Jonathan Rendering Us Homeless in the North By Sabiu Zaranda

One of the issues which may not likely let Nigeria progress and reach it’s potential as a developed nation is the issue of vengeance. Almost every region or tribe in Nigeria sees its doom days as a result of marginalisation by those at the helm of the nation’s affairs that come from other region or tribe as the case may be, as if we are not capable of doing any wrong to harm ourselves.

One of our perfections is in blaming others on our failures to see beyond tribe or region. Meanwhile almost all the accusation made by the affected regions or tribes happen during military dictatorship where no region or tribe has the monopoly of power except for those who participated in the coups and had their way irrespective of the tribe and region they belong to. The story has however changed after the return of democracy in 1999 more especially with the once shoeless boy in the saddle. There are some accusation made by high profile citizen who cannot be ignored if we are to believe thay nder genuine democracy dentails fairness, transparency and justice.

I remember the words I read that was credited to Senator Joseph Kennedy Waku, during his interactive session with the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and some northern emirs sometimes ago. Senator Waku accused the then president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for harbouring anti northern Nigeria agenda. He noted that Baba Obasanjo has promised to make life difficult for northerners in such a way that many of them will join their northern counterparts begging in streets. This can easily translate to the economic hardship being experienced in the north due to the recapitalization of bank recapitalization under the Obasanjo administration by the then governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof Charles Soludo which affected a lot banks, micro finances and small scale industries of northern origin. While some of them were merged, others were closed permanently and a number of jobs terminated. One may say that it was purely a professional issue, but is it not the same banks that Nigeria had to save with billions of Naira through the same recapitalization under Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s era?

Similar accusation was made on Dr Goodluck Jonathan by Alhaji Tanko Yakassai during the trial period of late President Umaru Musa Yar’dua saying that, if northerners mistakenly support the emergence Mr Jonathan to be acting president then the end of northern Nigeria has come. He backed up his anti Jonathan campaign by citing example with the incident that happened in Cameroon between Paul Biya and Ahmadou Ahidjo while supporting the control of power by cabal with the issue of US president Mr. Edith Wilson who had been sick for over 9 month with his wife serving as intermediary between him and his ministers. The wish of Yakasai to stop Mr Jonathan did not see the light of day. Instead serious efforts were made by Yar’adua’s tribal men like Senator Bala Muhammad, Hon Farouk Adamu and many other patriotic pressure group to see that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is empowered as acting President. What Mr Jonathan did was returning good with evil because he never showed any form of patriotism to encourage the pressure groups nor does he ensure to deliverance of anything special for north after he got their support.

Not too long ago, an Australian negotiator, Dr Stephen Davis accused the former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika and former Borno State Governor, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff of being the major sponsors of Boko Haram. What was to follow immediately was a certain tribe and people standing in their defence, as if this is the first time such thing is happening in Nigeria?

When late President Yar’dua initiated the Niger-Delta amnesty programme for the militants in the creek, the then Chief of Defence staff, General Andrew Azazi and some politicians were reported to be supporting the militants, which resulted in Azazi losing his job and a committee set up to investigate the allegation. Under the Jonathan administration however, nothing of such has happened despite the numerous allegations flying around.

As it is now, the once shoeless boy that got the mandate of Nigerians based on sympathy and not competence has decided to have us become homeless for the crime we know nothing about. , the person that once crossed river to go to school has not only make us to cross our state and geopolitical boundaries to attend school but rather crossing the country’s border ( to those that can afford the bills to get education and decent health care) in our neighbourhood. With thousands of internal displaced persons across the country and many at refugees camp without basic amenities, some groups are still calling for the re-election of the once shoeless boy, if I may ask what do you want him to do now? He did what he did because he need re-election, what do you expect of him if he doesn’t want our support again? Rob the little hope that remain in us? Let’s think twice.

Sabiu Zaranda

@binzaranda on twitter.

Stay updated with Abusidiqu.com, in partnership with NIGERIANEWSBEAT.  Follow us on TWITTER or be our fan on FACEBOOK

Do not hesitate to leave your opinion in the comment section below.

To contact Abusidiqu.com for Article Submission and Advertisement or General inquiry, send a mail to info@abusidiqu.com