam".
Shekarau's "Malam" simply means a "teacher." Sheme is
in the best position as a northerner to know that in
the northern part of the country, the word, "Malam" is
fondly used to refer to a teacher and this, I believe,
was how
Aminu Kano of
blessed memory got his name "Mallam." Between 1992 and
1998, I was a teacher in the then School of General
Studies, BUK. My students addressed me as "Mallam" and
twelve years after leaving the institution as a
teacher, the old students still called me Malam Saka,
Raji or Audu as it is convenient to them whenever we
meet. I think and I am sure that Ibrahim Sheme has
full knowledge of this basic truth. But due to the
position he wants to take in his present article, "My
fear for Shekarau", he tries to pretend on this by
writing that,"
Usually, a Mallam
does not engage in a gamble. But Mallam Ibrahim
Shekarau is now in the game. His, however, is not
commercial gambling, the one we call caca in Hausa
(pronounced chacha). His is political gamble." Then,
what do they call political gamble in Hausa if I may
ask?
I think people like
Babangida, Buhari, Atiku, etc are not prefixed "Mallam"
perhaps, because they are not teachers. Incidentally,
they are all in politics. Is Ibrahim Sheme telling his
readers that these peoples' politics is not gamble
because they are not called Mallam? Why the exception
of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau's politics, which Sheme
refers to as "gamble"? This is especially not so, in
view of people's description of Malam Shekarau "as a
consistent, God-fearing and patriotic leader."Some one
of these attributes can never be said to be a gambler
either in politics or commercial except for
mischievous reason as in the case of my good friend,
Mallam Ibrahim Sheme. He and his fellow travelers
should therefore understand that what good people
suffer, for not taking part in politics, is to be
ruled as fools. Also, in Plato's words, "the
punishment which wise men suffer, who refuse to take
part in the government is to live under the government
of worse men."
Now, let us come to the
issue of Sheme's fear for Shekarau. There are three
main factors why Sheme feels that Shekarau would not
make it to presidency. These include his lack of money
and material in view of the desperation of PDP to take
over Kano by hook or crook. Secondly, the ANPP crisis
in Kano as a result of his choice of his successor and
thirdly, the Buhari factor because of the CPC presence
in Kano. On the issue of whether or not Shekarau has
the money to win the 2011 presidential election in
view of the fact that “Nigerian politics” has been
seriously monetized, in which only the highest bidder
carries the day. Although, money politics has really
eaten down the fibre of our national political psyche,
this factor alone contributed immensely to the endemic
corrupt practices that have invaded our society and
has in turn caused serious havoc and disaster to the
country’s progress and development. We must however
and in all sincerity of purpose try to stop this ugly
political trend that has caused us more harm than
good. It is in realization of this fact that no one
should expect money from Shekarau or his agents to
exercise his civic responsibility. This is because any
thing built on corruption would certainly crumble and
does not last. This is particularly why our eleven
years of democracy has been in a state of rancour,
hopelessness and disaster. We should therefore be able
to make change by casting our precious votes for
Governor Shekarau because of his ability, strength of
character, goodwill and integrity. It is by
exercising this civic responsibility that our leaders
can be responsible enough to give the country the
desired change, progress and advancement. It is also
by doing so that the electorate can honestly assess
and evaluate their leaders and in the event of none
performance, they would have the moral rectitude to
condemn and use the same powerful votes to remove such
none performing leader.
But if we continue to think
in line with how much one gets to be able to exercise
one’s voting right, then we should not expect our
leaders to live up to our expectations because we
could not simply had our cake and would still want to
eat it. One is however not unmindful of the fact that
as a result of the chronic poverty pervading the
nation, there is the implication of people being
susceptible to money- politics. It was in realization
of the high level of poverty among the people due to
diversion of public fund meant for development that
made the disgraced former national Chairman of PDP,
Prince Vincent Ogbulafor to feel that PDP would rule
for 60 years or take over Kano and Lagos in 2011 at
all costs, knowing full well how much of public fund
his party has diverted to purchase the electorates
preparatory to 2011 election.
People should know that
what PDP leadership requires from the masses is just
votes and not their welfare. This is why we must not
allow this type of anti-masses show of shame to happen
again as the 2011 beckons. Malam Ibrahim Shekarau is
a good example of how absence of money-politics can
spur a leader to perform creditably for the interest
of the masses. In 2003, PDP deployed and distributed
huge sums of money so that Shekarau could be defeated.
This was in addition to deployment of the federal
might against the humble man, but all these went in
vain as the Kano
people massively voted and defended such votes in
favours of Shekarau. In 2007, similar thing
happened. There was internal conspiracy by some
powerful party men who were jealous and envious of
Shekarau’s marvelous mass oriented achievements. They
jacked up the cost of the governorship form, believing
that Shekarau being a transparent and God-fearing
leader who deprive them of the desire to loot the
public fund, would not get money to purchase his
second term governorship form. As a result of the many
good things Shekarau did for the Kano masses, the Kano
Pensioners in particular contributed money to purchase
the second term governorship form for Shekarau to
contest. In spite of all sorts of blackmails by some
of his party caucus and the PDP to cripple the second
term ambition of Shekarau, he went, saw and conquered
at the poll. This was how he broke the Kano political
jinx. Therefore, no one can pull down any person God
has exalted. Whether or not Shekarau can win the
presidency of this country is a matter of divine
decision.
Should ANPP decide to
choose Shekarau as her flag bearer for 2011and heaven
backs it up, no mortal can do otherwise. As a
Nigerian and a humble servant to his people, Shekarau
has the track record that qualifies him for any
political position in this country. No individual or
group of people, no mater how highly placed and
powerful they are, should think that they can take
decision(s) against the wish and desire of the entire
populace. In view of this, Shekarau stands a good
chance of winning the election of 2011 as the
President if his party nominates him since he is
healthy, energetic, project and human oriented, and
prudent in financial management as well as enviably
transparent in all his dealings. Nigerians need
nothing less than these qualities.
Secondly, Sheme should
understand that Shekarau's endorsement of his
successor cannot in any way affect his presidential
mission. Sheme should hear this fact. In December
2009, some ANPP caucus met and reviewed Shekarau's
performances. They concluded that Malam Ibrahim
Shekarau is really a man to be trusted, having been
tested. As a mark of respect and solidarity, they
further agreed that whoever the governor pointed to
them as his successor, will be supported. This open
remark was in view of the too many people that were
already eyeing his seat come 2011. The governor seemed
not to agree with this. Instead, he told them to go
and do research so that they can come up with a
candidate among themselves. The ANPP caucus meeting in
the state, which included most of the 2011
governorship contenders of Shekarau's seat, insisted
that Shekarau must show them the way. After a wide
range of consultation, the governor broke the ice to
endorse one of the contenders in the person of Alhaji
Salisu Sagir Takai, a former Commissioner in the
administration.
Suddenly and surprisingly
too, the same people that insisted on the governor to
lead the way for them on the person that he would like
to succeed him revolted against his endorsement. The
moral question involved in this issue is this. A
leader of any type ought to be honest, truthful,
reliable and steadfast. If this is the basic fact,
then how comes about the double standard position of
supposedly 'would be governors' that seem to have
eaten their vomits? What were they thinking when they
publicly asked the governor to endorse somebody for
them? Do they think of the serious political
implication of their renegade action? Does it mean
that they are not honest, truthful, reliable and
steadfast? If this is the case, what is the moral
justification about their wish to take over the honest
man's seat in 2011? This alone amounts to self
disqualification and a failure of the
litmus test on reliability and trust. By
Shekarau's endorsement of Takai, he is simply saying
that look, this is what you asked me to do and
therefore, this is my preference but he is subject to
confirmation through free and fair primary election.
He did not say that Takai must be accepted at all
costs. If the governor could allow free and fair
primary election in 2007 between him and his former
deputy in the person of Engr. Magaji Abdullahi, why
should he not allow same for Takai and others?
Shekarau is not the first leader to endorse successor.
Obasanjo did it to the late President Umoru Yar'adua
even though his former Vice President
Atiku Abubakar
was there to anoint but he didn't. How comes the same
people that betrayed Shekarau that cried for his
endorsement or anointment?
On the issue of Buhari
factor in view of CPC presence in Kano or elsewhere,
it should be clear to Sheme and his likes that
Nigerian politics is a very cumbersome and strenuous
system that only men and women of strong double heart
can endure and survive its temperament. Buhari and
Shekarau are two political giants that have captured
Nigerian political waves since 2003. This is not
withstanding the fact that Buhari had registered his
political presence as far back as in December 1983
when he led coup de'tat to oust a civilian government.
Likewise, Shekarau had also put his name in the sand
of time as far as in 1970s when he started his
teaching career in the
Kano state civil service.
These two political magnets joined politics with
common interest and circumstances. They both represent
the interest of the masses and are in politics to
salvage this interest. Perhaps, the one major
difference between the two political icons is the fact
that one has military orientation against the other.
Still, their political struggle to serve and
emancipate the masses started in 2003 when they both
joined the All Nigerians People's Party (ANPP). The
past record of service of these two renowned
politicians is quite clean and unblemished. This,
perhaps, explains why the two had to join the same
political party to foster common goal of alleviating
the masses.
If Shekarau is destined to
be President in 2011, there is nothing the Buhari
factor can do. After all, Some Nigerians have wanted
Muhammadu Buhari to be President since
2003. But, for the fact that his time has not come,
nothing one could do other than to continue with the
struggle. During the 2007 ANPP presidential primary,
Malam Shekarau played prominent role in the final
selection and acceptance of Buhari as the party
presidential candidate as many other candidates were
not willing to step down for him. Shekarau's political
power of conviction saw the 'recalcitrant' candidates
kowtowing and they eventually agreed to step down for
Buhari as the party flag bearer, even though he could
not win in the general election. This, in addition to
other ways, is how Shekarau has equally reciprocated
Buhari's 2003 gesture. So, it would be unfair for any
one to think otherwise against Malam Shekarau.
Even if Buhari had not left
ANPP for CPC, Shekarau, as a Nigerian and like any
other Nigerian, is qualified to vote and be voted for.
Now that he has decided to seek nomination from his
party as its presidential candidate, Buhari is also
free to seek for the same position through his new
party. This is part of what democracy is about. No
body should take it as a betrayal because both
Shekarau and Buhari are all presidential materials for
the country, in view of their past pedigrees. People
should be allowed to decide between the two. Again, in
democracy, no one is born to rule.
On the issue of his war
against illicit film makers and writers, of which
Ibrahim Sheme criticizes, to me the checks on the
activities of the film makers are quite in order. The
Kano filmmakers, which the
Kano State Censorship
Board, has fought to their demise, is a war against
infection of morality and cultural adulterations
mostly from love stories, books and other forms of
indecent writings and film making, which have the
tendencies of destroying what Kano holds as its pride.
The concern of any
one including perhaps the government is the future of
our children. It will be rather too tragic and ignoble
that our present children and the one yet unborn are
being bequeathed with nude, lovemaking and such other
immoral writings that have now invaded and dominated
the psyche of our children. Perhaps, Ibrahim Sheme
would have heard media report how a twelve-year-old
girl got impregnated and later killed her child
because of shame. It’s in the light of this
unfortunate development that some drastic measures
were taken by our policy makers to avert the social
convulsion threatening the future of our children.
This moral war cannot affect Shekarau's presidency.
Incidentally, Malam Ibrahim
Shekarau's presidential ambition is not a 'do or die'
affair and there is no need for Malam Sheme to express
unnecessary fear about winning or not winning.
Shekarau's faith teaches him to leave the future alone
until it comes. There is no need for us to be hasty in
our judgment especially things that have yet to come
to pass. It is not wise to pick fruits before they
become ripe. Tomorrow is non-existent, having no
reality today, so why should we busy ourselves with
it? Why should we have apprehensions about future
disasters? The important thing to know is that 2011
Presidential election is still five months away from
us. We should prepare and leave the judgment until it
comes. Why are we sad about election that has not
taken place? For us to be engrossed in expectations
about the future is looked down upon in our religion
since it leads to our having a long term attachment to
this world, an attachment that the good believer
shuns. Indeed, the greatest fear is fear. What we
require from Ibrahim Sheme for Shekarau's presidency
is prayer and best wishes, nothing else. The issue of
Bafarawa cannot be the same with Shekarau. So, Sheme
is wrong to have insinuated such comparison between
the two. We plan, they plan but God is the best
planner.
Saka Raji Audu writes
from Kano
and can be reached on his email:
sakaraj@yahoo.com
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