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Fasting Without Tears: The Shekarau Example By Mohammed Abdullahi Dambatta
On coming to power in 2003, the Malam Ibrahim Shekarau led administration of Kano state, adopted the twin programmes of human development and sincere implementation of the Sharia principles as the cornerstone of its policies. Since then, practical indices on the ground have shown that the regime has demonstrated enough honesty and commitment to these programmes which ostensibly are meant to develop and re-oriented people with a view to realizing their full potentials. For instance, to demonstrate its sincerity towards the implementation of sharia regime in Kano, the regime has in the last two years established such institutions as the sharia commission, Hisbah Board, Zakkat Commission and Re-orientation Agency which seek to enlighten the people on the need to conduct they affairs in line with dictates of Islamic injunctions for a better society. Similarly, the Shekarau regime, has also taken many practical steps towards the implementation of policies armed at empowering the people, especially the youth and women. In this regard, it has trained over 10,000 youth and women under its still acquisition programmes, with generous financial assistance to enable them open their own business. The regime has also distributed over 10,000 motorcycles to jobless youths and equal number of sewing machines to wom en for the purpose of assisting them to be self employed. In deed, under the human development programmes of the Shekarau regime, over 25,000 youths, men and women have since 2004 been employed to assist in the keep-Kano-clean programme of the regime. However, one programme which has in all ramifications tended to encompass the principles of the regimes twin programmes of human development and sharia implementation remains the novel but noble programmes of Ramadan feeding which the Kano state government introduced in 2003. Under this programme the state government assists several thousands of people with free food in a bid to easing the difficulties which many always encounter feeding themselves during the fasting period. The month of Ramadan, survey has shown, normally witnesses scarcity of food stuffs, which always results in the poor segment of the society finding it difficult to break their fasting. The food scarcity, survey, has equally shown usually results from the unscrupulous activities of some people who hoard the food items wit h a view to maximizing profits. Before the coming of the Shekarau regime, the practice had been for the government to earmark huge sums of money for the provision of Ramadan food items for the rich and privileged class of the society who usually don’t need the gestures, leaving the poor class who really desire the assistance in the lurch. In deed, the present revolution began in 2003, when the Shekarau regime decided to use the about N57 million earlier earmarked by the Kwankwaso regime to as usual, take care of the few privileged people in the state, to feed about 500,000 people during the 2003 Ramadan period. The positive response from the people goarded the regime into expanding the programmes in 2004 with about 750,000 people benefiting, while over N90 million was expended by the government. Similarly, while about 15,000 dishes daily were provided in 2003 scheme, the 2004 programme witnessed the provision of about 20,000 dishes daily at an average cost of about N200 per dish. To improve on the programme owing to its positive impact, the Shekarau regime this year (2005) decided to further expand it and accommodate more people. To this end, over I million people are believed to be targeted for this years feeding programme being coordinated by a committee-Ramadan Feeding Committee. The committee headed by the state commissioner of planning and Budget Alhaji Sani Hanga is expected to spend about N100 million to feed about 1 million Moslem faithfuls. Under this year’s programme, about 25,000 dishes are being provided daily at the cost of about N200 per dish. Because there is a high concentration of Kano’s people in Kano town, the feeding committee is said to be concentrating more on the eight local councils that make up the Kano metropolis. However, to take care of the rural people, each of the state’s 44 local councils is spending about N150,000, daily in five wards on feeding people. When this is added up to the about N100 million being spent by the state government, one discovers that about N250 million would be spent on this year’s Ramadan feeding. To ensure sanity and transparency in the distribution, the feeding committee is said to have created several distribution centres across the state, where food is given out daily. In addition, certain mosques, Islamic schools, hospitals and prisons are being used as food distribution centres. The aim is to ensure that the food gets to the right people and avoid a possible hijack by a few people. While one is not out to hold brief and or campaign for the Shekarau regime, it equally makes sense to first and foremost salute the courage and good sense of justice shown by the regime in making the feeding programme a populist one. Like earlier stated, before now, the rule had been for successive regimes in the state to provide such food items as rice, cooking oil, milk, sugar etc for only a few privileged people who already have more than enough. This in most cases led to many, especially the poor skipping fasting because they were not sure of how to break the fasting at the end of the day. And even when some decided to participate they usually did so with so much pains and hardship with many always besieging the homes of few rich to pick crumbs. That Shekarau has through the feeding prog rammes made fasting easier for many deserves our commendation irrespective of party affiliations and political sentiments. In fact, it takes only a courageous, sincere and God-fearing leader to dare the mighty in the society by way of withdrawing their privileges and given same to those who actually need the assistance – the poor. Besides, the programme should be praised by all sincere and committed Moslems, because it is in tandem with the teaching of Prophet Mohammed and Islam. Although, the holy prophet was known to be generous during his life time, it is on record how ever that he showed more generosity during the holy month of Ramadan and in the process promoted one of the cardinal points of Islam which is the act of giving out freely especially to the needy. But be that at it may, I believe that the Shekarau regimes Ramadan feeding programme should be applauded more for its promotion of Islam, and Islamic Injunctions. As stated earlier, the feeding programme in the last three years apart from enabling many to fulfill one of their religious obligations of observing the Ramadan fasting has strengthened their faith in Islam. They have come to fully appreciate the fact that Islam is one religion that not only defends the rich and privileged, but also the poor and the needy. Shekarau’s feeding programme, if one is not playing politics, should be seen for what it is – a great public relations for Islam. This is so because, the programme apart from strengthening the faith of Moslems in Islam, has the potentialities of attracting converts to Islam. Already the feeding programme since inception in 2003 has been attracting commendations from many from other religions divides. In the same vein, I want to sincerely believe that by adopting the mass Ramadan feeding programme, the Shekarau regime is only performing a religious duty, which Islam enjoins, and which all good and sincere Moslems not only in Nigeria, but the world over, should perform. By focusing on the welfare of the peo ple, during this Ramadan period, the Shekarau regime in all ramifications has kept faith with it’s a vowed policies of developing the people and implementing a sharia regime in Kano. To those who believe that sharia is all about the amputation of alms, stoning of people to death and flogging, Shekarau’s example has given a food for thought. And to those who pretend about implementing sharia, and end up using it to achieve some political goals, Shakarau has shown the way forward. Similarly to those whose faith in Islam has been shaky, due to oppression, suppression and deprivations, the Shakarau’s example should strengthen.
Wrote in from Kano
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