‘Yar’adua’s Militia And Security To Lives And Property In Katsina State

By

Dr. Sadiq Isah Radda[1],

Sociology Department,

Bayero University, Kano

iraddasadiq@yahoo.com

The political temperature in Katsina state seems to be rising at a supersonic speed. The governed are disenchanted because despite poor leadership, the government continuously deceive the people that it is doing well. Apart from monumental corruption by political officeholders, there seems to be a conspiracy by the political class against the general population. Essentially speaking, there is no co-habitation between the government (especially the governor) and the people of the State. Furthermore, there is evident display of arrogance by the political office holders in the face of frustration and pauperization suffered by the members of the general public. Typical of the Nigerian elite, the elite group wielding political power in Katsina State has insulated itself from the cries of the common man. This is why when social unrests occur, the government gets surprised: the people come out en masse and in frustration, they condemn the government or certain political figures for failing them; ‘Yar’Adua and his collaborators are part of these figures. It should not be lost on any one that ‘Yar’Adua is intolerant and intolerance results in rancour. This is what we are beginning to see in Katsina State.

Not very long time ago, Katsina metropolis got engulfed in chaos emanating from Obasanjo’s and ‘Yar’Adua’s third term agenda. The people came out to oppose it and the result was the police extra-judicial killings of at least three people. A judicial Commission of Inquiry on the fracas was constituted. Its findings are still anxiously being awaited. The anti-third term uprising in Katsina State left behind a nasty syndrome: the emergence of state sponsored violence through a militia group maintained by governor with the sum of N5, 000.00 per person. As a concerned indigene of Katsina State, I think this is a very unhealthy development and it has to be addressed.

I am not oblivious of the violent nature of Nigerian politics. In fact, political compensation to political officeholders in Katsina State very much depends on ones level of thuggery and banditry. That is why there is a good number of senior political officeholders in ‘Yar’Adua’s government that can at best be called glorified thugs. This is because up till this moment, their notion of getting political power is laden with violence. However, what is worrying is the current official recognition given to violence by ‘Yar’Adua. Currently, he has in place unemployed youths whom he intends to use or uses for political ambition and possible gain.

To say that the emergence of an official militia maintained by the governor is a serious threat to lives and property is to say the obvious. We live in an odd world of tragedy and confusion!! The very governor that is supposed to be the Chief Security Officer of his people is the one threatening same. Also, the police and other security agencies that are supposed to raise a professional and ethical alarm on the potential insecurity are the same ones being used to subjugate the people. The logical question to ask vis-à-vis ‘Yar’Adua’s private militia is: Why now? Below are some of my thoughts.

Firstly, none of ‘Yar’Adua’s children, brothers and sisters is enlisted in the militia group. The militia group is composed of the unemployed, lowly educated/uneducated and poor youths from poor families; and they are going to be used against people like them, i.e, those who are poor, lowly educated /uneducated and unemployed. In essence, they are going to used against their own kind.

Secondly, it has become very clear to ‘Yar’Adua that he is very unpopular and his political fortunes have dwindled. Despite these glaring shortcomings, he is being threatened and intimidated by Obasanjo to champion a notorious third term bid. Obasanjo is aware of some dirty deals by ‘Yar’Adua carried out through Habib Bank, Logiani and Broni Brono in which ‘Yar’adua has interests; we are also conversant with that fertilizer scam.

Thirdly, the indigenes of the state have made it known to the whole world that the State’s resources are concentrated in very few hands and some of the governor’s family members. While poverty is biting hard, some individuals are leading a lavish life. The people are demanding explanation to which the governor has none. Furthermore, youth unemployment is record high in Katsina State.

Fourthly, ‘Yar’Adua has been surrounded by people who tell him what he wants to hear. These people have been unable to tell him that the people are dissatisfied and reasonable amendments are required. He has realized that there is a difference between their tales and what obtains on the ground. So, since it is too late for any damage control, a militia to intimidate people is required.

Fifthly, ‘Yar’Adua knows very well that he did not win the 2003 so-called elections. He came through a rigging mechanism never experienced in Nigeria’s political history. Therefore, he believes that his allegiance is to the forces that made him and not to the people of the State. Hence, he constantly oils these forces to forestall rebellion and revelations of secrets. Thus, one can say that ‘Yar’Adua is suffering from a crisis of legitimacy and a militia group is required to fix matters.

Sixthly, ‘Yar’Adua is being propelled by personal political ambition. It is clear that when Obasanjo is thoroughly done with Atiku in his desperate and dangerous third term bid, ‘Yar’adua is one of the potential candidates to become Vice President; to impress Obasanjo and the PDP machinery, ‘Yar’Adua has to show that he has some political influence in his primary constituency; and organizing a militia group to intimidate the people is a ready option.

Politicians forget the lessons of history. They also forget the popular saying that ‘he who fights by the sword shall die by the sword.’ I have no iota of doubt in my mind that this militia group will become a monster and eventually consume its creator. Since the militia is formed with ulterior motives, it is not going to stand the test of time. The crisis in the Niger Delta is orchestrated by the militia groups formed by the governors of the area, who after using them, decided to dump them.

It should be put on record that a militia group has been formed by the governor of Katsina State and he is using State’s resources to maintain them. If Nuhu Ribadu of the currently quite and emasculated EFCC can genuinely and rightly condemn the use of a State’s resources to pay for Hajj for a privileged few, what has he got to say against governors that use their State’s resources to maintain a private militia group for personal interest? Based on the current circumstances, it is incumbent upon those concerned (the police and other security agents) to take serious measures at demobilizing the militia group and better job opportunities that have long-term viability should be offered to these youths. No decent society survives and thrives on violence. Moreover, violence begets violence. For me, these youths need a lot of sensitization. They should be made to know that they are merely being used by ‘Yar’Adua to enable him achieve a selfish goal.

As my children are growing up in a decadent society that is currently being placed on a powerful time bomb and other sundry explosives due to the political ambition of a few characters; and as the future of our children is becoming bleak by the hour, being a citizen and an indigene of Katsina State, I presently hold two personalities responsible. These are Obasanjo and ‘Yar’Adua. This is because the political and economic activities of these people have made life very difficult for me, as a responsible parent concerned with the decent up-bringing of my children, to adequately cater for them. Worst still, the selfish desires of these two people are daily pushing our country towards the abyss such that our children (God forbid) may end up growing up in a rancorous and crises-ridden society. Even if we forget and forgive these sins, will our children, whose future is jeopardized, do the same? The duo are the best to answer this question.