It has been discovered that Nigerian politicians have already now formed adapted the habit, theory or policy of “Divide and rule”. It’s a theory that whereby a leader, especially political leaders, divide the attention of some of their followers or men in other to do as they wish so that their people wouldn’t know what exactly is happening or where exactly they’re heading to.
This theory is mostly practiced by rulers not leaders. This is because leaders are meant to be kind, tolerant, fair, just and compassionate towards their people because they knew well how their people sacrificed their lives, resources and energy just to ensure that they emerge victorious at the polls. On the other hand, rulers do not care to look at the aforementioned.
The National Honour that President Muhammadu Buhari presented or conferred on some Nigerians and foreigners on 11th October, 2022 was uncalled for and untimely at this point. But to some it is a worthy of acknowledgement, because it has promoted or added value to the affected people.
Time and space will not allow me to mention all the names of the awardees and to congratulate them for attaining this height. Nonetheless, they should put it at the back of their minds that I am part of those who jubilated and was excited for their success, because this is a status that every citizen is hoping to get.
Ideally, before a oresident issues or makes such decision, he should make sure that there is no work that need his urgent attention at the time, because National Honours should be issued when the country is calm, but here it seems to be different from what’s known to us or supposed to be done.
Northern Nigeria is a region blessed with enormous resources. The people are blessed with many creativity, the land is blessed. One way or the other, the country itself is depending on the region in terms of agriculture and other natural endowments. The north comprises 19 states and three geopolitical regions, namely, North-west, North-east and North-central.
Since the inception of this administration up till now, the North has the key positions or top national positions, they as follows:- Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Minister of Education, Minister of Power, Minister of Finance, Minister of Communition and Digital Economy, the President of the Nigerian Senate, among many more, yet the North has nothing to show for it.
We have been battling with the issue of Insecurity, hunger/poverty, out of school children, economic problems, illiteracy and other things. Nothing has been done to address these problems and the administration is about to quit and I doubt if government can do anything reasonable at this point.
This national honour has a secret and hidden agenda, if not it would have been given to some prominent and patriotic citizens, but sadly it was issued to some isolated people.
For the fact that some Muslim northerners or scholars were among of those honoured and to the best of my knowledge, experience and ability they deserve to be elevated to such level, but still we are imperiled.
Forget about the expansion of the ministry of communition, establishment of some tertiary institutions and the appointment of some northerners at the national level. These are nothing to us since it didn’t yield any positive result to us. The North has been bleeding, basic amenities are becoming too difficult to afford, but Mr President was busy presenting something that didn’t add anything to our wellbeing.
Now back to the status quo, whenever I am opportune to be the President Commander in Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will definitely present national honour to well deserving Nigerians, but my process would be quite different from that of President Buhari. Before going to that extent I will make sure that I did the right thing at the right time.
Instead of applauding Mr President and his principal officers for honouring some of our workaholic and giant citizens, we should have gathered ourselves and think of how to get out from the state of being quagmire, because if care is not taken at the end of this administration we’ll all go back to square one, whereby northerners would be given only few and less strategic national positions.
Abubakar Muhammad Sani,
Kaduna, Kaduna state
[email protected]
