Between 1970s and 1980s, some ideological forces pervaded the world and triggered it highly explosive. Also, within that provocative epoch was the cold war ascending its highest zenith.
In Africa, the Southern Africa was agitating for freedom. Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Zimbabwe and the obnoxious apartheid also featured as the dominant themes for liberation movements. From Africa through Asia to the Middle East and Latin America, there were pronounced protests and resistance against the onslaught of neo-colonisation and imperialism, the modus operandi of the Western and Eastern Powers, imposed on Africa and the Third World to remain developmentally stagnant.
In Nigeria, the dissident voice of Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman joined the formidable vanguard for a justice-oriented world. It was very popular, echoing with indepth velocity, particularly expressing its resentment of the political repression and economic enslavement of developing countries. It was the unmistaken voice of the voiceless and the oppressed, within Nigeria and beyond. It was the ideological sermon of an unrepentant radical with a huge difference, whose original mind never allowed him to go into ‘intellectual recession’. In other words, his selfless and unwavering struggles explored some universal undertones.
By that time, the roll call of who was who in the campuses for the revolutionary movement also included Professor Ali Mazrui, Professor Yolamu Barongo, the indefatigable Okot a P’itek and Ocello Oculi, refugees from Idi Amin and Obote’s regimes. There were also Yusuf Bangura, AB Zack Williams, Dr. Patrick Wilmot who was later deported by the Babangida regime.The camp of these radicals vehemently opposed the then prevalent military despotism across Africa.
Dr. Bala had assiduously lived for the defenceless in a world torn apart between the oppressed and the oppressors, between the exploited and the exploiters, between the ruled and the rulers, between the haves and the havenots. The difficult decision he had to undertake to execute his ‘freedom’ war was what critics refered to as committing a’ class suicide’. Dr. Usman was a royalty by birth but chose to shun the ‘noble’ class by championing the aspirations of the downtrodden.
An untiring messenger for people’s redemption, he gallantly endured organised blackmailings and labellings such as teaching what he was not paid to teach, extremist, blah, blah, blah to weaken his insurmountable spirit attaining its highest proportion. Nevertheless, he always grew stronger in the wake of unconstructive criticisms. Yet, his major and sub themes were constantly defining and re-defining the deplorable state of our living. He was capable of creating a radical movement that inspired many university students, peasants, middle class members but was eventually a victim of a failed revolution.
When Dr. Bala Usman phenomenon was holding sway at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, he converted and elevated knowledge to a living organism that promoted human progress. The preferred knowledge of Dr. Bala was basically functional for overhauling the dysfunctional society. He was faithful to his struggle, unmindful of the fury of the powers that be, possessed by a revivalist dogma for an egalitarian society.
A conference organised by the EFCC saw former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the chief guest. Dr. Bala was also present. It was dramatic as he lampooned Obasanjo’s leadership- centric- governance. Expectedly, Obasanjo could not condone anyone disagreeing with him. He ordered his security goons to seize the microphone from Dr. Bala. Unfortunately for Obasanjo, they could not over power him. Bala was over 6 feet tall, standing with the microphone in a large gathering that composed of the high and mighty elements of Nigeria.
Dr. Usman’s scholarly prowess deserves a particular extolling here. A researcher from overseas, Michael Watts, the author of ‘Silent Violence: Food, Famine and Peasantry in Northern Nigeria’ had every cause to acknowledge Dr. Bala’s significant contributions to his studies. He said, ” I arrived in Nigeria-in many respects embarrassingly unprepared……In Northern Nigeria and in Zaria in particular, I was forced to confront the shallowness of my own agenda. This took the form of reading the extra- ordinary historical and political writings of Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman….”
Troubled by the recurring election violences as a destructive culture of our democracy, he lamented that such violences were always sparked off by the desire to rig election results. To drive home his deep concerns, he gathered 40 relevant materials within a week and edited them into a book titled, ” Election Violences in Nigeria: The terrible experiences, 1952-2002″, with the cover illustrated by the drawing of a tornado, serving as a warning signal to the Nigerian political elite. Researchers on election violences in Nigeria after Dr. Bala’s demise can refer to this work to update us with the current election upheavals in Nigeria.
Remembering Dr. Bala remains inconclusive without a reference to his famous book, ” The Manipulation of Religion in Nigeria”. It exposes the religious hypocrisy of the political elite as a strategy for power control. Also, refer to his deepened thinking on the theme, ” Violent Ethnic Conflicts in Nigeria: Beyond the Myths and Mystifications.” It is bereft of distortions and misrepresentations of facts. The educative material was published in the Analysis Magazine of February 2003.
In a glowing tribute to Dr. Bala, Dr. Alkassim Abba aptly captures his holistic life, ” Where, and how, do you begin a tribute to this colossus of an intellectual, this illustrious teachers’ teacher; this frontline warrior for unity, independence and progress of the peoples of Nigeria, Africa and the Third World; this formidable enemy of oppressors, local and foreign; this untiring fighter for social justice and against corruption in all forms; this fountain of inspiration to all Nigerian patriots.”?
Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman departed to the great beyond on 24th September, 2005; a critical time when we desperately needed him for his persistent agitations to free humanity from bondage. May his soul rest in peace!
Abdullahi writes from
Ringim,
Jigawa state via
07036207998
