20 September 2010

By Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega

The people of the northern region, over the years have suffered the dearth of leadership representation especially at the federal level. The crisis of development and the ultimate disregards by some other part of the country have on the rest of us; lies with the qualities of the leaders that represent us at the federal centre of political intrigues and economic permutations. There is no doubt the northern region has an arsenal of young and articulate minds who are not only an achievers in their various chosen field of endevours, but are also shining examples for the younger generations. This men and women are not only upright; but, also are resourceful in providing the much needed synergy for Nigerian renaissances. But, unfortunately, these bright minds were lefts to rote in their respective areas due to lack of supports from political heavy weighty or lacking robust family lineage. This is not only a minus to the region; but also to the country.

It is intrinsically clear, most of the leaders in the region today; were discovered by the late Premier Sir Ahmadu Bello Sarduana; without discrimination or support; but based on their competences and intelligent. During such epoch, the Premier was determined; to raise a crop of leaders that will champion the course of development. Such sincere and commitment gave rise to a lot of technocrats and administrators; who were the shining light of a region that was seen as too backward to put a challenge to southern domination. This is the price of leadership in the life of society. Leaders often envisage the future with certainty and they were always ready to push their people into it. But,
unfortunately, the leaders that emerged later, not only, withdraw the ladders that they used to climb to the top; but, are bent on refusing to prepare next groups of worthy successors to inherent the leadership positions in the country.

They achieve this by destroying the fabrics of the society that assisted them to grow and enjoy life.
It is imperative, to say, over the years the northern states, often don’t project their best minds for appointment and political representation at the centre. Often the people that represent us either lack the bearing to navigate themselves with the responsibilities saddle with them or at best lack the intellectual capacity to withstand the positions they are occupying. This is rather pathetic for regions that assembly gallant of stars and intellectuals of high refutes; but out of elite mischief they are either sideline; or permanently condiment to the dustbin of historical hopelessness and confusion. Often time, the Southern press have the courage to lump us together as region that lack the educational and intellectuals to drive the economy and the political system since our dominance of the political office. They said this, base on the quality of our representatives at the centre. That is why whenever providence provided the opportunity for gallant star, to showcase his talents and intellectuals prowess through appointment or elections; you find people asking questions over the proficiency and the reservoirs of the person’s intelligence or if truly he is a northern. The Lagos/Ibadan axis of media have often projected the north in bad light; especially as regards to educational development and having the right minds to mantled leadership positions.

Today, with the return to democratic rule and the opportunities to elect sounds minds to represent us at the centre as Ministers and National Assembly members; unfortunately we lost the opportunities; especially during the 2003 elections; where mediocre and Lilliputian set of class were chosen through elite conspiracy especially the Governors to represents us at the hallow chambers of the National Assembly. The qualities of voices we are getting or hearing from the members from the north in the National Assembly; only tell the crisis and qualities of representatives that are representing us by the self seeking men of in the block. The members currently representing the north in the National Assembly are not the best from the region, in term of intellectual prowess, integrity, and
foresight and leadership acumen. What we have and have had before, are band of self serving opportunists and political neophytes who lack the directions to provide the much needed intellectual and leadership directions as symbols of people coming from a well cultured and spirited region of the north. Statistics have shown that a lot of members of the House of Representatives and Senate from the Northern zone have no bill in their name or contributed in house debate since they were inaugurated. The question what is the essence of their representation? If only we can have the lots of Hon. Abdul Ningi, Hon Farook Lawal, Hon Ndume, Hon Wadada, Rt Hon Ghali Na’aba, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal etc the whole drama in the house could have been interesting; but what we have are nothing but, bench warmers and absentees Lawmakers.

This is 21st century, the northern leaders must understanding the fact that, continuous throw-in mediocre and opportunists just because of their sycophantic loyalty and supports to the political leadership (Governors and Traditional rulers) will not project the whole of the region in good light; it will only undermine her potentials and further demonize the region from the eyes of those who have never been to the region to understand her cultural and religious melees; but, sit comfortable on their desk to write about the good people of the region in bad light; sending aspersion in the minds of their readers. Let get the vibrant members of the academic circle; technocrats, specialists and morally conscious people irrespective of their family lineage and political background to support as leaders and representatives in all ramifications of our lives. Let have a good package of galaxy of stars as leaders that represents the country and the region in all ramification.

The north has all the human potentials and the committed people with sound moral and spiritual background to support as leaders. Let our governors be among the best among us; the Senator representing us be a distinguished in character and learning; let chose Hounourable members with the right mental and spiritual state of mind; couple with youthful exacerbate. Please send ministers that have the capacity and intellectuals’ prowess to designated ministries. Let see representation and leadership as a service to the people not a means for personal aggrandizement. The world sees us through our leaders; they are the unit of analysis of the generality of us. A situation we have ministers or representatives that can articulate opinion about himself or the position he is occupying; send a wrong signal on the rest of us.

It is important to mention, that men of good ideas and moral integrity; must enter the mockery and dirt water of politics and contest for various offices. Someone will say, it require large capital; which i will not shy away from, but, that should be a reason we should shy away; and live the stage for rascals and gangsters to take over the reign of leadership and enslave us and enriched themselves through state capture. We have to network and build synergy to rescuer ourselves and the dear nation from the hands of these opportunists and bandits that invaded our farmland. This is a clarion call for all stakeholders including our traditional rulers, teachers, parents and religious leaders to
propagate the message; because we have suffered enough misrepresentation and demonization as result of the actions and inactions of our misrepresented leaders in all season. We have galaxy of men and women that can provide the much needed synergy and leadership in all ramification; starting with the forthcoming 2011 elections.

Finally, i am not saying we don’t have leaders in the north; but, the fact still remains that, we lack men and women with the temperament of leadership; we must discover these men and women and give them the opportunity to excel in their choosing field of endevours. Failure to do this; we will end up with opportunists, sycophants, and shallow minded minds as northern leaders; who continue to promote their selfish desires and enrichment amidst societal neglects and destitutions. These opportunists will in turn destroy or are destroying the social fabrics of the society that support the continue
co-existence of our lives. Let package the best and sale to the centre; let show to our distracters who see nothing good in the north; that we have the galaxy of humble men and women, with the right minds, integrity, foresight, and moral and spiritual stability to represents the region and the country at large. Until then happy searching!


Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega National Facilitator, Study Initiative for Leadership Discipline in Nigeria (SILDIN) Area 3, Abuja belloskic@yahoo.com 07037176838