2006 Census

2006 Census: Between Critics and Others

Sani Garba Mohammed

It is very unfortunate that people who are supposedly educated turn out or chooses to be ignorant. Since the beginning of census in Nigeria, its entire outcome has been trail with opposition and rejection, by those who think they know Nigeria better than others.

There has been a long held notion that southern Nigeria is more populous than northern Nigeria, as such all the previous census in favour of the north were either distorted or influenced by the northern leaders who happens to be leading the country at that time. It reaches an extent that, it is widely speculated and even believed by many southerners that cattle, goats and the like were included in the previous head count in the north. That is why they were happy that with Obasanjo in power, this is the time to show that all previous headcount under count the south. It is as a result of boasting, intimidation and threat by southern leaders to deal with the north this time, forces many northern leaders to join hands with governors in mobilizing and enlightening people the importance of the census, and the danger of not participating in it.

Though many fails to make sure they are counted, because, they believe whether or not they are counted, Nigerian government has no any reliable or dependable plan for them, hence their un-cooperating to be counted. Still, our governors in the north, precisely my governor-Ibrahim Shekarau did all he can to make sure his state is counted accordingly; engage radio programmes, broadcasting to the people of the state on the importance of the census, increase incentives to enumerators etc. These and many more makes almost everybody to wake up from their former positions of not participating in the census, due to the politics attach to it, more so, to prove to the southern leaders they are wrong in their calculation. Despite the logistic problems, poor enumeration, lack of working materials, under counting, the census was still carried out.

Recently the figures of the census was released which shows Kano state leading, Lagos follows it, etc; the total population shows north is more populous, and the zonal break down shows northwest leading in the north, and southwest leading in the south. Immediately the results is release, the same people who have been accusing previous headcount, started faulting it and saying all bad things about the census, for it comes out short of their expectation and so, it shocks them. They thought, with Obasanjo in power [one of their own], they are rest assured he will favour them by presenting an altered figures in favour of southern Nigeria. Instead, it further showed that the north is still leading, an indication, that even the previous ones are in order, and they might only be short of perfect ness, which cannot be realized anywhere in the world

Most southern newspapers you read, their columnist and others are busy discrediting the census figures with baseless theories, ignorance, ethnic sentiment which circumscribes their poisonous mind. They wonder how on earth Kano can outnumber Lagos , which in their projection is over 15 millions. Kano they said, has few houses, sparsely populated, dry and all that, yet it is populous than Lagos. They tend to forgot that an average man in the north has not less than ten children under him, which in contrast, in the south; it is only three or four [at most]. To those who have more than that, they have more than one wife, they are also few. They also make a case with the traffic jam of people and vehicles that is holding Lagos for hours, forgetting that it is not the number of vehicles that determine how populous they are, and also the number of the people is because, both men and women are out doing business, with few [if any], at home, so the tendency to see overcrowded road is there. In the north you rarely see women outside as in Lagos, for the culture, religion makes them more indoor than outdoor, in fact, there are various factors to look at in comparing how north or Kano to be precise is more populous than Lagos .

What even makes this census a unique one [despite its shortcoming] one is, it is release by Obasanjo's government and approve by the national council of state. Had it been its release is delayed to the next government after election when a northerner assumes leadership of the country, it would be said, the figures are altered, because he is a northerner. Since these critics bank on Obasanjo to count for them let them stop abusing or discrediting the north for the position it has been maintaining since the formation of Nigeria, perhaps, they should blame Obasanjo.

By the way, why the entire hullabaloo in disputing the appropriateness or accuracy of the figure, while we are certain that this government may not necessarily uses the data for it planning; what does the populous states or region, the least populous states or region had to show in the development of every aspects of human life, there are none; unemployment, poverty, indigene-settler dichotomy, religious crisis, environmental problems, health and water crisis are all the trademark of these states and regions, none of them is better than the other [populated or not], yet commentators are busy claiming why Kano is more populous than Lagos. If Lagos is more populous than Kano , what benefit will accrue an average Lagosians, nothing but more hardship and poverty.

The only way forward is for government to stop using population in calculating revenue derivation due for state, but device a new means, such that the entire hullabaloo that so so state is more populous than that be stop. Though no matter how good a new method is [in case government create another means], we Nigerian are good in criticizing it even before we see how real it is, nevertheless, something must be done about this census issue in making sure it is acceptable, hence forth.

The only way, if Nigerians want a reliable figures to their satisfaction is, we have to believe in ourselves devoid of sentiment or selfish reasons, and other issues that seems undeletable in our mind as regard other Nigerians, this will help us in electing a good and reliable leaders, irrespective of his regional, religious, tribal and other background, who can lead the nation to a greater height. This is the hard way and the only way. May Allah bless Nigeria.

Sani Garba Mohammed, Karaye LGA, P. O. Box 56, Gyadi-Gyadi, Kano state.