The Triumph of an Anniversary
By
Paul Mamza
The Serous Thoughts column
of Hotline Magazine is exactly a
year old but is rather cultivating fresh challenges. Hotline
and North which is a set-pace of April 8th, 2001 was more or
less a mission statement aimed at repositioning the magazine
towards new hopes and aspirations. "Hotline" said the column,
"has been consistent in pursuing the ideals of the general interest
of the northerners, deriving its report in the strength from
truth, no matter whose ox is gored". The column made a strong
case for interest groups in North especially the Arewa Consultative
Forum (ACF) to assist in the process of strengthening Northern
Media. OBJ: Out to Betray Justice of May 13th, 2001 narrated
the ordeals of Lt. General Victor Malu, the sacked Chief of
Army Staff during the present political dispensation, the column
related Malu's misfortunes to "Abacha's henchmen" travails vis-à-vis
the arrest and detention of Rt. General Ishaya Bamaiyi, Major
Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Police Commissioner James Danbaba,
Col. Jibril Bala Yakubu and Alhaji Mohammed Abacha amongst others.
The article enumerated a classic demonstration of the injustices
experienced in the recent times. The serious thoughts column
of May 20th, 2001 entitled A Toast for Fifth Dimension is a
representation on the concept of marginalization as it relates
to Nigeria using the different variables to prove that marginalization
is more of class than ethnicity, regionalism or religious considerations.
North must unite of May 27, 2001 is an article aimed at a call
for the unification of the North. With its massive population
and diverse nature, the "North" according the column "must
unite"
and that "Hypocrisy or no hypocrisy, suspicion or no suspicion
the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) - an umbrella body for all
northerners and all the Northern governors forum with all its
limitations and short comings (if any) remains and will remain
the authentic voice and the dream of the North". Two years
of misfortune of June 3rd, 2001 is an objective assessment of
the two years of democratic rule, raising questions on the reason
for any celebration at all, even after the long rein of military
dictatorship and the column concluded that Nigerians are yet
to be relieved of dictatorial traits in the new dispensation
which consequently made hunger, insecurity, disunity and lack
of direction/focus to be persistent. The June 10th, 2001 edition
the Abacha I Know was a reaction to the blackmails mounted on
the Late Head of State "the Abacha I know" according to the
column "is compassionate, kind, visionary, decisive, firm, resolute,
a good economic manger, a patriot, a professional soldier, a
compatriot, a God-fearing and devout Muslim and an epitome of
discipline". OBJ: On Blot Journey of June 17th 2001 is a call
for an attitudinal change by our leaders in attempts to effect
changes in our political system, "Weak people and nations" according
to the article "should avoid these Blot Journeys because it
is a journey not worthwhile. However, in order to overcome
such hurdle is to rediscover yourself for renewed determination
and hopes without owning up for the crimes of your 'Grand fathers'".
It concluded that "the Obasanjo government needs to redouble
its efforts in order to regain its image from the two wasted
years to its leadership. Its performance in the next one year
will be a determinant for re-election".
A special article which is a tribute to the late head of state,
General Sani Abacha entitled Were Abacha Alive of June 24th,
2001 summarised the activities that may occur if General Abacha
were alive and sighted a betrayal of friendship by his former
colleagues. "A returning General Sani Abacha" said the column
"would have been bemused by the betrayal of friendship by his
so-called friends and lieutenants who were always showing compassion
and respect for him while he was alive". My Prayer of July
1st, 2001 is a rejoinder to an outburst by an official of government
on the rumours of a political coup by 'Abacha elements'. The
column categorically stated that "changes - whether biologically
or politically, with coup or without coup is necessary to cleanse
the nation of its infuriating mystery". In order to highlight
the disadvantages of the concept of power shift, No More Power
Shift of July 8th 2001 gave an overview of the imbalances created
by the concept earlier conceived to bring about balance. "If
power shift was introduced due to political power imbalance,
a vital and fervour permutation will have offered rationality
to correct the economic and bureaucratic power imbalance" said
the column. Senseless but ceaseless talks of July 15th 2001
is a stocktaking of the permutations the elites used as weak
points for the exploitation of the system. OBJ: One Big Joker
of July 22nd 2001 enumerated the disappointments the nation
and its people experienced during the Obasanjo's second coming.
"there's no living figure amongst the true military mind-set"
according to the column "can boast of better credentials than
Olusegun as at the time of his invitation for second coming".
"But two years after the deliverance of a well conceived thought
by the military power brass" said the column "It seems the chickens
are coming home to roost". The July 29th 2001 edition entitled
North's New Ordeals narrated the exploitation of the weak points
of the Northern Nigeria by political enemies both within the
region and outside it aimed at making it irrelevant in the political
scene and offered advices for all stake holders. Back to Basics
of August 5th, 2001 is a master piece that is carefully designed
to sensitize the leadership on the basic components of responsive
leadership model. About conceptualization of this model the
column concluded that "No matter the complexities and inadequacies
of a system, discipline offers a promising loci for the fight
against corruption". Philosophical statements are common features
of the serious thoughts column but OBJ: Operating Blurred Jeremiads
of August 12th, 2001 give a new dimension to the tradition by
introducing parables. The column emphasized that "the only
achievement of the two years of democracy which apparently became
the greatest since independence is that a conman had finally
exposed the atrocities of the tribe of conmen without allowing
the activities of these conmen been outlawed".
The portrait of a civilian dictator of August 19th 2001 give
a graphic representation of an assuming dictatorial tendencies
of the Obasanjo government. The Igbos have been the traditional
allies of the North in terms of political orientations and hence
the column alarmed the ethnic group (Igbo) on the activities
of some elements which are likely to alter the point of the
equilibrium of these forces. Ndigbo please Flog' Nzeribe of
August 26th 2001 offers these advices in its great details.
Narrating at the background the great roles the Igbos had played
in the past and the challenges they are likely to face in future.
The New Afenifere 'Dance' of September 2nd 2001 is a response
to the meeting of the supposedly reconciliation between the
Yoruba socio-political group with the representative of the
Gamji Forum. The column cautioned such haphazard marriages
on grounds of the past antecedents of the Afenifere group whose
position had always being anti-North. OBJ: Ordering bugle Jack
Pot of September 9th 2001 studied the "No vacancy in Aso Rock
by 2003" statement made by a prominent member of the Obasanjo's
cabinet in person of Chief Tony Anenih, the Minister of Works
and Housing relating it with the emerging distractions by political
contractors. The column cautioned that "No civilized form of
democracy will ever accommodate such embryonic portent of electoral
ferocity and blatant display of art of soldering in politics,
where results of elections were declared even before the conduct
of elections. The creeping war of succession had already been
disguised as campaigns bristling with mischief and miscreancy".
The Oputa panel sittings to revisit the past human right abuses
came but the non-appearances of the former past heads of state
showed that the present government lack the ability to enforce
rule of law (if any). The worst form of isolation of September
16th 2001 explained why it is so. A vacuous vagary of November
4th, 2001 condemned the government intentions to use the national
ID card as a precondition for election and canvassed for the
need to register new political parties. "That is why the two
issues (National ID cards and registration of new parties) needs
to be given due reconsideration by the Obasanjo government in
order to carry the general feelings of the majority of the Nigerian
political set-ups. Any contrary decision against these feelings
will exasperate the populace to take redress through political
and legal means" the column advised. Injustices@Nigeria.com
of November 11th 2001 related the travails of General Ishaya
Bamaiyi, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Alhaji Mohammed Abacha and
co. against the soft-glove handling of Dr. Federick Fasheun
and Mr. Ganiyu Adams of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and
concluded that there is no justice in Nigeria again due to blatant
display of selectivity in the dispensation of Justice. The
September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre
in America attracted much discourse. A Meretricious show of
November 19th 2001 is one of such discourse that tried to proof
equality of human race. "with this" said the column "It is
certain that no nation, tribe, race or people can boast with
firm assurance that its current triumphant features or vanquished
status has a permanent locus to engender dislocations amongst
the entire human race". Sunset in a Benighted Behemoth of December
2nd 2001 is a present and future forecasting of the political
problems of the nation (Nigeria). The column emphasized that
"instead of attending to the pressing problems in the country,
our leaders always engage in fascinating globe-trotting and
replying its followers either on internet or other means of
communication form abroad. To make matters worse, the unpopular
foreign policies adopted by the government like the conditionalities
of the International Monitory Fund (IMF) and World Bank has
further aggravated the already bad situation". The Tiv-Jukun
riots is not new what is new of recent is government's diatribe
in handling the crisis. Barbarity versus Brutality of December
9th 2001 is denouncement of both the actions of the Tiv-militiamen
and government reactions. "If government cannot stop the Benue
massacre of the nineteen soldiers on patriotic duty" said the
column "government can at least avoid the unpatriotic destruction
of lives and property by its soldiers whose role is to protect
rather than destroy". The 2003 Phenomenon of December 16th 2001
is a predictive analysis of 2003 elections. The column reasoned
that the hopeless mismatch between the history and concept of
politics in Nigeria resulted in self-fulfilling prophecies by
leaders. According the column. "the 2003 phenomenon will
expectedly
portray the rise and fall of an interplay concordat conspiracy
amongst the political elite and the divergence of interest amongst
the ruled segments of the society". In order to capture the
possibilities it said "What happens in the 2003 elections will
either mark the beginning of a genuine attempt at breaking from
the historic jinx of a failed nation and its statesmanship
toward rejuvenation or mark the height of political and economic
bankruptcy leading to the ultimate demise of the state and its
organs". ABU'S SBRS: A Re-invention of December 24th 2001 is
piece meant to explain the reason behind the re-introduction
of the School of Basic and Remedial Studies in A.B.U. "the school"
according to the column "is intended to provide a solid foundation
for re-inventing education in Northern Nigerian in particular
and Nigeria in general". Vengeance does not have a place in
the Christian faith. But the arrest and detention of General
Bamaiyi and co. by the Obasanjo government for two years leaves
much to be desired especially a President that is seen to have
repented after prison experiences. A Christmas Gift for Mr President
of December 30th 2001 is the column's advice to the President
to temper justice with mercy and release these political detainees.
The Bungling burden of History of January 2nd, 2002 is a highlight
on the double-standard by the Media in reporting events and
personalities. As a force in the consolidation of democratic
ideals the column noted that "the press in the country is presently
making a veritable fool of themselves. Rather than use the
ample opportunity of circumstances to offer a panacea for the
reinforcement of our nascent democracy" the column continued
that "they (press) turn the platform into a stage for dramatic
and sentimental reporting of events not reflective of the people.
This act had enabled to propel the pomposities and fatuities
of leaders triumph against the wishes of its led". Sucking
the Blood of the suckers of February 11th 2002 is a quantification
of the state of degeneration affecting even the leaders. The
death of Chief Bola Ige the former Attorney General and Minister
of Justice due to the Osun political crisis is an indicative
force. The column noted that "While the nation is searching
for a model of civilized leadership, the depressing banal amidst
the internal workings of the government had placed the gears
at a reverse". Leaders-in-Transit of February 25th 2002 assessed
the potential effects of turbulence in the polity as the nation
approaches the 2003 election. "As daring as the circumstances
manifest into devastating consequences" said the column "so
is our 'leaders-in-transit' appetite to translate national interest
into personal interest". The electoral act controversies gave
rise to delay in the promulgation of the electoral law. Still,
on the Electoral Act forgery of March 17th 2002 raises fresh
questions about the controversies. "This quizzical disconsolation
act" said the column "had a dark irony that none of the figures
involved in the forgery has been punished for these aborted
devastating and deadly apolitical racketeering". The Bashing
President of March 24th, 2002 summarised the abusive statements
of the President in the recent times. The column concluded
that "The political offensive similar to the one the President
has started mounting on discerning voices is setting a permanent
reproach in our democratic order to the in ability of the nation
to rise above the very conditions of its possibilities". No
electoral law, No election come 2003 of March 31st 2002 asked
valuable questions that needs urgent answers in the aftermath
of the inclusion of infamous controversial clause 80 (1) in
the electoral act. The column asked that "was the inclusion
deliberately made to delay the initiation of a genuine democratic
process by buying time in order to disallow the appearance
on the political stage of an opposition? Can any amendment
or otherwise of the electoral bill serve any good purpose considering
the lapses in time?". The column concluded that any manipulation
in the next election should be resisted through political and
legal means. Violence as a weapon for power of sixth April,
2002 provided some explanations for the persistence of violence
during politicking. The recent experience in Gombe during the
PDP rally involving the Minister of State, power and steel Mal.
Mamza wrote in from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria