‘Palliatives’ is now household vocabulary in our dear motherland. It is also a brand new conduit or pipeline, if you may, for corrupt government officials to siphon public funds meant for the alleviation of the sufferings of the common man. It is now the most lucrative business where cash, food items and other measures and means of cushioning the bad times and its devastation on the suffered life of the poor Nigerian are traded.
Looting is no longer restricted to the TSA or other government coffers. It has been successfully transferred to the special purpose vehicles that were manufactured to deliver governmental support, directly into the hands of the common man. The last time any meaningful or significant impact any government programme had on the masses was perhaps back in the days of the poverty alleviation programmes of the Obasanjo era, of the Fourth Republic.
Terrorism, Covid 19, and hard economic policies, and their after shock-waves have been the three most prevalent driving factors that have caused for the initiation of various palliative measures that are meant to whittle down the toils of the average Nigerian. The economic hardships we face, and the bewilderment that Internally displaced persons found themselves in were meant to be managed to an appreciable degree. Alas nationwide we have witnessed very poor, lackadaisical and corruptive tendencies in the distribution of palliatives and cash advances, and even loans, targeting the destitute and the downtrodden.
The Endsars violent protests cum ‘insurrection’ that rocked the nation, exposed the heartlessness of government officials, especially in the states, where food items labeled covid palliatives, continued to be warehoused and hoarded. These were supposed to have been disbursed freely to the needy. In fact, back then, everyone needed it because Covid had crippled everyone. No income for businesses and no ‘chuwa-chuwa’ for civil servants.
Salaries were unpaid and even government was broke. Nigeria suffered economic depression twice in quick succession and the general pulse of the nation was that of poverty and depression. Schemes and policies were invented to get food and cash in the hands of the poor Nigerians who suffered it the most. Alas government officials pounced on them and cornered them mostly to their selfish gains. Millions were deprived for the self aggrandisement of a few. The looting was unprecedented and unbelievable. Ludicrous, to define it more appropriately.
Not all the states did this. Some of states did share the palliatives and in those cases, they weren’t just enough to cater for everyone. But there was sanity in the distribution and there was certainty in the processes. The federal government invented the table payments method where people lined up at designated centres provided by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The cash sent to accounts directly idea was eventually ‘corrupted’ and details of individuals and their bank numbers were merely warehoused as databases, but the cash transferred to these supposed beneficiaries were few and far between.
A shining example worthy of recognition and commendation is the Zulum methodology of hosting programmes in the rural areas where the food items and other palliative means, are displayed for all to see. Some are even packaged and lined up like a primary or secondary school assembly or mosque prayer service, with neatly spaced rows and columns. The numbers are clear for all to see, and the food items are there to be distributed.
The entire process is transparent and not fraught with sharp practices. The silver lining of it all is that Governor Babagana Zulum is there himself to not only witness the distribution but to partake in it. Sometimes you can even spot him with a whip to whip round trippers in line. His excellency got drenched in sweat like a labourer and he is toiling physically like a proper public servant.
Sometimes HE is in the filling stations trying to sort out the fuel scarcity hardships and to tackle the hoarders of petroleum products especially PMS. Some may view him as being too exuberant but the truth is, Nigerians and Nigeria as a whole not only need a hands-on approach, but a hands-on with iron hands. Even the recipients of the palliatives are enmeshed in the same corruptive tendencies of their tenders. All this HE does, not minding the harsh terroristic climate of Borno state, especially in the rural areas. Today, he is in Bama, tomorrow he is in Konduga, spending the night sharing food, clothes and money. I am sure the terrorists are dumbfounded by his approach and his nerve.
Lately, there have been reports that Zulum has shared over N36 million to corpers in his state, along with cows and bags of food – 100 bags of rice, 10 bags of beans, 10 cows and several gallons of cooking oil, to be precise. There are over 1200 corp members in Borno state and each of them is to get N30,000. He said that their accounts would be credited as soon as their account numbers are forwarded to him. Nigerians call it ‘Talk and do’.
It means that he is not handing over the money to anyone, but he will police it and make sure the 1,215 corpers get their stipend. It means no one will embezzle their monies, neither would they have to negotiate out a token from their cash before they are credited. He enjoined them to be law abiding and to get out there and build friendships with people from this part of the country, for a more prosperous and united Nigeria. Borno is having its first NYSC camp orientation after a 13-year suspension period due to the insecurity crises of the state.
I ran into Zulum when he visited his friend, Senator Abu Kyari, CON, at his new office, when he resumed as the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. Kyari, ofcourse, was the nominee from Borno state. Zulum was there to support Kyari as he assumed office, and as he received briefings from the ministry’s officials. Zulum accompanied Kyari to the reception organised in honor of Kyari and thereafter followed him home. He was more humble than we see or hear from dailies and TV programmes that have updated us about Zulum The Phenomenon.
Surely, Vice president Kashim Shettima left Borno with the most valuable and priceless gift any governor can give his people. I am almost certain that this has been one of the blessings that has followed the amiable vice president to where he is today. Kyari was also Shettima’s chief of staff in 2011. For what it’s worth, Zulum stands out and is being celebrated nationwide. It is more than pictures and media coverage; It is actual and factual – The Zulum Phenomenon. May we have more Zulums across the states, amen.
Tahir is Talban Bauchi.
