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Talakawan Kano and the Fallacy of 'Rajamu' By Saka Raji Audu
Conscience nurtured by truth is one of the cardinal philosophies of the late Ahmadu Bello Sardauna for his people to emulate. But some of the very people that ought to protect the endemic legacy of the late northern sage have failed to do so, perhaps due to crash sentiment and political misdemeanor. Gaskiya (truth), they say, tafi kobo (is more than being financially rich). This piece is therefore a response to a cover story of AMINIYA Newspaper of 3rd October 2008 entitled: "Talakawan Kano Sun Fara Yi wa Gwamna Shekarau Rajamu" meaning "the Kano downtroddens have started embarrassing the Governor of Kano." This report is highly economical in truth and a naked display of political mischievousness.
It is generally believed that Malam Ibrahim Shekarau won his elections as two term governor of Kano State based on the popular support of the 'Talakawas' – the less privileged in the state - otherwise called the masses. So, AMINIYA like its parent newspapers attributed the action of the few misguided elements against the entourage of the Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau during the concluding part of a Tafsir in Emir's palace to mean that the very less privileged people or the masses that supported Shekarau to win elections are now embarrassing and turning their back against him. This is a mere expression of opinion by AMINIYA reporters and not the true representation of the event that took place on 27th September 2008.
The same thing happened recently when the VOA mischievously aired a repeat of an interview conducted on the governor of Kano State during his period of trial and tribulations in 2007, where it was claimed that Shekarau attributed the pockets of restlessness and disturbances against his administration to the activities of his party presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. Just last Sunday, specifically on 5th September, 2008, the Sunday Trust also came up with a bold facing headline credited to Governor Shekarau. It was titled, "Why I Dumped Buhari." Inside page 4 where the so called news was published, it was further re-captioned "Governor Shekarau's confession". On reading the entire story, there was no place that Shekarau actually talked about why he dumped Buhari or confession of any sort. All these journalistic confusions are meant to lure gullible readers into buying what does not worth their money, in addition to the mischievousness created by the false impression of the story. I am happy that it is not only Malam Shekarau that will account for his deeds on the Day of Judgment. The journalists, editors, writers and every one shall equally render account of their stewardships.
The home truth is that since God assisted Shekarau to break the much talked about the Kano political jinx on 14th April 2007 and sworn in on 29th May of the year, as second term elected people's governor of Kano State, his political opponents and some self centred journalists have never had any sound sleep. The toothless and sleepless oppositions that can bark but not bite are so worried and disturbed by the daily rising popularity of Shekarau in not only Kano but also the entire country, to the extent that his pocket enemies, though, empty vessels they are, would always cash on every available opportunity to cause commotion in the volatile political state of Kano. The recent reported case of stampede in emir's palace was not an exception.
It beats one's imagination that a thirty day Tafsir, that ought to end in sober reflection, was made by enemy of progress to end in what happened at the emir's palace on 27th September 2008. Unfortunately still, those who ought to regret over the unfortunate incidence are happy, making caricature of the incidence because if their political Godfathers could not win election through the ballot box, they should be able to take solace in sponsoring misguided elements in the society to throw sachet of pure water since they could not lay their hand on bad water in Kano. Tafsir, as we know is the preaching of the dos and don’t of Islamic tenets as encapsulated in the teaching of the holy Qur'an and Hadith by the learned Malams. At the end of the occasion, the Muslim faithful is expected to court a change of heart in his negative daily activities preparatory for the hereafter. At least, for the sake of the holy month of Ramadan, the sponsors of that dastardly act, whoever they are, would have allowed peace a chance so that their ibadat could be answered by Allah (SWT).
Like it or not, it is on record that the Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano state has done and is still doing a lot for the so called Talakawan Kano. I do not know why some people behave like a hen that eats and squeezes its mouth on ground. We should not forget so soon that it is the Shekarau administration that resurrected the many pensioners that were hitherto almost driven to their grave because of the non payment of their pensions for many years. Shekarau government, because of its mutunci, paid all the outstanding debt owned to them by the previous administrations, which runs in billions. It is the same Shekarau that introduced free feeding for the Talakawan Kano during Ramadan period. It is the Malam Shekarau administration that paid off WAEC NECO and JAMB fees for the Talakawan Kano so that they could be relieved in their educational pursuits. It is Malam administration that pays civil servant salary on regular basis in spite of the available meager resources. It is Shekarau administration that purchased a lot of tricycle vehicles that ease movement for the Talakawan Kano. It is Malam administration that makes hospital cards free, which now eradicates the consultancy fees that were hitherto introduced by the previous administration. This is not all.
It is Shekarau's government that tolerates and makes good use of Talakawan Kano through his Tsangaya projects. It is Shekarau government that increases the scholarship allowance of the Talakawan Kano Students. It is Shekarau government that opens up a lot of access roads so that Talakawan Kano can move freely with less traffic. It is Shekarau government that increased the volume of Kano water by 150 million litres to enable Talakawan Kano gets enough water to rely on. Accept it or not, this has never been done in Kano. It is the Shekarau administration that introduced Adaidaita Sahu that has achieved great success in molding the behavioural patterns of Talakawan Kano. This, also, has drastically reduced the act of "dandabalism" (vagabond) in the society. There are lots and lots of goodies that Shekarau government has done and is still doing for Talakawan Kano, which the oppositions are seriously envious about and not comfortable with.
If the above achievements by Shekarau administration are any thing to go by, the question is which Talakawan Kano that AMINIYA reporters want people to believe "Sun Fara Yi wa Gwamna Shekarau Rajamu?" Haba! Mai jerida, atuna Allah sabode gobe. Is "rajamu" not meant for a condemned criminal? When I was a little boy of ten years, my father told me some words, which I would never forget in my life no matter the greediness of the society. He said to me, "My son, never in your life do something because of any person but always do something because of God." This is why in spite of the tremendous achievements Shekarau administration has recorded for Talakawan Kano, some people still want to think nothing has happened simply because they are not in the government to loot the treasury dry. This is again why in spite of the much talked about the achievements recorded by the first Executive Governor of Kano state; he was paid back by being popularly rejected in the 1983 poll for his second term bid by Talakawan Kano who replaced him with less educated personality. This is why Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, another one time governor was nick named during his period as governor "Inshallahu." This is why Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was stoned in February 2003 at the emir's palace during Hawan Daushe. In Shekarau's case, it was sachet of pure water and not stone, which shows that the Talakawan Kano are more inclined to Malam Ibrahim Shekarau than any of the previous governors. This is why Shekarau should not have cause to worry about what happened because it is a vicious circle since the so called 'rajamu' has happened to every other past governor in the state.
Above all, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told us in one of his hadiths that "this world is like a prison yard for the righteous." So, who ever is ready to do well and what is right in this wicked world should be ready to suffer and be humiliated. We have a perfect example in the Prophet (PBUH). The entrails of a camel were placed upon his head; his feet bled; his face was fractured; he was besieged in a mountain pass until he was forced to eat tree leaves; he was driven out of Mekka; his front tooth was broken in battle; his innocent wife was accused of wrongdoing, seventy of his companions were killed; he was bereaved of his son and of most of his daughters; he tied a stone around his stomach because of hunger, and he was accused of being a poet, a magician, a soothsayer, a madman, and a liar-all at the same time. Yet Allah protected him throughout these severe trials and tribulations. Prophet Zakariyah was killed, Prophet Yahya was slaughtered, Prophet Moosa was afflicted with great trials, Prophet Ibraheem was thrown in the fire (may peace be upon them all), and the Imams- most reputed theologians and scholars and leaders followed their footsteps. Caliph 'Umar was assassinated, as was 'Uthman and 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all). Many scholars of the past have been flogged, imprisoned or tortured.
This is why Malam Ibrahim Shekarau should not bother himself at all for whatever media onslaught being perfected against him, advert or no advert. If the governor were to be a bad leader, he would divert the funds for the above mentioned projects to personal pockets and nothing would happen, since it is the language Nigerians understand. If he was all that bad, he would not have tasted second term in office. This singular record, which Shekarau broke in Kano was enough to make the oppositions have sleepless nights. If the blackmail, malicious falsehood orchestrated against him during his struggle for the second term could not make him not to achieve the enviable feat, nothing said now that will create any impact that has not been created in the past.
In my case, for daring to express opinion in favour of the people's governor, I know how many nonsense mails and threats that have come to my mail box from the very people that started the game. Some of these sponsored and frustrated writers are worried that my superior logical arguments in favour of Malam Shekarau and against their wish washy rhetoric are getting too much and so, I should also be frustrated and discouraged. Nay, they do not know that frustrations are meant for those who have no mission and vision. On account of many that have sent words of encouragement to my mail box, I remain focused and strong.
It is against the foregoing that I wish to strongly advise the able and dedicated people's Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau to remain steadfast in his determination to give his best to the people of Kano state. Nothing should distract his attention because nothing is new in this world. We are all going round a vicious circle. He should also remember that no matter what one does to make one happy, there is always some one to complain. He should therefore try to do his best and leave the rest to God. Indeed, there is no cause to be sad in this world, because from God we come and to Him we shall all return.
Saka Raji Audu writes from Kano and can be reached on his email:sakaraj@yahoo.com
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