Recent Jos Crises: Is My Dream Shattered?

By

Balarabe Yushau

byushau@gmail.com

 

 

The residents of Jos have again found themselves in mayhem the consequence of which hundreds of lives have been lost and property worth billions of naira destroyed. As typical of any crises, most of the victims of these crises do not even know or have anything to do with the root cause of the problem. For instance, my friend as well as neighbor was just sleeping in his house on that faithful Friday when people came into his house and burnt him and his entire house to ashes. I know him very well as apolitical and also not that religious. In fact, his first wife was from Anaguta tribe though he was Hausa – just to show how detribalized he was.

 

It is not my aim in this article to narrate the root cause of these crises, as one cannot be able to do that objectively without going into history - which I am not a student of. Rather, my aim in this article is to highlight the dilemma the recent crisis put me in, as well as the danger ahead if the State and Federal government did not take sincere and serious effort to bring a lasting solution to the problem.

 

I want to make it clear that I am not a politician and never dreamt of becoming one. Also, I am not a religious scholar, and I am not aspiring to become one. I tried to know my religion and practice it to the best of my knowledge. However, this write up emanate from the contemplation of the aftermath of the recent crisis as it relate to my future; as somebody who decided to become an academician for life.

 

From the look of things, a lot of damage has been done to the psyche of the people and their confidence shattered. Also, the seed of discord sown has grown into a tree, conspiracy theories are getting currency, and warfare propaganda in the media is in the making. Therefore, a lasting solution will certainly require a lot of sacrifice and compromise from both parties, as well as a systematic, sincere and longitudinal effort from both the State and Federal government.

 

For instance, the understanding now among the Hausa community in Jos, especially the youths, is that the government of Plateau State (not necessarily the people of Plateau State) has a systematic plan to exterminate them. Therefore, they consider it a duty bound on them to defend their lives, dignity and properties. What is more dangerous in my humble opinion in this trend is the fact that the elders now are finding it difficult to restrain these youths. Maybe this is because the youths now seem to be looking at the elders as either sold out, hopeless or ignorant of this grant plan by the state government.

 

 Although this might be a conspiracy theory, the utterances coming from government officials are definitely not helping matters. Of recent, in the midst of the crises (Tuesday, 2nd 2008), an interview was conducted with Mr. Dan Manjang, a special assistant to the Plateau State Governor, televised by the AIT (African Independent Television). Among many things, Mr. Manjang unequivocally stated that the first stage in finding the lasting solution to this crisis is for the Hausas to consider themselves as "settlers". This seems to be the stand of the Plateau State Government as it has been re-echoed and reiterated in many fora.

 

This stand highlights the fundamental difference between the warring parties.  While in one hand, the Hausas of Jos (Jasawa) see Jos as their "home" where there is no place like it, the Plateau State government on the other hand, is officially agitating that regardless of how long the Hausas stayed in Jos and their contribution to the origin and present development of the town, they have to understand and believe that they are "settlers". A corollary to this understanding is that regardless of their number and constitutional right as Nigerians, they are not qualified to contest for any political office, unless perhaps under extremely peculiar situation. In that interview, Mr. Manjang questioned, can I go to Lagos or Kano to contest for an election? Likewise, Plateau is for the Plateau people, he rhetorically concluded. Luckily enough the presenter cautioned him, that this stand is against the Nigerian constitution and that it is very much possible for him to contest election in any part of Nigeria since politics is a game of number. He gave example of Bola Tinubu, a two term governor of Lagos State, who is not a Lagosian. However, this did not seem to educate my honorable special assistant, as he regurgitates the same argument to the Daily Trust of 6th Dec. 2008. As a teacher, let me give Mr. Dan Manjang and any body interested in this subject matter a small assignment. Kindly find out the history and origin of the two former Nigeria head of states in person of Murtala and Abacha who were both officially indigenes of Kano state. You may wish to extend the same investigation to all the civilian governors of Kano State. I am sure you will be extremely amazed with your findings. Despite, they are not only considered indigenes, but were elected to the highest office in the State. This is because they have accepted to be members of that society and were able to convince people that they have something to offer to the development of the state. I give example of Kano state here because it is most instructive at this point in time.

 

As I am writing this article coincidently NTA Jos was televising a program on the history of Angas people. I was amazed to hear the old man saying that they originated from Maiduguri and now settled in the present day Plateau State. Similarly, I was told that Beroms came from Niger Republic, and settled in the present Plateau State. However, these are no more "settlers" but "indigenes". The questions then are who promoted these honorable tribes from "settlers" to the rank of "indigenes", when were they promoted and what were the criteria used? The answers to these questions will shed light on why Hausas remain "settlers" and what is required for them to be promoted to "indigenes".

 

My dilemma now is that I was born in Jos, Hausa by tribe without my consultation. My people will say, my umbilical cord is buried in Jos soil. By this, they meant I will remain naturally and permanently attached to the place. And this is true as I realized that whenever I said I am going back home, right inside me I meant Jos. I have worked and studied outside Nigeria for more than a decade. During this time, I have developed the capacity to tolerate many things due to the fact that I know I was a second class citizen. My concentration then was more on building myself academically and financially so as to go back "home" to benefit my people. However, on reaching "home", I realized that I am also a second class citizen. Yes, that is exactly what accepting to be a "settler" means to me, regardless of the technical meaning. And the implication of that to me is that my children could not get the indigene certificate, which means they are Nigerians with no State of origin or Local Government. But this means they could not get admission into any Nigerian university, and could not get any job either in the State or Federal as indigene certificate is required in all these places. 

 

I am in this dilemma not because I lack a place to go other than Jos. No! I am relatively a successful academician; successful in the sense that in addition to the terminal degree, I have satisfied all conditions to be a full professor in any Nigerian university in terms of publications and years of service. With this humble achievement, I have the option to move and work anywhere in the world. However, I decided to come back "home" and share these experiences with my people. Many people both at home and abroad faulted this decision, as they know what I have sacrificed and for what. Furthermore, I have the option of migrating to Canada, Australia, USA or any other developed and developing countries, but decided to come back "home" and contribute my quota. The driving force has been “some people have to sacrifice for others to survive”. Also, I thought with democracy in place, the tendency should be toward inclusion rather than exclusion. However, it appears that I did not take into cognizance of the fact that it takes USA more than 200 years of democracy to accept and elect African American as president. If this is the case, then I HAVE A DREAM!!!

 

Meanwhile, since I am a second class citizen globally, I then need to decide the best place to settle for the rest of my life. No need for any sacrifice. What is very clear in my mind is that there is no day or time that will come that I will even contemplate that I am not originally from Jos. Could that happen in a dream, then that must have been my worst nightmare in life. Now, should I decide to check out once again, my students are certainly going to miss me, and will I miss my mentorship dream? It has been my dream to become an academic mentor. Nevertheless, looking critically, I know that my dilemma is very minimal as I have many options as well as the international certificate of mobility – my academic records. But what about the teaming youths in Jos - who do not know any other place but Jos, and do not have the option of going anywhere, and could not see any future for them in the State or the Town? Should they consider utilizing the crisis as fertile ground to sow their grievances and quench their anger of hopelessness - who will take the blame?

 

So, there is an urgent need for all to put hands together so that a lasting solution is restored in Jos. In my humble opinion, the first step is to remove all suspicion from the minds of both sides. And all the conspiracy theories associated with the crises should be rendered false. I strongly believe that the non-Hausas indigenes of the State are also having their conspiracy theory that is giving them impetus to positively participate in the crises. This will require time, but it is necessary.

 

It should be noted that the economic situation and joblessness in the country is helping a lot in the crises. Those who positively participated in the crises from both sides are jobless youths, who were given a few thousands of naira to destroy billions of naira. That is why a lot of looting took place first before putting the house or shop on fire, in order to maximize their income. Do you think that for somebody who knows what it takes to build a house can set another persons house ablaze? Or a businessman that struggled hard to have his shop or business going can encourage anybody to burn other people shops? On the other hand, do you think a knowledgeable and religious person can go about or encourage others to burn any body's place of worship? Certainly NO!

 

Therefore, my prayer is that we have seen the end of the crises. But this is only possible if the State and Federal government have taken note of the gravity of the crises, and are sincerely ready to take every serious measure to bring the crises to an end. To do this, the perpetrators must be brought to book. This will restore confidence of the entire stake holders. Both parties must be fully involved in the deliberation, and both must be convinced of the sincerity of the measure taken. As I earlier mentioned, both parties must make some sacrifices and compromises in one way or the other for the restoration of the cherished peaceful coexistence. We must go back to history and see why and how our fore fathers managed to coexist peacefully for hundreds of years despite their differences. If I look back, the only thing they do not have is the budget and western education. Could that be the main cause of the misunderstanding?

 

My fear is for the State and Federal government to address the recent crises in the manner they seem to have done with the previous ones. That is to form various committees that will do the academic exercises: collect data, analyze, write report and submit. By the time the report is submitted to the appropriate government, the people have gone back to their normal businesses, and therefore, the implementation of the recommendations is suspended. If the same things happen this time around, then we might not have seen the end of this bad incidence. The consequence of that is not going to be easy for the country.  In this case, I can see the situation where the youth of both sides, with all their exuberance will hijack the mantle of leadership of their various communities, and the elders will not be able to restrain them. That might be the beginning of self determination. God forbid!!!

 

Long Live Jos!!!

Long Live Plateau State!!!

Long Live Nigeria!!!

In PEACE and Prosperity

 

Balarabe Yushau

Mathematics Lecturer

Remedial Department

University of Jos