“The function of truth is to bring to light the hidden facts, to set them into relation with each other and make a picture of reality on which men can act.” – Walter Lippman.
A lot of reputable literature has been produced for the past seven years. It is all about the transformation agenda. The ultimate goal is to bring to limelight the new picture of reality on which we have been acting. There are numerous writers about Jigawa State scheme of affairs. They have been acting on the scale of truth and reality. They are transmitting the good news that the state is now a force to be reckoned with. Their writings share thematic similarities albeit they differ in styles. Their trustworthy literature is absolutely revealing, persuasive and informative.
Even the doubting Thomases are left with no option other than to attest to the fact that the truth is laid bare and nobody can deny it. Those who make fruitless efforts to dispute the fact about Jigawa have always been at the receiving end. What these writers emphasise is striking a huge imbalance between yesterday with its attendant abnormalities and today with its promising moments. Tomorrow which is another indispensible time is not emphasised. This leads to the question of what will be the fate of Jigawa when her modern architect steps down next year. Again, what will be the state of Governor Sule Lamido’s legacies? And above all, who can step into the shoes of Lamido?
The new literature must be capable of knocking on our door as we are deeply sleeping under the development comfort provided by Lamido. It should knock hard as though it is telling us to wake up, reflect, think and act on how not to allow the reactionary elements assume full control. Any mistake will be the greatest mistake of our life and posterity will curse us. The literature should be like a barking dog to scare away the politically undesirables and opportunists from contesting the governorship race. It must be a call of saving the future because the present is secured. The new literature must take a clue from the aftermath of the French Revolution when an important movement of artists and writers called the Romantic
Movement emerged. The writers of Romanticism broke away from the past traditions of writing and embraced a specific range of subject matter and attitude of the age. For instance, they shifted from traditionalism to modernism, from general to particular, from convention to revolt.
Similarly, this new literature should be philosophised on the basis of the right to dividends of democracy as provided by Lamido. It must search, discover and define who can succed Lamido. It should emphasise the juxtaposing of Abraham Lincoln that for every selfish politician there is a dedicated leader. It is my cogent conviction that this new literature is worth trying. The writers of this brand literature have to rise up and hoist the banner of Jigawa against the selfish interest of the unjingoistic elements who will move the Heaven and the earth to render the state developmentally invalid. For the sake of safeguarding Lamido’s laudable achievements and prosperity, this is the new literature Jigawa deserves for the meantime.
By Abdu Abdullahi,
Government Unity Secondary School,
Ringim, Jigawa State