ColumnsNigeriaOpinionPublic Letter to Late Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, Danmasanin Kano

Avatar PilotnewsDecember 29, 2020
Please remember that when you left this world, the level of insecurity especially in the northern part of the country was not as bad as it is today. People in many northern states are now at the mercy of armed gangs who roam towns and villages, wreaking havoc and killing at will.

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I write this postmortem letter to you, Your Excellency, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule Dan Masanin Kano of blessed memory, to intimate you on the battered situations in the country after your demise.  Before detailing to you the state of the nation, let me seek Allah’s forgiveness for believing that only General Muhammadu Buhari can change the country without seeking Allah’s guidance from him. This so much belief that only Baba Buhari can change this country also made him to accused all past civilians administrations of running anti-people policies.

Let me pray for Allah’s guidance for Baba and open his heart to understand the suffering people are going through. We bow before Allah seeking His forgiveness. Help us in our trying moment as a people and also, help the country to pass this trial.

The reality is that, if someone had walked up to the Buharists before 2015, to convince them that Nigerians under the present administration would experience such a desperate situation, this person would have been considered mentally unstable. These unapologetic Buharists would promptly give him a verbal roasting if not an assault.

After your demise, your colleagues in the Northern Elders Forum and other well-meaning respected personalities, including His Eminent Sultan of Sokoto have lamented the high rate of insecurity, particularly in the north, as bandits are fast overrunning the region.

There has never been a time when millions of Nigerians lost faith in the ability of those in governance than now. People’s faith keeps fading daily.  It seems that our leaders are incapable of finding solutions to the insecurity and the economic downturn, thus abject poverty is starring the populace in the face.

I don’t want to disturb your peaceful rest but I have to remind you on how 12 million, especially unapologetic Buharists then had much confidence in this country’s perceived messiah even after his three consecutive rejected attempts. You were convinced then, that our nation will have a sense of direction where justice and good governance would prevail.

Please remember that when you left this world, the level of insecurity especially in the northern part of the country was not as bad as it is today. People in many northern states are now at the mercy of armed gangs who roam towns and villages, wreaking havoc and killing at will.

Were you alive, you would have been surprised by the sudden turn of events – how the hope and expectations the people had for Baba’s regime have been badly shattered.

Let me remind you about your testimonial attestation before the then-president-elect General Muhammadu Buhari after the 2015 general elections. This was when you led the Northern Leaders Forum delegates to congratulated him. I watched the visit on Channel TV. The attestation broke my heart and gingered me that I had paid my due in voting for a leader I had been dreaming of since 2003.

It would be apt  to quote you;

“It is the same Buhari that gave this country a sense of direction when he was a military leader. This time, I’m sure, Allah has brought him to correct the ills of the past, to reform. But sir, it is easy – and you know it was easy while you were there as a military leader – and with justice, you can rule Nigeria well. Justice is the key. I ask you, please, to continue. Don’t change, don’t compromise justice with anything.

We are looking for a Nigerian that would be committed, dedicated and you are such a person. We are, therefore, expecting much from you. We are expecting much from you. We, on our side, are prepared to give you whatever support, in form of advice or anything, that will enable you to succeed in your task. May Allah help you! Mr. President.”

If you are still with us, you would be among millions of Nigerians that keep asking whether Baba Buhari was the same man of reliability we saw some years back. This is because what we have gone through so far is unimaginable.

Five years ago, no Nigerian expected such negative events to happen under PMB’s stewardship. The electorates never thought Baba Buhari would head a government riddled with boggling poor economic policies, poverty, and such rate of insecurity challenges. With the ways things are going, Buhari is not the same person Nigerians brought into the office in 2015.

The Buhari’s fear factor has gone as corrupt politicians have a free day. Everyone does as they wish and the popularity and massive support Baba once enjoyed have badly ruptured. Going to markets, shops, stalls, joints, and everywhere one hears and sees are no longer certain because people believe that the administration has no solutions to insecurity and poverty. These are written on their faces.

Your Excellency, on the final note, as you can see, history books are replete with the role you have played to stabilize the country during and after the independence struggle. When you were here with us, you were a strong believer in national unity, you were known as a man who stood for justice, and a man with a vast knowledge of Nigeria.

You did not waste any opportunity in sharing your experience with anyone who would listen to you, especially our generation.  You left this world even when Nigeria has not taken its rightful place in the community of nations, as you hoped so. Like we all know, some of the most important qualities of good leadership, including integrity, accountability, empathy, humility, resilience, vision, influence, and positivity are no longer attainable with the current system.

Like old stories on a new page of a book, governments at all levels have not been able to show readiness in confronting the daunting challenges bedeviling this country. We are hoping that Baba Buhari shows a little empathy for us because we are the only peoples that would receive and host him when he finally leaves office in good health. Then, those in the villa today would have deserted him for greener pastures.

Munamu mufada ji yarage dasu

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♦ Dukawa writes from Kano and can be reached at abbahydukawa@gmail.com
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