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A Response to Ndiameeh Babrik’s ‘Open Letter to My Hausa Brothers’ By Ibrahim J. Hassan
Thanks Ndiameeh for your instructive letter titled ‘Open Letter to My Hausa Brothers’ which was posted at Gamji.com. I agree that we need to start dialogue, with each other in place of clashes/fights. I also firmly believe in what you said (quote) ‘If there is equity and justice in the land there may not have been these crises’. Infact, I will replace the word ‘may’ in that sentence with the word ‘will’. For in human history, justice underpins peace and remains the backbone of any meaningful development.
I also believe you entirely and sincerely when you said that you were not having a go at the ‘Hausas’. I also like to assure you that I’m not here to defend the ‘Hausas’ since I believe they are capable of defending themselves. My response is only based on my personal experience and I hope something good comes out of this discourse.
In your article you gave examples of how ‘Hausas’ have had clashes with their ‘host communities’. The natural questions that came to my mind are: Is this simply because the ‘Hausa’ man is a ‘special breed’ of human being - Inconsiderate, selfish, and not fit to live in peace with others (unlike normal people like you)? Let’s say for the sake of argument that we banish/relocate (‘exterminate’) all the ‘Hausas’ from those ‘host communities’ or from Nigeria for that matter, do you think it will be ‘uhuru’ from then onwards for the ordinary masses/folks of these communities? Will that act alone guarantee peace, security and development to these areas? I very much doubt that. This blame game is a very easy (but a very dangerous) one to play and our corrupt leaders have perfected it because it makes us keep chasing shadows till eternity.
From my name you will probably guess and call me a ‘Hausa’ although I’m anything but a Hausa despite the fact that I speak the language. I have lived most of my early life in Jos and I have not known a better place to live on this earth until recently due to the unfortunate events you described in your letter. I agree with your assertion that the most recent fracas were started (? exacerbated) during the advent of IBB regime. Was it a coincidence that this started during his time? Remember who the principal officers controlling our armed forces were as well as those controlling the security apparatuses during that era. All sorts of powerful ‘Mafias’ were in power then. Does that tell you something? The same tricks were used by our own ‘saviour’ Obasanjo (a born again!) hoping to cash in on the greed and stupidity of our leaders in order to extend his 3rd term agenda till God came to our rescue.
I have a theory which I’m propounding: The more ‘anti-Hausa’ the leaders of those ‘host communities’ are, the more corrupt they are likely to be (and vice versa for it works both ways). They are prepared to send the kids of the common man to do their dirty jobs (killing, maiming and raping) for them while they laugh their way to the Banks and their families are living in safety abroad. They are petrified of the day when the ordinary ‘Hausa man’ will hold the hand of an ordinary Angas/Berom man in friendship on the streets of Jos for example. Reason? Quite simply because then our masses will begin to question how they came about their ill-gotten wealth. That will put them out of business completely and they will rather tear our dear country to pieces than to allow that friendship/understanding to develop between the masses. A clear example comes to mind, it is a pity that despite the colossal fraud of our Governors (examplified by Joseph Dariye of plateau, he is still seen as a hero in some quarters). These people also connive with our so-called religious leaders in the power game. Our traditional rulers are not innocent in this saga as well since the loot is shared between them and these political thieves. Everyone can see how much of our wealth is spent on these parasites while our teaming masses wallow even deeper into abject poverty.
So Ndiameeh, we all need to do our bits and tell (educate) the people around us about the clear danger of this blame game. We must do all we can to expose this hypocrisy. Remember that none of the communities come out any better off after each and every clash. If the country breaks up (God forbid!) most of them will head for the nearest airports jetting (checking out) to join their loved ones abroad, leaving behind our masses to pick up the pieces.
Finally I’ll like to ask you this simple question about those ‘Host communities’ you have mentioned. At what stage can others (like the Hausas) be accepted as part of that community? You know clearly that there are generations of Hausas who have lived in those clash spots even before Mungo Park sets foot in Nigeria. Should they still be regarded as non-indigenes? For that matter is the IBO man living in Kano even before 1960 still not an Ibo man from Kano? What of the ‘Hausa man’ who has been living in Lagos since the days of Bishop Ajayi Crowther? My dear Ndiameeh, I need your help in trying to understand this phenomenon.
I wish you compliments of the season. May the year 2008 bring us better understanding and peace. Amin.
Ibrahim J. Hassan Jalo06@hotmail.com 24th December 2007.
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