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Re:
President Ayatollah Ibrahim Shekarau? Nigerian Home
Affairs
18 August 2010 By Saka Raji Audu
"He that wrestles with us
strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skills. Our
antagonist is our helper." –
Edmund Burke
August 9, 2010 may have
marked the 'birthday' of a Columnist, 'Pope' Uche
Ezechukwu who anchors "Capital Matters" every Monday
at the back page of the Daily Sun. This very
day should be the 'happiest day' for Pope Ezechukwu of
the Sun paper because he had just completed a well
hatched and executed a demeaning contract to lie and
misinform his gullible readers about a man who, by
God's grace, will be presiding over the affairs of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria in May next
year.
On this particular day,
Uche Ezechukwu came out with filthy
thing to herald his 'happiness of a jackpot through
the circulation of an un-researched roadside talk
deliberately packaged, perhaps with a fee, hoping that
such voodoo of a thing would be able to 'tarnish' the
highly fortified and unblemished integrity of the two
term governor of
Kano
State and now a Presidential Aspirant
under All Nigeria's Peoples Party (ANPP) in person of
the indefatigable and incorruptible Malam (Dr) Ibrahim
Shekarau, Sardauna Kano, Neitiri Oha of Enugu and Atun
nuse of Oshogbo.
When this man of valour was
stepping into Nigerian politics in 2003, he was not
unmindful of political detractors and hack writers
like 'Pope' Uche Ezechukwu and et al. Thus, those who
really know Malam Ibrahim Shekarau's political
pedigrees are not surprised to read the sponsored
Monday diatribe of Ezechukwu. Certainly, no one is
amazed about such an unimpressive hatched job executed
to score cheap political goal against the man of the
people. It might not be too bad for a columnist
Ezechukwu to descend so low to allow some political
hawks to use his pen against him because of a mere
peanut, which has now eluded his integrity. However,
the way he went about it, is what put his credibility
to question.
Indeed, 'Pope' Uche has the
right to say his opinion though as belated as it is,
but he has no right to tell lies and jungle facts that
his readers are already having at the tips of their
fingers. It therefore beats one's imagination that a
columnist Uche Ezechukwu cannot correctly remember
simple past simply because he was so much eager to
unleash his venom and throw sadistic stones at some
one that is simply exercising his fundamental right to
vie for the President of his country. 'Pope' Uche
would not have wished to hear, see or witness the
unexpected mammoth crowd that greeted Malam Ibrahim
Shekarau presidential declaration of August 5, 2010,
he would have nonetheless taken heart to say the truth
and allow his readers to judge.
How ignorant is Uche
Ezechukwu to have claimed that there was crisis in
Kano in 2003 and went ahead to blame Malam Ibrahim
Shekarau for it. Ezechukwu should be adequately
informed that the only unfortunate crisis that
happened in the past seven years of Shekarau
administration was that of Shendam-Jos mayhem that
spilled over to Kano on May, 11 2004. Shekarau was
just almost one year in office at that time and he
honestly did all he could to nip the problem in the
bud. Since then, Kano under Shekarau has been living
in peace in spite of all odds. This peaceful
atmosphere accounted for the rapid development of Kano
under Shekarau government because progress is not
possible in the midst of rancour. Methinks it is a big
shame and disgrace for Pope Ezechukwu that something
happened in 2004 and he is now telling his readers
that it happened in 2003? Why this misinformation from
columnist Ezechukwu? Whoever hires this man to do his
bidding should be regretting now for a loss because
Ezechukwu knows not and knows that he knows not. Such
a man is a fool and should be shunned.
Talking about destruction
of beer by Hisbah in
Kano, Uche
Ezechukwu also displayed his ignorance about the
matter before the public. We all know that only
healthy people make a healthy nation. Can Ezechukwu
tell us how the taking of beer has made a healthy
nation? In any case, power to lead belongs to people.
So, the people that voted Shekarau to power in Kano
want to be governed by the ethic of their faith. They
do not want to be harassed with beer. They do not want
their children to be inundated with alien culture that
does not blend with their environment. Even Chief
Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in his book, "Because I am
involved" acknowledges that "any culture that cannot
accommodate accentricism is condemned to waste out its
life in an orgy of incest, and can only look forward
to a succession, first of a mediocrity, next of
nonentity, and finally of a generation of idiots."
Governor Ibrahim Shekarau
is only carrying out the wishes and aspiration of his
people by his war against alcohol and illicit
Hausa film makers so that as Chief
Ojukwu also observed, Kano would not breed "generation
of mediocrity, nonentity and idiots." It does not also
matter if there are other places in Kano and in the
northern parts of the country where alcohol is still
being taken. The most important thing is that a
message has been sent out on what the people of Kano
do not want. Consequently, if Shekarau becomes the
President of Nigeria next year, he will
go by the wishes and aspiration of Nigerians. What is
then the problem with Uche Ezechukwu? If Uche was
elected by Kano people as their leader, he would have
destroyed more beer than what he is mischievously
talking about. After all, I have many Christian
friends that shun alcohol.
Agreed that due to secular
type of government we practice in
Nigeria, VAT is collected from sales of
beverages including Alcohol by the government, which
are subsequently used for development. Uche Ezechukwu
should understand that such inevitable tax collected
where it is clearly identified is usually kept aside
by the Shekarau government, to enable the people of
the state decide what such money should be used for.
It is whatever they want that the government does.
Because, Shekarau is the people's governor, he listens
to the voice of the people in all matters of general
interest. It is interesting here to ask Uche Ezechukwu
if for instance a woman cheats on her husband to get
paid and she joins such illicit earning in the money
given by her husband for food to cook for him, would
it amount to double standard if the husbands eat the
delicious food and later condemn prostitution? This is
a food for thought.
It is also very ridiculous
and heartless for columnist Uche Ezechukwu to regret
not seeing many hands of the people of Kano not cut
off for alleged stealing. I do not know if the
execution of armed robbers has stopped robbery in
Nigeria? Has the introduction of EFCC in 2003 stopped
diversion of billions of public funds? What happened
to Obasanjo who allegedly slept with his son's wife,
the matter of which was taken to court for public
hearing, etc? Is this the kind of President that Pope
Ezechukwu expects Nigerians to have in 2011? More
over, Ezechukwu is not a Muslim and does not know the
operation of Shari'ah. He should have told his clients
that he is not conversant with the hatched job to
enable them hire a better responsible person for it.
As a journalist and columnist for the matter, it is
dishonest for Uche Ezechukwu to indulge in speculation
and hearsay, without verifying fact about what he
knows not. In Shari'ah system, an alleged thief is
taken to Shari'ah court for trial and appropriate
punishment. Shekarau cannot just cut off somebody's
hand on mere allegation of stealing. Even every
culprit of liquor is subjected to trial before his
commodity is finally destroyed on recommendation of
Shari'ah court. This is how things work.
Contrary to Uche
Ezechukwu's false alarm, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau has
marvelously justified his leadership prowess in Kano.
His peaceful and religious tolerance knows no bound.
He creates equal enabling environment for both
indigenes and non-indigenes, leading to his
appointments of Uche Ezechukwu's brother (Ibo), a
Yoruba and a minority as his Special Advisers.
Ezechukwu should mention one Kanawa that has served or
is still serving as any thing in the government of his
state. It is equally on record that Shekarau's
predecessor sacked the only non-indigene Chemistry
teacher in a Kano secondary school when Kwankwaso's
PDP government was waging war against non-indigenes in
Kano, which also led to loss of many qualified medical
doctors in the state. When Shekarau came in 2003, he
searched for the Chemistry teacher from Imo state and
re-instated him back to his job with huge salary
increase. Shekarau asked every one to come back to
Kano and continue with their job because he believes
that we are all Nigerians. This is one reason why Kano
population is thick today as many foreign investors
now stay to invest in Kano.
In 2009, a Pentecostal
church service invited Shekarau to their gathering at
new road, Sabon gari in Kano. Governor Shekarau
attended and gave sermon on peace and unity of the
country. This is not all. At every media interactive
session, Southern journalists working in the state are
always bombarded with electronic gadgets, computers
and sponsorship at local and international events to
improve their horizon. We have had seven such
interactive sessions and only God knows what was
carted away by these people, all in the spirit of
governor Shekarau's love for one nation, one destiny.
Pope Uche Ezechukwu should not tell me that he was not
in the country when all these things were happening in
Kano state. But he could only write on beer because
only a drunkard writes the way he does.
Ezechukwu's euphemistic
appreciation of Sultan of Sokoto's work is noted. But
he should know that the revered sultan does not also
like alcohol and illicit culture that would make his
areas to produce "mediocrity, nonentity and generation
of idiots" as Ezechukwu preaches. This is one out the
many contradictions in his misguided but directionless
piece. At this juncture, I would like to share a
beautiful experience I had with 'brother' Uche
Ezechukwu when I was an undergraduate in BUK. It was
in 1989, I was a member of the Caretaker Committee of
the Students' union body. Later, I was appointed as
Secretary of the Screening Committee. A certain man (Malam
Ahmed Aliyu) appeared before the Committee to be
screened for the position of Student Union President
of BUK. After the screening, the committee found it
expedient to disqualify him on ground of language
deficiency. He was the least popular candidate in the
presidential race. Ahmed Haruna challenged his
disqualification at the mock court in the university.
He won his case and was subsequently qualified to
contest. We, in the Committee, have no grudges over
his qualification by the court. At the presidential
debate, Ahmed Haruna suddenly garnered heavy support
as what I could hear people saying were "Sai Mai ba
turenci", turenci banza, turenci wofi". The meaning is
that "We need the man who cannot speak English, queen
English is not the end of life, to hell with English."
The day that followed the debate was the election. I
went through the polling stations to supervise the
conduct of the election. Before you know, Ahmed Haruna
was gathering votes in large numbers in sympathy of
his "Ba turenci", "No good English." At the end of the
election, he won to the surprise of the big
contestants. It is believed that if he had not been
'destroyed' with 'No English', he would not have gone
anywhere. This is where the words of
Edmund Burke which says, "He that
wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens
our skills. Our antagonist is our helper."
The main purpose of
Ezechukwu's religious fabrications and concoctions
against Malam (Dr)
Ibrahim Shekarau
was to 'reduce' his chances of winning the 2011
presidential election. Ironically, his write up has
rather brought Shekarau to the limelight of
recognition. As a chronic liar, Columnists Ezechukwu
is not credible enough to move us against Shekarau.
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 any
thing. 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. Shekarau therefore stands a good
chance of winning the election of 2011 as the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Nigerians have seen what
governor Shekarau can do for them in view of his
unprecedented achievements in
Kano State. They are not ready to listen
to the useless thing his opponents and adversaries are
now dishing out to undo him. Nigerians want him as
President. If any one likes, call him Ayatollah, Pope,
Idi-Amin, Karl Max, Osama, Obama, Gadaffi etc, he is
the best candidate Nigerians can rely upon and they
are eager to cast their precious votes for him. After
all,
Iran that
Ayatollah hails from is better of than all the
developing countries. Let the wicked do their best.
But the virtuous shall witness their downfall. One
more question for Ezechukwu is that if the mammoth
crowd that witnessed Shekarau's declaration is hired,
who hired you to put up the nonsense?
Finally, I wish to end this
rejoinder with popular saying of the late
Dele Giwa that "he who must destroy
another in order to succeed must have destruction
awaiting him at the door of his own life." So, let the
bad people continue with their fabrications about
Shekarau, but they should also know that come rain,
thunder or sunshine, the best thing that will happen
to Nigeria and Nigerians is to have MALAM (DR) IBRAHIM
SHEKARAU as their PRESIDENT in May 2011. No amount of
bad talks against him can rob him of this.
Saka Raji Audu writes
from Kano and can be reached on his email:
sakaraj@yahoo.com
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