|
Sir, Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation: Is There The Need? By Abbas A. Dikko
Saturday, October 17th, at least, over a month from today, a gathering of quite a number of northern personalities along-side identifiable few of their counter-part from the southern divide, converged at the historic city of Kaduna, the then headquarter of Northern-Nigeria that housed the principal subject of the August event, late Sir, Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunan-Sokoto and former premier of the region, for a foundation fund raising under the auspices of the 19 northern states governors. However, the occasion was successful with series of speeches and, an opening key note address that was good enough to have out-rightly change the face-lift and future of the north and its long before now devastated people, since after the slain hero was laid to rest, some 43 years ago, delivered by the Chairman of the conveners of the occasion, Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.
Other speakers too, added colour and glamour to the occasion but, the most extra-ordinary among the speeches was that delivered by revered Orator and elder-statesman, Alh. Yusuf Maitama Sule Dan-masanin-Kano. He in fact, captured it all, minimum words but, maximum wisdom. Later, the dice was cast, a whopping N5.4 billion was realized, though, far below the targeted figure of N20 billion. Here, one would want to add, if it were a presidential, political or 1st ladies NGO’s fund raising, the target would have been by far exceeded.
Dangote and host of his like, would have painted the occasion red, to tell one the attitudinal nature of our northern bourgeois, money can only be donated or contributed where return on investment in similar coin can only be reaped or a personal enterprise with substantial benefit accruable to self, immediate family and cronies, which hitherto, left the north continually underdeveloped and backward educationally, economically, socially as well, presently politically.
Beneficiaries of the Sardauna’s legacies that to date continue to rule and represent us in all aspects of our life as a people and a northerners are nothing but, gold diggers and collateral liabilities to our economy and moral values, equally, our 21st century generation and proponents, at one time or the other, of the ideals and values of the late Sir. Ahmadu Bello that today happens to be by omission or commission participants in the leadership of the day, have completely fallen apart with all his virtues.
At any given opportunity, pretence, deceit and deception, hiding under the cover of the man and his good work, became the key elements that constituted their action in statecraft. Process will be manipulated in order to continue to be de-charge-affairs, people’s property will be cornered and turned personal or recklessly misused, resources will be stolen in such an insane manner, all in an effort to establish personal business entity or political empire that is much far from his teachings and conduct. Hardly, any northern personality of the old or young that can be vouched for or seen to have replicated the core values, unrighteousness, religious tolerance, economic dexterity and political sagacity of the late premier, Sir. Ahmadu Bello.
Be that as it may, the memorial foundation fund raisin had taken place; people’s resources were donated by the 19 northern states governors contrary to appropriation bill or budgetary provision, an offence punishable by impeachment. Other individual donors too, have made their own contribution perhaps, fisabilillah or the inverse of that. However, what became evident, unfortunate and baffling after the ceremony was all these were done without a comprehensive and well articulated plan of action on ways and manners on how to utilize the proceeds. No Board of Trustees, National Working Committee and Subs and, no demarcated areas or sector where the fund will be expended, its time frame and likely benefits and beneficiaries until just the recent; a Technical committee was inaugurated to work-out a blue print and applicable modalities. Monies were just collected and banked, clearly indicating their inadequacies, shabbiness and always unprepared in spearheading people’s affairs.
However, a cross section of the larger segment of the northern society have expressed their contrary opinions that would have probably been the decision of the late premier, if he was a live today that he may not need any mega gathering for a foundation fund raising in his behalf. But, where it became necessary, I doubt, if it supposed to be the responsibility of any or all the 19 northern state governors that are already Sardaunas in their enclaves. All that is required of them is, to holistically and honestly emulate his virtues and values in the art of governing their states.
Championing such a fine cause, should have exclusively been the responsibility of an independent group, however, nobody stops them from making contribution in kind or cash but, directly from their hard-earned income like any other northerner rich/poor, not from an appropriated and budgeted resources of their people. I much believe, if he is to be a life today, he will have resisted and prohibited them from this unconstitutionality, religious immorality and social de-construction. He will have as well, been seriously disappointed by his protégés that have virtually benefited in their life time from his single-handedly and concerted effort and now, failed in totality to reciprocate in similar gesture.
Today, the north that was known to be at the fore-front of any serious national issue(s), has now been relegated to the background mainly because, those that took-over from them, have completely done away with all the good attributes of our founding fathers and replaced it with ego and selfish interest. Indeed, the north could be said to be educationally developed, economically strong and politically powerful but, within a select few individuals and, at personal level. Its mass population remains to date, educationally indolent, economically backward and politically weak and, nobody among the few privileged is/are willing to lead a just cause for a new north that can compete favourably with its counter, of the southern.
Could one imagine a governor of a small curve-out from the entire north that was Sardauna’s constituency and with all the quantum petro-naira and IGR at his disposal compared to merger agri-naira and jangali tax under Sardauna’s control and in this modern world compared to their Old Stone Age era, yet, late Sir Ahmadu Bello excelled in providing infrastructures and services that met present day standard and best acceptable practice the world over which, they disappointingly failed to sustain? Obviously, a clinical examination and reconstruction of our leadership virtues and values, religious morality and social tolerance, economic and political revivalism needs to be hastingly overhauled in order to save the north from farther drift. |