The former Central Bank Governor, and Emir of Kano His Royal
Highness Muhammadu Sanusi the second , surprised guests present at the Muson
Centre for the launching of the book of Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, recently in Lagos. Excerpts:
“Let me start by saying that I am Fulani (laughter). My
grandfather was an Emir also fulani my uncle and guardian was also the
immediate late Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero and therefore I represent all
that has been talked about this afternoon. Sir Ajayi has written a book. And
like all Nigerians of his generation, he has written in the language of his
generation.
“My grandfather was a Northerner, I am a Nigerian. The
problem with this country is that in 2009, we speak in the language of 1953.
Sir Olaniwun can be forgiven for the way he spoke, but I cannot forgive people
of my generation speaking in that language.
“Let us go into this issue because there are so many myths
that are being bandied around. Before colonialism, there was nothing like
Northern Nigeria, Before the Sokoto Jihad, there was nothing like the Sokoto
caliphate. The man from Kano regard himself as bakane. The man from Zaria was
bazazzage. The man from Katsina was bakatsine. The kingdoms were at war with
each other. They were Hausas, they were Muslims, they were killing each other.
“The Yoruba were Ijebu, Owo, Ijesha, Akoko, Egba. When did
they become one? When did the North become one? You have the Sokoto Caliphate
that brought every person from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom.
They now said it was a Muslim North.
“The Colonialists came, put that together and said it is now
called the Northern Nigeria. Do you know what happened? Our grand fathers were
able to transform to being Northerners. We have not been able to transform to
being Nigerians. The fault is ours.
Tell me, how many governors has South West produced after
Awolowo that are role models of leadership? How many governors has the East
produced like Nnamdi Azikiwe that can be role models of leadership? How Many
governors in the Niger Delta are role models of leadership? Tell me. There is
no evidence statistically that any part of this country has produced good
leaders.
You talk about Babangida and the problems of our economy.
Who were the people in charge of the economy during Babangida era? Olu Falae,
Kalu Idika Kalu. What state are they from in the North?
“We started the banking reform; the first thing I heard was
that in Urobo land, there will be a curse of the ancestors. I said they
(ancestors) would not answer. They said why? I said how many factories did Ibru
build in Urobo land? So, why will the ancestors of the Urobo people support
her?
“We talk ethnicity when it pleases us. It is hypocrisy. You
said elections were rigged in 1959, Obasanjo and Maurice Iwu rigged election in
2007. Was it a Southern thing? It was not. “The problem is: everywhere in this
country, there is one Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and Itshekiri man whose concern is how
to get his hands on the pile and how much he can steal.
Whether it is in the military or in the civilian government,
they sit down, they eat together. In fact, the constitution says there must be
a minister from every state.
“So, anybody that is still preaching that the problem of
Nigeria is Yoruba or Hausa or Fulani, he does not love Nigeria. The problem
with Nigeria is that a group of people from each and every ethnic tribe is very
selfish. The poverty that is found in Maiduguri is even worse than any poverty
that you find in any part of the South.
The British came for 60 years and Sir Ajayi talked about few
numbers of graduates in the North (two as at independence). What he did not say
was that there was a documented policy of the British when they came that the
Northerner should not be educated. It was documented. It was British colonial
policy. I have the document. I have published articles on it. That if you
educate the Northerner you will produce progressive Muslim intellectuals of the
type we have in Egypt and India. So, do not educate them. It was documented.
And you say they love us (North) more than the south.
“I have spent the better part of my life to fight and Dr.
(Reuben) Abati knows it. Yes, my grandfather was an Emir. Why was I in the
pro-democracy movement fighting for June 12? Is (Moshood) Abiola from Kano? Why
am I a founding director of the Kudirat Initiative for Nigerian Development
(KIND)?
“There are good Yoruba people, good Igbo people, good Fulani
people, good Nigerians and there are bad people everywhere. That is the truth.
“Stop talking about dividing Nigeria because we are not the most populous
country in the world. We have all the resources that make it easy to make one
united great Nigeria. It is better if we are united than to divide it.
“Every time you talk about division, when you restructure,
do you know what will happen? In Delta Area, the people in Warri will say
Agbor, you don’t have oil. When was the Niger Delta constructed as a political
entity? Ten years ago, the Itshekiris were fighting the Urobos. Isn’t that what
was happening? Now they have become Niger Delta because they have found oil.
After, it will be, if you do not have oil in your village then you cannot share
our resources.
“There is no country in the world where resources are found
in everybody’s hamlet. But people have leaders and they said if you have this
geography and if we are one state, then we have a responsibility for making
sure that the people who belong to this country have a good nature.
“So, why don’t you talk about; we don’t have infrastructure,
we don’t have education, we don’t have health. We are still talking about
Fulani. Is it the Fulani cattle rearer or is anybody saying there is no poverty
among the Fulani?”
LESSONS FROM THIS MESSAGE
Tribalism is not our problem. Tribalism and religion are
artificial problems created by selfish leaders for their own personal interest.
There are only two major tribes in Nigeria. The Elites and
the Masses. Once you make lots of money, you belong to the elite tribe. When
you are a commoner or suffering, you belong to the tribe of the masses. If you
are an elite, and you need more power, or elective position, you sow seeds of
tribalism and religion among the masses, so as to sway their emotion for your
personal victory. This happens at both the national and state level.
Unfortunately, after the election when they have won and joined their “sworn
enemies” to drink and party, the gullible masses continue to fight each other.
Even smart people who belong to the masses, sometimes will
sow seeds of tribalism and religion among the masses, and then the masses will
carry them up until they belong to the elite class. It is a classic strategy used over 3000 years
ago in the art of war. A commoner who aspires to sit with the elites, could
stir up powerful tribal or religious sentiments, such wave if properly utilized
either by shedding blood or destabilizing the elites, carries the commoner to
the elite class. But once there, he immediately mingles and makes peace with the
elite tribe, and turn his back on the same masses that helped him get there.
Youths are the worst victim of this powerplay, they kill
each other, call other tribes unprintable names, do terrible things and
sometimes, even lose their life, thinking they are fighting for their right,
not knowing that they are fighting for the personal welfare of someone, whose
own children are probably safe in America or London.
So youths, don’t hope on the government. If you don’t have a
job, create one. There is abject poverty in the south as well as the north,
whether Ogoni or Maidugri. At the same time, there is massive wealth in Lagos,
Onitsha, Nnewi, Aba, Kano, Abuja, irrespective of zone.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it well and never remain
idle. No job is too low for an idle hand, or else the devil will find work for
you. As you become independent, and grow your capacity, do not lose hope in
Nigeria. We are the largest economy in Africa and soon the world will fear us.
Western powers, don’t like big economies that threaten them, America will do
anything to break China, but China is wise to resist that. China has 1.6
billion people, we have only 170 million, and we are talking of breaking.
China has 5 major religions which are Buddhism,
Confucianism, Taoism, Islam and Christianity. Nigeria has only 2 major
religions, Christianity and Islam. Yet we claim that religion is our problem.
America, the strongest economy is comprised of every tribe
in the world, since they accept anybody from any part of the world. Yet they
are united and extremely patriotic. Nigeria has only 3 major tribes, and we
claim tribalism.
Think clearly and deeply, and you will realize that
empowering yourself is the best course of action, not fighting each other. And
once the youths are empowered, they can begin to take back their future from
the hands of the old and corrupt generation that has been blinding Nigerians
with hatred, while looting all her resources. Sani Abacha’s loot is still
stashed away in Switzerland, did he use it to develop the north? Those that
stole billions under GEJ stashed it away in foreign banks, bought expensive
toys, jets and foreign homes, are they using it to develop the south? Now the
ones stealing currently, including the “grasscutters”, are looking for Ikoyi
apartments, abandoned houses, and pit toilets to hide it, are they using it for
the youths in their tribe? NO!
Youths shine your eyes! Don’t always fall for this tribal,
religious sentiments over and over again. Nigeria is bigger than these corrupt elites.
They are the problem, not the poor masses.
Courtesy: Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II
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