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Deposition Of Emir Jokolo: Tears Of Pains And Joy By Mahdi Shehu
Incidences, instances and episodes of deposing and banishing of senior traditional rulers, particularly emirs in Northern Nigeria, are not new phenomena’s. In fact, they are episodes that will continue to be incidental till the end of time whatever form of government is in place. To be sure, various forms of reasons and excuses are churned and channeled out as DECIDENDS for the depositions and banishments. Some of the reasons are within the precincts of common sense, others non-sensical, yet many of them stupid, dangerous, even laughable.
After the initial dust of confusion, shock and uncertainty have died down, many people, both spectators and those directly or remotely connected or affected by the deposition, are able to recollect themselves, coolly, calmly and methodically, thereafter ask certain paramount, silent, loud and fundamental questions, mostly bordering on the so-called reasons adduced for the many acts of depositions and banishments. As a result of those questions, inquisitiveness and quest to know more, many silent and hidden motives will begin to come to light, but mostly at times when the damage had been done, injuries difficult to heal inflicted and tears of both pains and joy dropped. Certain random instances not in any chronological order might serve to refresh our memory.
In 1843, Emir of Katsina Siddiq Abubakar was deposed by Caliph Aliyu Baba for reasons bordering on “oppressing and harassing his subjects”. Similarly in 1855, Emir of Zazzau Sidi Abubakar was deposed and banished to sokoto by Caliph Ali on account of “mismanagement and insubordination”. Just like the emir of Zazzau Abdullahi was deposed in 1890 for his refusal to follow the caliph’s order to withdraw his troops against Gwaram and Keffi. So also was Emir of Zazzau Sambo was deposed in 1888 for his failure and inability to defend his people and subjects against attacks from Ningi, Maradi and Abuja. Again in 1892, Emir of Gwaram, Salima. B.musa was deposed because he was appointed by the then Emir of Kano Muhammad Bello, against other popular alternative contenders and contestants.
It may also be recalled that in 1926, the Emir of Jama’a Abdullahi Maje-Jos was deposed and banished on altogether false reasons of prevalence of tsetse fly where his domain is located. But the motive was purely of commerce and greed of the white man who discovered large deposits of mineral within the vicinity of the emir’s domain. As he was banished to Jos, some of his subjects relocated to Bauchi, and yet many to Keffi, while the few that opted to remain behind were resettled at Madakiya. Many may also recall the deposition and Banishment of Emir of Gwandu Muhammadu Aliero in 1921 on account of ignoring native authority orders and circulars and substituting same with his personal dictates and wishes.
Very closely and perhaps more recently it can be recalled with relative ease the depositions and banishments of Emir of Kano Sanusi, Emir of Muri Abba Tukur, sultan ibrahim dasuki, Emir of Agei, Emir of suleja Awwal Ibrahim (who regained his throne after 9 years of litigation) and host of others, too numerous to be mentioned for want of space
Then suddenly but not unexpectedly, Alh. Mustapha Haruna Jokolo, the 19th Emir of Gwandu (starting from 1808) was deposed and banished to lafiya (?) on Friday the 3rd of June 2005. In his address to the people of Kebbi state at 9.15pm same day, the Kebbi state Commissioner for information Alh. Abdu Muhammadu Ambursa gave many reasons that informed the decision to depose him. Among “which are that he is seen to be complex in character rather than the simplicity expected of his status. Reckless rather than honesty and decorum known for the institution he represents. In addition to having high disregard and disrespect for constituted authority as represented by his traveling outside his domain without official permission from the state and or local governments”. But most importantly he was accused of “making unguarded utterances that are capable of causing disaffection and disharmony capable of resulting into threat to public peace”. Just as he was accused of “picking quarrels with his staff and local government council member” etc. If one adds up other unofficial allegations and accusations from the vine yard, we end up with pyramid of reasons that will disappear like the groundnut pyramid in Kano. Disappeared over time in the face of compelling realities.
Tracing the history of the Northern traditional institution, particularly the Emirates, will disclose that those who presided over them in the distant past and who are geneogically related to those of today were people of outstanding courage, warriors of high refute coupled with sufficient fear of God within their human limits. In addition to their concern and constant considerations for the plight of their subjects. But most importantly conscious of the transient nature of life itself and have fearful of the inevitable day of giving account. They were more concerned with the teaching and promoting of Islamic principles and etiquettes to their subjects. But even then, there were isolated cases of some of them whose conduct was inconsistent with their status AND EXPECTATIONS FO THEIR INSTITUT IONS
Unlike their great, great, grand fathers who were both Emirs, Imams and Khadis, owing to their vast Islamic knowledge, thus aspiring for heavenly kingdom, Most of the current crop of Emirs today have opted for and preferred the worldly kingdom while allowing the heavenly kingdom to presumptions, chances, guesses and empty wishful aspirations. This is clearly evident from their Preferences for fashion and competitions in cars, horses, castles, farm houses, spouses and frequent often tines unnecessary foreign trips . And to maintain and sustain their newly found taste and lust, they obviously have to go beyond all set limits and boundaries set by God, their institution and the existing realities on the ground. They in addition have to surrender substantial part of their respect, ask for, demand and receive monies and other valuables “on behalf of their subjects” or on “their own behalf” on continuous and frequent basis, enough to reduce them to non-entities and senior beggars even in the eyes of local government councilors. More so, for the same reasons aforementioned, they have to be openly partisan and partial when it comes to associating or hob knobbing with the government in power even if at the cost of their subjects’ welfare, security and well being. Not only that, they will always have to look the other side even when their subjects are at the receiving end, even where they ar e in serious daily mounting distress and even when they are pushed to the wall they can not climb.
When their attentions are being drawn to the speed and rate at which they are derailing and compromising themselves and along with them many more innocent people, they will as usual ignore those observations, perhaps because their fortunes are increasing, their influence in government becoming more pronounced. The result is that their relevance, importance and integrity are gradually and surely declining proportionate to their close proximity, association and attachment to government in power. An example or two might suffice here
On 19th February 2003, several serial Bank drafts (84 in number) were prepared at the branch of one of the commercial banks located along Ahmadu Bello way Kaduna, in the name of very senior and other prominent northern highnesses. The said drafts emanated from the current account of one of the powerful (then?) politicians holding a prominent position office. The amounts on the drafts were colossal. It was not until 3rd April 2003 (les s than 10 days to April 2001 election) that the Majidadi to one of the oldest Emirs in the north west, went round some of the Emirs houses distributing the said drafts to beneficiaries as a gift form that “powerful” politician.
Before April 14th 2003 all except you (out of 84 serial drafts) had been cashed at various branches of the bank, nation wide. It was difficult then to give accurate interpretation of that “Greek gift” immediately but events relating to the fraudulent 2003 elections open multiple clues as to the clear unequivocal meaning of those drafts. They were meant to enlist the silence of the beneficiaries. And indeed they kept silent when the dissenting views and votes of their subjects and other people were being substituted with greed, fraud electoral falsehood and thievery. Not only that they were at various governme nt houses, both state and federal to congratulate and rejoice with “the winners”.
Between February 1996 to may 1999 northern Emirate councils received over N4billion (four Billion) from the federal government as 5%deduction from their respective local government allocations with absolutely nothing to show for it except improvement in their livelihood and that of their immediately family members. That was when Katsina Emirate collected N288million, Kaduna N252million, Kwara N162million, Sokoto N198million Kebbi N102million, Jigawa N126million, Gombe N63million, Nasarawa N63million, KogiN103million, Niger N137million, etc.
Yet till today, those monies were not accounted for nor can be said or proved to have positively impacted on the lives of the subjects in their respective domains. That is why it is both hypocritical, misleading, fraudulent as usual and laughable to hear government of nowadays particularly under an Obasanjo brand of democracy giving or mentioning mismanagement as part of the reasons for deposing an Emir whom they helped, propped up and nature not to account for public funds that find their way to his office rightly or wrongly. That why it amounts to insulting our collective intelligence’s to hear government deposing an Emir Jokolo based on acts of insubordination when the same Emir was being funded by governments and not when it is common kn owledge that they eat, dine, dance , merry and joy together at the expense of both voters and subjects.
From May 1999 to date, over N16billion has been expended on the Northern Emirates in purchasing latest luxury cars for them, renovating and or building new palaces for them, sponsoring them for medical trips abroad etc. All these frivolities are in the face of glaring increase of poverty among the vast cross section of their subjects. And again when Jokolo is said to deposed on the pretext and charges of ignoring government, financial recklessness and insubordination etc, it becomes the more doubtful, the more questionable, the more insulting and the more suspect
Latest inventory and monetary value of the Emirs fleet of cars, mostly purchased from tax payer’s money and delivered “in appreciation” and continuously being maintained, again at tax payers expense. Contrasting all these official and traditional abnormalities with the dwindling quality of life of their subjects gives currency and further insight as to why these subjects do not bother whether the traditional institution as presently constituted and its current presiders survives the current onslaught or not.
Because of their resolve and personal choice to expose themselves to the wider public, particularly the business of governance, traditional rulers at very many times find themselves engaged by state or federal governments for doing, often times dirty, dubious and all together suspicious assignments. When the polio campaign in the North was at its height, the federal government engaged the services (on consultancy??) of certain Northern Emirs with Emir Jokolo as the head of the team, because in him particularly they identified all the qualities good, bad and ugly to do the dirty job. With all forms of blackmails, intimidations and bulldozing “it paid off” at the end. When the opposition was planning a mass action against the fraudulent conduct of t he 2003 April fool elections, again the federal government deployed Northern traditional rulers under the chairmanship of Etsu Nupe (late Ndayako) with Jokolo as member to persuade Buhari &co against the action. “It paid off “because Buhari headed to the courts. At the beginning of the Zamfara sharia project, sensing some national trouble, Jokolo & co were called to the rescue. All these mean clearly that all the Emirs involved officially for the numerous federal or state assignments, must have to remain outside their domains for long periods.
That is why when part of the charges labeled against Emir Jokolo after his deposition includes “staying outside his domain for long” it become an all together insulting on our collective intelligence’s knowing full well that most of his alleged outings were official, and bank rolled by the federal government of OBSANJO.
All these avoidable attitudes, compromises, traditional blunders, institutional delinquency, delay and recklessness forces tears of pain to drop and rail on the cheeks. More so as people watch helplessly and hopelessly how a one time revered institution, which for all practical purposes represents and stands for symbol of unity, cohesion, brotherhood, and peace, gradually got itself enmeshed”‘ INTO ITS NATURAL NO GO AREA”, thereby destroyed itself by its very actions, inactions and reactions to issues , events and circumstances. But more painful is the fact that certain groups among the Emirs are busy justifying the de position of Emir Jokolo thus toying the government passage. For them, their eyes are blind; they are dump and have gone far. They cant harkens to the calls from voices of wisdom and by the time they realize the implications of celebrating the exit of Jokolo, it would have been too little too late, because they would have been consigned and swept away by a more heavier tide, heavier than the one that swept away Emir Jokolo, because theirs would have been a tide mostly sent against these who celebrate the dawn fall of their very brother at a time when they were suppose to pray for him
On much deeper thoughts and reflections there are certain joys associated with the deposition of Emir Jokolo. One is that hopefully the traditional institution in Nigeria, most importantly the Emirate in particular will be able to look inward, search and address itself very well, particularly having learnt (?) in a hard way and made to understand (?) in clear teams the "use and dump" syndrome and pathology of any government and every government in power, local, state or federal.
Of cause there is the joy about the resurfacing old adage which say that "no man, no matter how powerful will ever win judgment against his own people", as various subjects have been groaning and suffering from all forms of deprivations under the Emirate system and certainly it is both joyful and pleasant to see their prayers answered during their own time or soon thereafter.
Naturally, it is joyful to see how clear beneficiaries of Emir Jokolo proximity to the federal government of Obasanjo not only distancing themselves but have gone into total and inordinate conspiracy of silence, thereby taking coward refuge on their pretence that they know nothing thus given themselves away known or unknown to them as bunch of cowards who lack courage to own up and defend" one of theirs" With that attitude of self absolving they are wittingly or unwittingly inviting, postponing and nurturing their own form of humiliation, strong enough to follow and chase them out of their palaces, wherein they always think they are both safe and free from eviction. And that will be the day when they will know the co-efficient value of their cowardly silence.
In 1897 the Alake of Egba land Oba Demola was forced out of his palace by the powerful market women association. In fact there is an interesting dimension to the intricacies and institutional conspiracy, (similar to Jokolo) that led to the deposition of Oba Olaseru Olegbegi, the Olowo of Owo in 1968. One may also remember the deposition of chief Kosolo, the king of Lagos in 1897 in circumstances very similar to that of Emir Jokolo. He was replaced almost immediately by chief Akintoye who was alleged to be the hit man of king Kosokos deposition and banishment saga.
All these historical recollections are pointing to one fact, that it needs to be repeated , repeatedly that either the Northern Emirs, old, new and young , mend themselves, change their ways and tactics, re-invent themselves or they and the institution they claim to be representing will go into extinction sooner than expected. The choice is theirs. In conclusion and for the avoidance of doubt, traditional institutions Nation wide, the supposed custodians of culture and values have been and are still being subjected to various forms of humiliations mostly as retribution in addition to being a calculated attempt to dampen their influence in trying to find values in the power equation with multiple unknown variables.
As we journey into the 21st century, a century with a lot of global uncertainties to all and sundry, but more particularly to the Muslims and anybody speaking "for and on their behalf, it is important that the surviving Emirs become their brothers keepers, unify and stream line their approaches, dispense off with greed, leisure and general materialism , respect the wishes of their subjects, help and assistant them, distant themselves from partisan polities, otherwise they will eventually and finally be reshaped, redefined, rediscovered and their history Re- written in distorted sequence and uncomplimentary terms by power drunken , greedy and insensitive political upstarts on rampage. The option is theirs and there is no middle course to that. And it must be now or NEVER.
IMPERSONATING GOVERNOR MAKARFI : Last week, no less than five media houses reported the arrest, detention and arraignment of Barr. Mohammed Soba, the special Adviser to governor Makarfi on education. He was alleged to have impersonated governor Makarfi and in the process said to have collected N500, 000. Records showed that the Police "completed" investigations within twenty hours after arrest and charged the accused to upper sharia court Daura Road. Report showed that the presiding judge admitted him to bail but the accused ended up sleeping in the prisons as shown by the prisons entries. Yet police records showed that even while on court bail and case adjourned to the 14th of June, there was a subsisting police detention warrant which was used again in detaining him under police custody . The court, no matter their short comings are the most competent to establish a case of impersonation brought against Barr. Soba. The POLICE are suppose to be impartial and fair to accused person no matter the status of the complainant. The way and manner the issue was handled by the police and the court rather looks clumsy enough to raise doubt on their neutrality. Barr. Soba, no matter the gravity of allegation against him is an officer of the court, being a trained lawyer and if in one swift three warrants can be dangling on his head (bail warrant, prison remand warrant and police detention warrant) then God save non court officers.
I do not want to believe that Governor Makarfi is in the full picture of what is truly transpiring. I do not even believe that he was properly briefed on what his special assistant went through in the hands of the police and in the court. If truly Makarfi believed he had been impersonated by Barr. Soba, he would have since shown him the way out considering how much the Governor jealously guides his integrity. That Barr. Soba is still occupying his office as the special assistant to the Governor on Education goes further to give certain degree of credence to the insinuations making the round that Barr. soba is paying the price of having the guts , courage and audacity to have dragged before the Kaduna high Court, the current chairman of Soba Local Government and two members of the Kaduna State House of assembly representing Soba Local Government on allegations bordering on criminal and illegal diversion of Soba local Government fund totaling 23 million Naira.
What ever may be the truth, it behooves on his Excellency to act wisely in this matter by asking for full brief before his good name is dragged into avoidable disrepute by certain political upstarts who feel threatened at the slightest imaginations.
Mahdi Shehu
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