|
Tribute To Dr. Yusufu Bala Usman (1945-2005) By Jibo Nura
Fellow Nigerians, it is with great sorrow, grief , remorse and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah, the creator and nourisher of all beings, the most high; the most powerful and all encompassing; the One who provides life after death, sadness after joy and easement after hash ness. Allah the most compassionate and possessor of all creatures, Has suddenly decided to recall the noble and distinguished scholar, man of honour and integrity (Dr. Bala Usman) to his permanent home.
Though, many of us who knew Bala since childhood find it hard to believe and comprehend that our mentor, teacher and father historian of both national and international repute, is no more. As a youth and even at my teen-age, I got to see and realize the intrepidity of Mallam Bala Usman in me. In fact, I always derive my personal temerity and confidence from him, because his methods were as always bold and serious. His contemporaries describe him as somebody who seeked to unearth the roots of the profound crisis of structure and direction facing Nigeria and Nigerians and even Africa today. He did this just to fashion tools for total liberation.
His thoughts about Nigeria:
To say that the man ( Bala Usman) liked the best for his country, is just an understatement. It is due to our leader’s ineptitudes, mis application of justice and priorities and lack of patriotism and true dedication to nation building that always made him to take a radical approach to reform processes and initiatives so as to have genuine corrective ness and total attitudinal change in the mind of his people. Because of his down to- earth background, he preferred to make any sacrifice especially when it comes to the issue of masses, he fought for their own cause without undue compromise. His school of thought where he fashioned out his style was just synonymous to that of Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, who absolutely believed in radical reform process. A belief that every well meaning Nigerian, who wish her well cannot afford to object to it, most especially due to the country’s current level of moral decadence, political instabilities and economic hopeless ness. As he used to tell us that our failure to face our situation squarely, define our problems, work out solutions, effect them and squarely face the results, was what kept on drifting our country into moribund status quo.
His Scholarly works:
The man has contributed immensely not only to the historiographical formation and transformation of Nigeria but also the world over. As such, his legacies would always be remembered. To mention few of them are: For the Liberation of Nigeria- a book that he was able to publish from his class room lectures (1979); the transformation of Katsina ,1400-1883 (1981); Nigeria against the IMF; the home market strategy (1986); co-author of Nigeria Economic crises : causes and solutions (1985) ;misrepresentation of Nigeria (2005); studies in the history of Sokoto caliphate (1979); the history of the struggles of the NEPU and the PRP (1981) who is responsible? Others include: the Nigerian workers and the current economic crisis (1982); political repression of Nigeria. A selection of documents (1982); co authored and edited cities of the Savannah (1979); studies in the history of pre-colonial Borno(1983); the economic and social development of Nigeria(1986) ; and Inside Nigerian history(1985).
Academic life:
My mentor made his mark at the level of academic excellence. He was Head of Department of History, 1979-1980; Deputy Dean, faculty of Arts and social science, 1977; member university senate 1978-1980; member of the A.B.U governing council representing congregation 1976-1980. Father Usman capped it up by supervising more than 30 M.A and Ph.D theses.
His service to humanity:
Since the conceptualization of Nigeria, Bala Usman had always wanted the progress of his country perhaps more than anybody else. He therefore identified himself with the progressive elements like Balarabe Musa and Mallam Aminu kano who believed in oneness and togetherness of Nigeria. In fact, they made people like me to realize that Nigeria from independence to date does not have a national icon. Though Murtala Ramat Muhammad tried to aspire but he was strategically eliminated. Probably it was because of this notion that Bala Usman and co. were made part of the minority submission members of the constitution drafting committee 1975-1976. He also served as member of the committee on the review of Nigeria’s foreign policy 1975-1976. However, in terms of peace mission, he was a member of the Nigerian delegation to the people’s republic of Angola 1976; special adviser to the Nigerian delegation to the 31st and 41st special sessions of the United Nation’s General Asssembly 1976-1986.
Back home, he was trustee of the Nigerian Labour Congress (1978-1980); Coordinator of the transition programme and secretary to the government of Kaduna state (1979-1980); Director of research of the PRP (1979-1980); Presidential panel on Nigeria since independence project (1980); Chairman of the political committee, All-Nigeria Conference on foreign policy NIPSS, Kuru, 1986 and Head Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training( CEDDERT), Zaria.
Born in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina state in March 1945. He attended Musawa Junior primary school 1951-1954, Kankia senior primary school (1956-1957). He was admitted into Government college Kaduna in 1958, graduated in 1962 and proceeded to the prestigious university of London (1963-1964). He was also enrolled into university of Lancaster 1964-1967. Bala was a postgraduate student in A.B.U in 1969 where he bagged his Ph.D in 1974. Usman taught at Barewa College, Zaria in 1971 as part time lecturer. He regularized his appointment as a designated lecturer II in 1972. Rose to the rank of lecturer I in 1974 and finally to senior lecturer in 1976 and reader in 1978 and that was when I was barely five years old. While being reader from 1978 up to his death several attempts were made to made him Prof. but the man simply refused to accept. He fondly said it is not more than a figure head title where one can only be seen doing clerical job than scholarly and research work. He therefore believed in his own struggle. To him our future lies in us, our conscience and our struggle.
As we weep for and wish him well in the hereafter, we are also urged to take solace in the word of God by saying loud and clear Inna lillahi wa inna Ilaihi raji’un.
Jibo Nura is an Opinion Analyst, and member editorial board, Desert Herald Newspaper. Contact Nura at: jibonura@yahoo.com
|