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Is Zamfara part of Nigeria?
The hundred per cent privilege, freedom,
and immunity which the Zamfara State Governor, Ahmed Yerima Sanni, is enjoying,
compared with that of his counterparts gives me an excruciating concern and
worry to the extent that I start to imagine, whether Zamfara is still part of
the Nigerian territory.
We are aware that Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu was indeed
invited by the State Security Service for questioning for publicly throwing his
weight in support of Biafra. Now the case of Ojukwu could be likened to that of
asking a man whether or not he loves the son. What else do you expect him to
answer? No? Never! Impossible!
Is this
worse than an offence of ‘betrayal’ or ‘increase of fuel pump
price?’ I ask again, is Ojukwu’s action worse than ‘political
machination’ by the leadership of the land? And whatever the offence of
‘MASSOB’ may be, is it comparable to that of ‘machiavellian
leadership’ that is being practised in the land? It is high time our leaders
stopped experimenting with our destinies because we are no babies and their game plans have been
exposed.
Nevertheless, those things mentioned above are by the
way. My interest centres purely on the socio-political dehumanisation of the
inhabitants of Zamfara republic under the leadership of Ahmed Yerima Sanni. I am saying this
because the mundane and the obnoxious activities taking place in Zamfara go far
beyond that purported to have taken place at ‘Ogwugwu’ and greater than that of the
activities of Nigeria’s number one enemy, that is, Movement for the
Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra. And surprisingly, most
Nigerians are condemning MASSOB but no one is giving thought to the goings-on
in Zamfara republic.
Someone might ask: what is that thing that is
happening in Zamfara? My dear, a
lot. And if I should waste my time responding to the interview granted by
Mahmud Shinkafi, the deputy Governor of Zamfara republic on pages of newspapers, honestly, it
will give us sensitive and thought-provoking clues. To start with, I would
rather say that it is a pity that Mahmud Shinkafi should also subject himself,
his entire household, his everything that makes him a man to the whims and
caprices of his superior and also did not stop there but rather went beyond
that to exhibit his political short sightedness and enslavement by defending
the wickedness of his superior, Ahmed Yerima Sani that sharia is for the good
of Nigerians. Good of Nigerians indeed!
How can amputation of hands, legs and maiming of the
inhabitants of Zamfara republic for
offences so trivial to have attracted either few months imprisonment or
fine be for the good of Nigerians? How can it be for the good of Nigerians when
they are drastically reducing the work force of the country? From the
foregoing, Mahmud and Yerima ought to state publicly that they are the
reincarnations of Idi-Amin of Uganda.
Again, if Mahmud claims once again that sharia is for
the good of Nigerians, how can preventing non-indigenes of Zamfara republic
from attending public schools be for the good of Nigerians? Instead of moving
Nigeria forward educationally, it is unfortunate that Sani and Mahmud are
dragging it behind to medieval era.
I bet that it however, may not mean anything to them since they do not
value education.
What is even more laughable is that Mahmud confused
himself further by stating that they are doing the will of Allah. Well, their
Allah may not be the Almighty Allah that we know but perhaps an unknown Allah
and I am amazed that sharia did not teach them that Nigeria is one and must be
seen as so by all. And that any
one discriminating against anyone
either by commission or omission is considered a traitor. More baffling and
most astonishing is that neither the police nor the state security service has
invited either Mahmud or Sani for interrogation. Rather they are busy chasing
Ojukwu, and the MASSOB leaders to
crush them as recommended by the council of state members.
My question now is: does it mean that the activities
being carried out by Mahmud and his superior, Yerima are legitimate while those
of MASSOB are illegitimate? Or can we say that the reason for declaring
MASSOB’s activities as treasonable is because MASSOB is from the southern
part of the country whereas Zamfara is of the north?
Caleb
Igboke,
Lagos
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