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Of Emirs And Obasanjo By Babayola Toungo
The much hyped about National Political Reforms Conference has kicked off amidst controversies trailing its take-off. While some Nigerians don’t believe in the totality of the conference, others either don’t believe the “good intentions” of the convenors or the sincerity of the conferees and the convenors. Be that as it may, the conference is now underway with a total number of 393 conferees. Part of the controversies trailing the conference is the religious lopsided composition of the talk shop.
My concern here today is the conspiracy of silence from our traditional/ religious leaders on the deliberate skewed representation as inaugurated by Obasanjo. Jama’atul Nasrul Islam (JNI), Supreme Council for Shari’a and other such Islamic organisations have made the usual noises and it stopped there. But those that matter, those that pretend to be the custodians of Islam has decided to keep mute over an issue that may ultimately change the politics of this country as it affects the Muslim Ummah. It is unfortunate that our so-called leaders are those that are in perpetual struggle to struggle and sit on Obasanjo’s dining table.
When the states announced their representatives to the confab, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) raised its hackles as to the non-inclusion of Christians from the Borno and Niger states delegates. They threatened thunder and brimstone if Christians are not included. But when Obasanjo announced his own list and it was found that Christians has over two thirds of the total number, Elder Sa’idu Dogo, the CAN Secretary General was quick to counter that this is the true reflection of the Nigerian population with Christians in the majority. Even going by the recent statement of the US government, the Nigerian Muslim Ummah number about 65 million in an estimated population of 120 million. So I wonder where Elder Dogo got his figures bearing in mind that there are substantial number of animists in the country.
I do not have any quarrel with Elder Dogo or his assertions – but where are our traditional rulers who are constantly on the road to Abuja like taxi drivers? Do they just go to the Abuja to genuflect before Emperor Obasanjo and get “chop” money or what? When they woke up to the reality that Obasanjo has taken all Nigerian Muslims for granted as reflected in the composition of the membership of the National Conference, it was already too late for them. After much prodding from some concerned Muslims, and realising that they may have an uprising of sorts on their hands; they decided to see Obasanjo and submit their list of grievances to him for rectification. But what did they get? Only chastisement from the President like school kids. The reception accorded their highnesses, the emirs and the Obas that went to see Obasanjo on his apparent war against Islam and Muslims only goes to show the disdain that Obasanjo has for them.
But all this couldn’t have been possible had the Emirs and the Obas stood their ground with Obasanjo all this while. They had allowed Obasanjo to practically get away with blue murder and now at the eleventh hour they thought they could make him change. The slanted nature of the Conference was very apparent even before its inauguration, but they chose to remain mute or indifferent to the inherent dangers contained therein. Obasanjo knew the Emirs and Obas can do pretty little since their hands have been soiled by him.
Those calling Father Kukah names for calling the emirs and ulamas “irresponsible” need their heads examined. I cannot dare call them irresponsible no matter how low they chose to descend, but the likes of Kukah can and has done so because the emirs gave them room to do so. If the likes of Bello Masari, the Speaker of the House of Representatives could look Muslims in the eye and tell us that the leadership of the Conference is okay, so be it. His rationale is that the Secretary is not the number two man but rather the Deputy Chairman, who to all intents and purposes is there for the heck of it.
Obasnjo has turned anti-north policies as state policies and no one among the plethora of emirs and ulamas saw anything wrong with this until now. Bamaiyi and his group have been in detention since 1999 in a trial that refuse to end but we have all buried our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich. Contrast this case with that of Fasheun and Gani Adams, two hoodlums purporting to defend an amorphous Yoruba agenda which is yet to be defined. After killing and maiming countless people all they got was the proverbial slap on the wrist courtesy of the pressure exerted by their traditional rulers, leaders of thought and such other Yoruba elders when the duo were arrested for murder and in the case of Gani Adams after being declared wanted by the Federal Government. Makanjoula also got scot-free. Now it is the turn of Tafa Balogun, the thief catcher turned thief. No less a personality than the Oba of Lagos confirmed to the press that the Yoruba elders are doing everything possible to ensure he is not prosecuted even if it means appealing to primordial base sentiments. A day after being humiliated by Obasanjo, the Emirs and Obas sat with him at the fund raising spectacle in Abuja pretending all is well. But your highnesses take note that there is growing groudswell against your persons, all because of your association with Obasanjo. It appears you have chosen to please him rather than your people.
I once had cause to write that there will surely come a judgement day when royal paraphernalia may turn out to be the best fuel for the hell fire. Think over this, your highnesses. |