Individuals and Projects Developiment
By
Wada Nas
Being
remark by Alhaji Wada Nas on an occasion
organized by Joint Association of Zamfara North Indigenes in honour of the
Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, His Excellency Alh. Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi on
May 11th 2002 at Kaura Namoda.
I am profoundly grateful to His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Alhji Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi, on whose behalf we are here today, for considering me to be the chairman of this occasion. I honestly do not know why he considered me fit for this important and significant assignment.
I refer to this occasion very significant because of its orientation. In my letter of invitation, it is stated that His Excellency would launch the “Mamuda Shinkafi Foundation” which would engage in various developmental projects in the areas of education and healthcare within the zone and beyond”.
This touches on the heart of the major problems facing our country today but especially the Northern States. And this is the issue of education. It is a serious problem. It is pathetic that the Northern States, put together, have no school enrolment equal to two states in the South. And this is inspite of our higher population figure. To make matters worse, some states, in the North, hardly produce 10% pass in the necessary examination for entry in to higher institutions. The situation is worse in the North Western part of the country to which Zamfara belongs.
We all know the consequences of the situation. Presently the North constitutes just about 28% of the total Federal Workforce, even as it has about 52% of the population. This is where we have been really marginalizing ourselves.
As a further consequence, we have lost all leverages of power in the country. We don’t have the educational power, the economic power, the political power, the military power and such other areas of power relation.
I want you to take a look at this situation, as it is today. The Chiefs of Army and Naval staff respectively, the Directors General, State Security Service, SSS, and the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, the Inspector General Police and the Comptrollers General of immigration are headed by our brothers from South. Of the two Naval commands, non is headed by us. Of the five divisions of the Army, we are incharge of only one; and of the three or so in the Airforce, we are also incharge of only one. Other strategic staff position in these services are mostly not headed by our own people.
If we reflect very seriously on this anomaly and its consequences for our federation and corporate existence, we cannot but lament that should we allow this to continue, by ignoring the issue of education, we may remain a “conquered” people within the Nigerian Federation in the years ahead.
How many of our boys are in the armed services, not just as officers but as ordinary solders? How many of them are in the police? It is very important for us to produce the required candidates to fill our quotas in all our military and police training institutions for us to enjoy the fruits of balanced federation. And the way to do this is to engage in a massive educational program and thereafter encourage our children to join the armed and the paramilitary services. We must embark on this as a deliberate policy. Our leaders must ensure that not only do we fill our quotas in these and other educational institutions but also play a significant role in the public service in accordance with our population.
One way to achieve this is to integrate the almajiri system into our educational system. Zamfara State is in a unique position to show the light here, having taken the courage to fight for the religious right of the people within the Nigerian constitution and most of us are proud of this endeavour. When our children, roaming the streets, grow up in future, with no job to do, our society may be worse for it.
I have it on good authority that the Zamfara State government has been doing everything possible to make good use of the almajiri system of learning to promote and advance secular education in the state, and I call on all other Northern States, with significant Muslims population, to emulate this good job.
Governments of Northern States should embark on massive campaign to enlighten our people on the need to send their children to school and ensure that significant percentage of their budgets are allocated to education.
The adult education classes of old have helped considerably in the past and should therefore be re-introduced. This should go hand in hand with providing facilities for the acquisition of skills in various trades such as carpentry, block making, mechanic, tailoring and such others, which are all part of education.
As we are backward in education, so are we equally backward in health facilities and such other social services.
What the situation presents today is that government cannot shoulder these responsibilities alone. Individuals must, therefore, come in to provide private services in these areas. If we notice carefully, most of the private educational institutions we have in various states today are not owned by our people. The same with private clinics and other health services. We must do everything humanly possible to reverse this trend. Put differently, individuals and groups should pool their resources together to engage in the provision of these services for the good of our people.
This is where the Mamuda Shinkafi Foundation comes in. To me, this is a practical identification by a committed leader to the needs of his people and is prepared to contribute his quota towards assisting them. His Excellency the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi, has by this foundation, demonstrated the qualities expected of a people oriented leader.
Leaders who identify with the problems of their people and who look towards assisting them are those qualified to be called true leaders of men. Alhaji Mamuda is one of them and we pray that in the years ahead, the Almighty Allah would give him the opportunity to offer more of such services not just to the people of his zone and state but Nigeria as a whole.
For this foundation to be successful, let trusted people be nominated to man it, for the good of those for which it was designed. Let those who would be appointed discharge their duty with the fear of Allah in mind.
What this Foundation further demonstrates is that the people of Zamfara made an excellent choice in 1999 by electing leaders who identify with the aspiration of the people. Zamfara State, through its combination of leadership, has demonstrated to the world that Shari’a Law could be applied in a multi-religious society without offending the sensibilities of non-Muslims. This is no small contribution to the search for staying and living together as brothers and friends in our differences. Such differences must not allow us deny anybody his own right. Zamfara state, under the commendable leadership of Yeriman Bakura and Dallatu Shinkafi, have put a lie to the claims that the violent riots which have been occurring else where were religiously inspired. If it is true, why haven’t such riots occurred in Zamfara?
Having identified with the aspiration of the people, my prayer is that the good people of Zamfara know the right thing to do when yet another opportunity comes to elect leaders to manage their affairs for the next four years. The consolidation of the achievements recorded so far should be paramount in deciding where their votes go next year.
At the national level, it is important to elect only those who have your interests at heart and would treat you equally with other Nigerians allowing you your own rights as others are also allowed theirs. After all, democracy is about electing those who would be able to improve your welfare, protect you as a citizen, promote your own interests, within the larger society but without undermining those of others; accord you equal rights as other citizens and such other things that would advance and promote your cause within the limit of the constitution and in accordance with the principles of equity and fairness to all, regardless of ethnic or religious differences.
Many would be coming to you to buy your conscience with money. This would certainly be happening. Whether you will take the money or not, vote only men of integrity and those that would guarantee all Nigerians their rights without favour. You should be guided by the principle of justice and fairness to all in casting your votes for candidates of your choice. People with honesty, integrity and human kindness are those to whom you should give your votes when the time comes. You should constantly bear this in mind.
Your Excellency, Alhaji Mamuda Shinkafi, I am proud to say that I have never heard of any quarrel between you and your governor as has been happening elsewhere. I pray this would continue to be the case and may your stars shine after your joints ticket expires after another term. Allah is the guidance of the future. Let us pray to him for your future success and also the success of the programme you have set for yourself. Let us pray for a peace and prosperous Nigeria
Wassalam