2023, Electoral Act and Beyond

2023, ELECTORAL ACT AND BEYOND 

By

Ahmad Murtala

The political arena has been divided into two demarcating lines of views between the bill endorsers who are the large proportion of the populace, and those who concede to the frivolous excuses made by the executive arm of government both state and the federal. The bill aims to amend the obsolete part of 2010 electoral act and review the party primaries and the electronic result transmission to ensure transparency, shun rigging which would suppress violence, the President kept under the carpet until the thirty days ultimatum elapsed and yet not assented.

The reasons given by the executive majorly revolve around the financial burden, security challenge, and the high-rigging tendency—this incongruous absurdity subdues the Nigerian profile before the international community. On what basis then are the Nigerian arm forces established if we cannot secure our internal and domestic sovereignty ? How have we, all this while,  sufficiently conducted general elections without a security threat since 1999 ? When it's a by-election of states across the country, the army of police is always stashed in those states no matter how the threat is in security. 

There was an embargo placed on rice importation alongside other items in the dawn of this administration, on the ground to boost and encourage the use of local content. This policies sometimes are not carefully reviewed—at the long run, turning our detrimental to our own selves.The argument that direct primaries beg for whack amount of fund to conduct is, dangling on air without ground because, going by the use of local content, all the electoral materials need could be made locally and this would create money circulation within the country and jack up the IGRs. By the way, what democracy meant for people if they cannot elect their flag bearers—how much would it cost to develop a voting-system software to vote electronically ?

It's preposterous to say electronic result transmission is delicate to rigging in the E-era. While people rely conveniently to the financial institutions that their accounts are safe and cannot be intruded by scammers, implementing the voting software in Nigeria remains the mystery to be implemented; and to stand shoulder to shoulder with economic powers as the giant in Africa that represents Africans in the global center-table. Even the strongest political parties in Nigeria have 'situation rooms' observing the happenings before the collation to the INEC—unless if we prefer rigging to select than elect subverting the voice of the people we would say electronic election is not workable. It's been done everywhere it can be done here on the same page.

A clause from the response submitted to the NASS by the president concerning 'vote buying' which leaves me ponder "The direct implication of institutionalizing only direct primaries is the aggravated of over-monetization of the process as there will be much more people a contestant needs to reach out"… is that a back up to every contestant to increase the amount he is to spend before he emerges the flag bearer, with all the security personnel, we cannot device a means to shun vote buying in election ?  This argument does not hold water. The clause continues "thereby further fuelling corruption and abuse of office by incumbent contestants who may resort to public resources" where are the EFCC and ICPC ? a big slap on the giant of Africa.

The premium price we pay in running the presidential system of government, stretching appropriation across tiers both federal and state more than two decades does not rise one side of the nose, now the price of democracy which are primarily security and election—to conduct primaries which its retribution would later be determined when the system produces the feasible leaders and stabilizes the country is now making pages of the newspapers. What then is the ground for democracy that cannot sponsor a free and fair election from the party level ?

Muhammadu Buhari, who enjoyed the portion of reshuffled made on electoral processes by introducing the 'card reader' device in 2014,  he is allegedly lured by the state governors not to assent the bill leaving a thorn in the flesh of the people's will. Some senators who signed to override the veto power are now making the u-turn. A democracy that is determined by godfatherism is made a caricature and castrates the system—unable to produce trustworthy leaders, plunging from one anarchy to another. 

If a few delegates are kept gulping from the candidate's coffers to decide the fate of a million people, compare the amount to be spent by that same candidate to buy the general public through vote buying. The stand that direct primaries would fuel corruption is an assertion to mean the opposite, the indirect primaries was and is still fuelling corruption and undermines democracy where few decide for the rest.

The admiration and confidence people have for Buhari and this administration is fading away, as it becomes apparent that the will to bring an end to insecurity is lagging, counting down to the sunset of his stay in the villa, the ball is now at his court to write a golden legacy— this is what people yearn for initially before buying the idea to elect him in, swaying against their wish would save for the posterity to judge alongside the security and ties between North and South. 

The personal reputation he's built as a leader who never steals from the national purse, that reputation would dent later if this stone is left unturned by leaving the Aso Rock Villa in 2023. The retribution is underway which would haunt—it's like a pupil who unknowingly answers a question in a philosophical manner  "when would you resume school ?" "The day we would resume" he was certain that the day was coming and uncertain when it was. We are certain the nemesis would strike but uncertain when, since the enclosed idea is to form a chamber of retired governors in the senate chamber.

CAN ASUU CEASE TO EXIST ?

CAN ASUU CEASE TO EXIST ?

Academic Staff Union Of University has been in struggle for more than 4 decades after being banned and proscribed by the then 'military government' on the dice to obtain Fair Wages, University Autonomy. As they keep reaching unfulfilled agreements, so the demands grow, then comes the revitalization of rotted structures and the age of retirement, still raised and unfulfilled, then the IPPIS--did ASUU ask for much ?

It is said that political activist gets active when s/he has no power at hand, Muhammadu Buhari for instance won the election on the platter of three agendas: economy, corruption, insecurity; and when he won for the second term, he reiterated his stand on Education, that he would be prioritizing the sector adding more allocation to the sector; knowing that a deplorable education in place and the plans to achieve national goals is seen as delusion in a country of few educated individuals.

On assuming the mantle of power, Buhari appointed cabinets, offering Adamu Adamu an 'educational activist' ministry of education as portfolio. One begins to wonder, was it not the same Adamu Adamu who said in his column titles 'Why ASUU Is Always On Strike' on 15 Nov 2013 "This nation owes a debt of gratitude to ASUU and the strike should not be called off until the government accepts to do—and does—what is required. This is why ASUU is always on strike". And now he is saddled with the responsibility to ensure he clears the ground for FG and Nigerian students because, back then he knew ASUU was not working for their purses alone, what then changes the narrative ?

The argument that ASUU members should dive into politics so that if they grab power, they would pave the ground for smooth running for tertiary institutions. Adamu before was conferred the presidential power, he had the vivid understanding of the ASUU demands; from the paltry budgetary allocation, earned allowances, Revitalization request etc…  but on assuming duty, he wore a dark eye glass setting aside and leave ASUU to fight alone, he has tested this prove to be abortive. 

Government from its side insists that an employer cannot dictate how he should be paid. Thereby introducing the IPPIS that every employer must enroll in the system--which ASUU raised an alarm that the system left out much of its incentives and developed its own UTAS. This is a derogatory impression to the academic field---if tertiary education is taken with the seriousness it deserves; to negotiate on the ground of payments depicts that government is showcasing high level of incompetence from the negotiators representing the government.

The strike is the last resort ASUU finds working to drag the government's attention, which parents and students see as a deliberate attempt to subvert their academic progress on the one hand and a subterranean method to establish private universities on the other. This of course draws the demarcation line between the elite [political class], the middle class and the common man, each taking its position on affordable tertiary education, the elites who are political class going abroad on the taxpayers money, middle class enrolling in private universities both which have a smooth ride with no interruption and the common man in public universities leaving them at the mercy of ASUU for annual academic interruption.  

Every agreement reached between ASUU and FG, ASUU is always at the pardon end, it considers the white promises made by the government and the outcry from the public domain and resumes strikes. This has always been the tradition. The last ASUU strike that accumulated a whole academic session in 2020 as if there was no government in the country which FG paid no concern upon until the EndSars crisis that scare the Government's attention to call the ASUU on the negotiating table, that was the maneuver used by government on seeing the turmoil that was about to strike, ASUU still accepted and conditionally called off strike which till today government has not fulfilled its own part.

The strike does not make any impact any longer, students are at the receiving end of the strike unleashment. Since the children of the political class are not in the system and pay no attention to the condition on the ground, this megalomaniac tendency is only exercised when in power. What is now left for ASUU is to brainstorm and put forth another medium to call the government to action or ASUU should cease to exist ? 

A student opinion at the North East ASUU zonal hearing held in Gombe State University in 2020, which was later published by TheNation newspaper. After listening to the steps by steps of moves made by ASUU before reaching to the peak which is strike, the student proffered that, it appears the government delegations are not feeding back to Mr President the outcome of any meeting held, both Education minister and Labour minister are sabotaging the whole process.

He then stated, if ASUU should draft its own demands and submit to the first-class traditional rulers in the country, the likes of Alaafin of Oyo, Oni Of Ife, Alake of Egba, Olu of Warri, Obi of Onitsha, Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Kano and Zazzau and the Mai Borno since they are the chancellors of those universities and there wouldn't be a barricade if they wish to see the President. As the popular Yoruba saying, 'if heaven does not descend down to meet Muhammed, then Muhammed would ascend to meet heaven. They should meet him and  submit those requests to him. Since He pledged to prioritize education, here are the demands.

This whole dancing forth and back that the government is making jest of, is tantamount to playing with the future of the country and the unborn generation who are meeting a rickety system of the sector that pays no value to the outcome of such retribution. Primary and Secondary sectors have decayed already barely producing daft graduates which tertiary institutions have taken the same route, leaving ASUU alone to fight this struggle who have lost strength to withstand this government attitude, is uncalled for, all hands must be on deck to revive and safe education from falling apart.

Ahmad Murtala

Ahmadmurtala43@gmail.com

Subsidy and Transport Grant Are Not The Topic

SUBSIDY AND TRANSPORT GRANT ARE NOT THE TOPIC 

The words close to the tongue of every Nigerian since the 'advice in command' was given by the International Monetary Fund IMF on the total removal of fuel subsidy and the increase in electricity tariff come 2022 rises anguish tones, every commentator from the working class and those whose their minimum wage is yet to be implemented by many state governments. But is that the utmost topic of discussion ?

Let's shift the ground back to the drawing table and assess where it all began.

When Nigeria experienced the oil boom, oil was refined with national refineries on a volume that quenched the national need here with a lot of excess for export. Having a lot of lucrative profit attached, many investors forsook other profitable ventures for Oil, as I mentioned in my previous column, 'Vat Jamboree and The Collective Way Out' thereby the spring up of filling stations on highways like a motel makes the sector more competitive. The ineptitude of the government to sustain the oil production by allowing the refineries to wreck necessitated that we export crude oil and import the refined one, which a common man cannot afford unless subsidised. Reviving all the refineries by all means to ensure we exterminate the parasitic corruption in subsidizing fuel will clear half of the mess we are catapulted into today.

One year after Babangida seized power, National Economic Emergency was declared, given two options: enduring the hardship by citizens or taking the loan offer from IMF which people subscribed to the former than taking the loan knowing the retribution that may follow. The Babangida regime succumbed to the lures of IMF, thereon, Nigeria planted the seed of loan and it kept soaring, becoming a burden on our neck, a Structural Adjustment Program was introduced again that strangulated the country to where it is today, a battle field that no iota of victory ahead.

The national budget over the years is significantly irrelevant to the need at the top hierarchical priority, we spend more on debt servicing and non debt-recurrent expenditure than capital projects. On that terrain we came, and funds for those capital projects found their route to the coffers of the loot, buried in soakaways and over-head tanks, making the national engine to jerk. When evaluating the budget performance on every quarter, the result is always shameful to present, a project  of 6 months time span taking a whole tenure sometimes uncompleted. 

Having a cluster of issues which are interrelated, the sky-to-ground gap of salary between the average Teacher in the classroom, the Doctor in the hospital and political class, which only God knows how that share came to being. Converting it to dollars, is far richer than their counterpart in neighbouring countries placing them top-paid politicians in the world. This is where the wealth is running through, wringing the sweat of ordinary civil servants who do not assess loans but paying indirectly for the few. This contributed to the imbalance and necessitates the borrowing to maintain the status quo. Can't the salaries of these politicians reduce as a calculation attributed to former emir of Kano Sanusi, to employ more graduates and reduce the loan gulping ?

We have the largest gas reserve deposit in Africa competing with Russia, but untapped, which can be used to generate power for more than 100yrs. We possess all it takes to exploit it, alongside other resources. Resorting to a loan and debt servicing degrades the Nigerian dignity before the UN. In September this year at UNGA, Muhammadu Buhari, lobbied for the debt service extension and outright cancellation, which his colleagues the Ghanian President Nana Akufo-Addo presented contrary, how long can we carry the begging bowl to sustain as a giant of Africa ?

When inflation and hike find a couch to settle down in the midst of teeming youths who are provoked already with the system, viewing their success hindered by the political class, the same system proposing increment in PMS which would affect all the commodities and services, making life more arduous, halting at this moment for them to heave out the nascent anguish and thrive more is more welcoming than enforcing the law against them, which the flame of EndSars is still smoking. Now two options at hand, adherence to the 'advice in command' of the IMF who panders behind to see the country dwarfing, or the looming catastrophe of another EndSars ? we shouldn't plug the beehive naked. 

If the government can place embargo on rice importation, which sprang up rice mill plants across the country and accumulate quite number of youths creating employment, giving positive result in the economy--then the excuse that we must induce loan to fund critical infrastructure only came out of political will at the expense of the upcoming generations who are totally innocent with a burden of debt and intrusion in the economic policies of the country.

With the Dangote refinery in Lagos almost 80% completion, which will meet the country's entire domestic fuel demand. As the government proposes a new hard price, is that a sweep-before-coming to meet a clear ground for the company or Dangote would sell at 165 per litre since it's domestically refined ?

The trust deficit of transparency as who are the indigents to qualify for the transport grant having the prior experience of all the government interventions during the lockdown, the hoarding of palliatives is one issue, and the duration to which the grant would last is another, which both do not have ground in 2022 budget, now which is which ?

The danger that is lurking at dusk of this adminstration especially on the slack of security; the Boko Haram in the NorthEast, the Banditry across the NorthWest, the IPOB in the SouthEast, all proscribed as 'terrorist' and the angry youths on every street. Any economic policy that would add up to the rack in their psyche is highly advised to avoid, people are counting, from the increment in VAT, Electricity, Gas, Fuel that directly affect their well being, making the resting shades more warming. Once the people are pressed to the extreme edge, they return forcefully and face the danger since there is no hope ahead. God forbid !

Ahmad Murtala

Ahmadmurtala43@gmail.com

JUMB BAIL AND ANOTHER REQUEST

BAIL JUMP AND ANOTHER REQUEST 

It may become unbearable for someone like a president receiving in audience the elder statesmen for something that is quite impossible perhaps legally frowned at and fragile to the well being and security of the nation, purposely for the pardoning the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra Kanu in the state house. It's quite flabbergasting by all and sundry sightings of such statesmen converging towards the Seat Of Power having the knowledge of what transpired between the group and the Nigerian state. This raises enormous questions that need to be properly drawn by the statesmen and answered before heading to the State House.

There has been over the pages of history activists across the world fighting for the freedom of their people on a peaceful and legitimate stance, Mahatma Gandhi of India, and Mandela of South Africa, worth mentioning in this regard. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the self-acclaimed IPOB leader who has a cross-national identity, created the movement in 2014 which goes contrary to the attainment of freedom of Biafra on legitimate stance. propagating via Radio Biafra: incitement, conspiracy, public disturbance, who was quoted on 15 September 2015 in Los Angeles at the World Igbo Congress to have said to the audience "we need guns and we need bullets" as a guest speaker.

This call, plus the radio broadcast from the UK which ignited the militancy group which resembles the kind in the South South during Ya'a Adua: attacking high-profiled personalities, in the SE alongside security personnel, burning down government establishments, hoisting Biafran flag which led to his arrest on 15 October 2015 in Lagos. His arrest stirred up a massive protest in Abuja, SE and SS, after too much court trial he was released on bail, and jumped bail and fled to the UK and continued instigating from there, which led to the formation of Eastern Security Network.

Later the Senator Abaribe who signed his bail withdrew from the agreement that the Nigerian Army did not adhere to the condition in which the bail was granted, on the invasion of Kanu's residence, which Kanu became a free man on his own 'half-exile' since he has the UK Nationality.

The president's response  “You’ve made an extremely difficult demand on me as a leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years, since I became President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary. When Kanu jumped bail, got arrested and was brought back to Nigeria, I said the best thing was to subject him to the system. Let him make his case in court, instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from outside. I will consider your demand, but it is a heavy one" is superficial in the administrative language. The pragmatics within is quite ambiguous in its interpretation.

Mr President has trapped himself in a seemingly promise which perhaps if interpreted, he expressed such to recognise the highly reputable Igbo elders. If the constitution and the rule of law could be subverted on a premise of the African stereotype of 'respect for elders' as it's being done when a child offends, elders would go on his behalf and lobby, then that is a tradition where no rule governing the system. This is a matter of constitution and rule of law once interfered and tempered with, the system becomes a white paper on which people draw their sentiments.

Igbo people are now in a dark tunnel with hooks. When Kanu began his agitation, even if there was a voice from the so-called Igbo elders to call him to order, the voice was low; they were pandering from behind, surreptitious consensus endorsing what he was calling for. That is to say he was given trial-and-error tactics and they released a trigger on their legs. As he was apprehended again, he still has a powerful voice to command the ESN to raid and maim individuals subduing the economy of the region on the sit-at-home order plunging to fair and despair.

For the Igbo elders to request his release 'unconditionally'  pragmatically means "give us our Biafra". The President has stated his stand, he has never interfered in Judicial proceedings, Zakzaky was granted bail, Sambo Dasuki, etc.. there was no presidential intrusion, then why this, why Igbo Elders are scared of free trial and justice on their son ?

Mr President said the implication of their request is very serious, quite weighty it would transgress to anarchy once the law is subverted, the president of course has a power to do but has no right to exercise such power. Here is a man who was granted a bail and he jumped it, facing a treason and terrorism charges, how sure is the country that if such a request is granted again, a leopard will change its hole ?

The amnesty program granted in the past to the South South militants, plus the Boko Haram rehabilitation and deradicalization program situated in two different geo-political zones were just a cursory of the whole idea, the pretension has not yielded a desired result. This of course opens the crack door to which a set of groups of people would go to the seat of power to lobby. The ball is now at the President's court to decide on his legacy he is writing on the surface of history, as his tenure elapsing heading to its sunset, a tough decision that will determine if the right of the citizens who lost their lives during this mayhem, the citizens who received the unleashed catastrophe would be recompensed and if releasing Kanu would end the whole jamboree on the ground and restore peace. 

Ahmad Murtala

Ahmadmurtala43@gmail.com

271121

When Two Same Strategies Collide

WHEN THE TWO SAME STRATEGIES COLLIDE 

The half-baked democracy we imported into the country has given every state the chance to domesticate its politics, which every state can be analysed based on norms built in that state. Gombe state for instance since 1999 its politics is being played based on welfarism and infrastructural development. However, this came with a price we pay in thuggery which is squarely known as Kalare.

When Danjuma Goje came to power in 2003, Gombe state witnessed a rapid growth, (a new dawn) ranging from human capital development, infrastructure; touching Education, Health, Agriculture, Road networks there then Gombe proudly wore a garment of jewel in the savanna. For a government that meant inclusion to all and sundry, those who were not privileged to attend school, found a negative side of government, they were set across the streets and major wards in Gombe, labelled as 'Goje Boys' providing them with sound-system equipments, an ultra modern speakers alongside three loader stereo and a standby generators playing political songs, sang for their master smoking weeds thinking that they have arrived.

Power is the bus stop of human needs. When power is attained, without free-will and total freedom, it becomes absurd to the beholder. One needs support to win elections no matter how powerful, so did Goje, he sought support from within and outside Gombe that helped his success. Atiku Abubakar was once his helper in this regard. The stupor of power will never allow its beholder to listen in denigration to the person who helped him, this has been happening since time immemorial. Between Goje and Atiku we saw it, likewise between Dankwambo and Goje, now Inuwa Yahaya and Goje. But why is Goje always there ?

Danjuma Goje has become a father in Gombe state politics, having a kind of dynasty established, Inuwa Yahaya is a product of that establishment and the likes of Habu Mu'azu, Usman Bello, Dasuki name them. Without doubt, a dynasty can never reign for life; it must elapse by force or by choice, which many people find it imperative for Goje to resign in pride rather than elapse in shame. The battle line that was drawn within APC disconnecting Goje and his allies from teller of government, and the affront of Habu Mu'azu in Deba on the person of Danjuma Goje projects that to retire is best for his reputation.

This nascent hope that Goje will succeed the National Party Chairman of APC to face the 2023 general election still reignites the jamboree and makes the seat of power warm and more borborygmus which is hoping to get reelected.

The myrmidons that were formed as symbolic supporters of the then government in 2003 transformed and became demons within Gombe, unleashing destruction and mayhem in every election, local or national, throughout the tenure. A security squad was set Anti-Kalare to contain the new normal of the youths wedging the spread, until the succeeded government of Dankwambo came that initiated a scheme under social investment program to integrate them in the society on monthly stipend termed as Marshal.

Every government prefers its social investment program, especially when the new government does not share the same party with the elapsing one, Inuwa Yahaya scrapped the Marshal without setting any getting to three years, which translates to a blockage in welfarism, (a core in the pillars). This raises one side of the people's nose questioning the no-face to its core in its domestic politics.

The karma always strikes perhaps most a times in a harsh way, Goje was invited to a wedding inside the capital city where he was the number one citizen a decade ago, in the same area where he allegedly labelled as the 'Boko Haram hideout' the ward that is termed as breeder of Kalare Boys. The mobilization of the boys came as a surprise even before Goje's flight touched the ground a few hours earlier, giving the impression that something bad was about to strike in the heart of the town. Goje's entourage was raided, allegedly ganged up by the APC youth leader in the state who was since arrested immediately after the raid. It gave Goje a tough time to navigate through the town to his house in Pantami, which many people questioned why he traversed through Jekadafari when a road to his house is spread along Government House which is more secure and short.

After the quench in the mayhem, the commissioner of information came on radio lamenting the incident, issuing a warning to any individual on no account for incitement in the state. This can be attested that Inuwa Yahaya will never succumb to slack in security when he went straight to Billiri from Abuja to address the elders after the crisis of enthronement of Mai Tangale. With the instant arrest of APC youth leader, and the press released by the commissioner, the Inuwa's words in government house advising the new commissioner of youth to gather 'matasa da kayan aiki' and what apparently transpired that people witnessed, it became very flummox as to which side the mobilization of the hoodlums came from.

With the presence of opposition party in the state serving as a lion in the den, alongside the intra-crisis in APC, and the two core norms of welfarism and capital project of the state politics, getting reelected at this time of hot atmosphere depends on the work done on the ground so far and the smile on the people's face through welfarism, not on a thuggery and scaring the opposition party or electorates; we've witnessed this before and we would not buy the same idea again. Remember, so long as this willy-nilly of welfarism is in our vein, the development we cherish most is at stake, we are at the brink of losing our self-worth in the unique way of running our politics that makes Gombe State a 'Primus Inter Pares' from its state mates across the country.

Ahmadmurtala43@gmail.com

The former Emir or the14th which is which

THE FORMER EMIR OR THE 14TH WHICH IS WHICH

It takes strong courage for one to fight and sprinkle on the intrinsic ego for what he cherished most based on established motive he has, perhaps solely can be interpreted by the individual alone to satiate the unquenchable thirst. Honorifics in most African societies is what people go far to pay for, therefore answering unnecessary traditional titles which adds literally nothing but occupying the name space on columns. In Yoruba culture for instance, an elderly person is addressed with "plural pronoun" to show respect, which is not in Hausa, English and most of the languages in the world, with this diversity in cultures where some 'pronouns' may be offensive and derogatory, it is normal in other cultural hemispheres.

In a cruel society, to speak against injustice one is taking his position at his own peril, for one to attain "first class emir" in such kind of society, it begs for zipping the lips off, which may become very arduous for an educated emir like Sanusi, one is to choose between the position he cherished most or speak against injustice, which posterity would later unfold the karma behind the scene and be vindicated.

The adjective 'former' has in one way or the other no derogative or offensive connotation, unless if subjected to ridiculing an individual perhaps in this context which is farfetched not close to that intention, since the chief of staff apologised almost immediately. The adjective is all encompassing which presupposes and acknowledges the Emirship and the position held in the past and to mean the subject is alive which is best to be used than the 14th which only restricted to chronology. 

To say, 'the 14th' is questionable, for historical antecedent shows that Sanusi is not the 14th emir of Kano unless if we are to count from this Dabo dynasty that was established in 1819 to date. 

Now assuming in the same context, from another region, who they may probably not share the same culture and political ideologies, if such adjective is used to intimidate, will that be a reason to sue one to court ? 

The address term mostly tagged on politicians in office or out of office is practically entail the position held, mostly a flag-bearer is addressed 'honorable' even before the poll and after the poll, either won or lost. Senator for instance, remains with the tag through out his lifetime. However, if the same senator who is not in office, the adjective 'former' is best used to clear the cloud as which period did he hold the position. Now if such individual insists on maintaining the title without having intrinsic affirmation of him being former definitely the mirage needs to be sterilised in the conscience, for, traditional titles which are not first class title like Sarki, Waziri, etc can be revoked once the subject is dethroned.

It's delusional and hallucinating for something which has gone forever and for one to hangs his mind upon, history always repeats itself most a time a replication of what had happened in the past like we see in this case. To let go is to accept defeat,  unless if Sanusi Lamido Sanusi still stashes hope that he will win at court and be enthroned again, which is a clear delusion.

Traditionally, a deposed king, is sent on exile and caged, mostly like a house arrest, so that his personality and the reputatation he might have built would be respected. In this case, Sanusi enjoys freedom due to democratic setting plus the intimacy between him and his friend Kaduna state governor. He was appointed as the Chancellor of Kaduna State University, after being appointed as chairman of Kaduna Economic council, all these came as a recompense for the scar that has already become a keloid in the mind. I begin to wonder if the support he is receiving today from his friend as a sitting governor would sustain when Nasiru became 'former' governor in Kaduna.

The swarm of followers he has across both within and outside Nigeria were perplexed and unable to interpret the motive for such stand. It's on this note that those who dig deeper to exhume the reason and affirm the stand as the 14th concluded that in Hausa Language, a dethroned king is addressed as 'Sarki Mai Murabus'. Still on the logical inference, to use the 'former' adjective is more welcoming and respectful than this Hausa clause, literary means 'voluntarily resign' which was contrary to what happened in March 2020.

After all no position can be held forever, we either leave the position or the position leaves us. We shouldn't go far to cross beyond the boundaries of capacity, the position we held, yesterday or today is lent to us for a period of time, when the time elapses we depart the position by all means, through all the vocabs we have. As one philosopher would say, "when titles, profiles, positions, status are taken away, we are human beigns".

AHMAD MURTALA

161021

Pandoras Paper Let's Learn from China

PANDORA'S PAPER, LET'S LEARN FROM CHINA

There has been a leak of world leaders surreptitiously hoarding  and starching funds offshore saving for their retirements leaving the tax payers agape at the mercy of their sweat to earn living, Atiku Bagudu is not left out of the list.

Bagudu particularly, has a track of smelly record since the Sani Abacha's regime--who was alleged to have looted $2.2b.(Abacha Loot)  Bagudu and his associates again, embezzled, misappropriated and extorted millions of dollars from the government of Nigeria and others, then laundered their criminal proceeds through U.S. financial institutions and the purchase of bonds backed by the United States.

Governments across the countries have initiated the panel of investigation on government officials whose their names appended on the list. Sri Lanka for example, UAE. This spells out the seriousness of those countries to curtail the endemic that is wedging the smooth ride of the developing country, which Nigeria is yet to draft out the workable and realistic institution to exterminate corruption.

When we declare war on corruption and there are those whose belly smell of corruption shield up and immune under the constitution for being a sitting governor or deputy, yet our loggerheads can't brazenly tell us that we are not yet arrived. Only when such impunity is scratched off from every public official, then we can say we are paving the way.

As I was scrolling on the names from the list, anticipating to see much names from China, my finger was able to reach one Chinese billionaire Du Shuanghua, left me wonder, why is only one person, are all Chinese government officials, business men, head of agencies saint ?

Chinese adopted elimination for any individual found guilty, this method has foster to clear the cloud for any aspiring politician to know the fate awaiting him if commits such crime. On the other hand, Nigeria established EFCC to serve as political dog, for chasing any opponent who may likely give headache for government. This can never yield a positive result if the purpose is blur-sincered.

The question of who is to prosecute the list found in Nigeria and Bagudu particularly still becomes a bone inside a neck. The Attorney General and the EFCC boss all hail from the same state with Bagudu. Therefore who is chasing who, when the attorney is aspiring for the state governor. The official statement from the presidency vested the power to the office of the attorney general, now we are to halt the procession for the incumbent to strip off from the immune garment, which only God knows when.

Bagudu, was on the "plea bargain" agreement. During Obasanjo's administration, it was later found that, the money stashed on that agreement is much more that the amount that was entered into the agreement with, this happened virtually in the subsequent administration, which portrayed the laxity in the agreement, a cover-up kind of all this while.

Corruption is receiving pampered treatment, and has become capillary in every institution, and MDAs-- waging war against it is an arduous task, between life and death, this government that came on that notion, has shown its impotent in the war, its associates enjoying the government grandeur. They are full of mud in their fingers, we only crave for a government that will treat corruption in the language its deserves, learning from China.

We must adopt the same method of execution, setting certain amount that if individual found embezzling should be deleted. The karma of corruption is seen in the spread of insecurity and shortage of foodstuff, the earlier the batter, to avert the looming anarchy that is about to strike the country. 

Ahmad Murtala

Ahmadmurtala43@gmail.com

091021

Nigeria @60 A glimpse to the past and the future prospect

NIGERIA @ 61 A GLIMPSE TO THE PAST AND THE FUTURE PROSPECTS.

Every page across the media outlets of individual handles or pages of established institutions carry a portion of independence jingle throughout the week bestriding September and October of every year, with the substance of lamentation from the vast majority, only the few and deep intellectuals appraise the achievements of the entity called 'Nigeria' so far recorded in the past 6 decades.

Every entity worthy of value attracts angels and evils among humans, the former looking at the good aspects of it and retracting blessings for the betterment of humanity and the latter for the otherwise. Nigeria is abundantly blessed, which one are we mentioning, the population which constitutes the commercial potentiality, the agric sector or the mineral resources name it.

The country which up till today is yet to exploit its potentialities in terms of natural resources, is seen as rich with a rag caftan, only needs to reshuffle the ramshackle that wedges its progress over the years. This is a country that witnessed the free meals for university students, a country that it's currency outweighed dollar, and pound sterling, a country that its rails were working, a country that produced food items in large quantity for export, a country that attracted foreigners for a good working condition, a country that was seen as the future super power, a country that held a promise for the black race. What then happened along the line that cracked the wall ?

Of course, this kind of good fortune bestowed on the surface and beneath the soil will attract angels and evils. Evils ranging from coup d'etat, Political assassination, civil war, colonialism, slavery among other demonic retrogressive phenomena, along side angels like Tafawa Balewa Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello Sardauna, Oil boom, factories, valued currency and food security. 

The misfortune began immediately after Nigerian lost the sense of patriotism in their DNAs yearning for what the country will offer, a liability kind of with a parasitic behaviour. Then corruption ensued that slacked every working system the country had, walking on a walking tone of one-step forward two-steps backward.

The entity that holds a promise for a large number of individuals still exhibiting a nonchalant attitude that makes the future blur, needs to wake up in terms of the share in national wealth. Given what belongs to Caesar to Caesar. If there should be deficit and meager pay to a working class it shouldn't be a Teacher or a Doctor, or Security personnel.

Nigeria holds promise for the black race, the green-white-green flag on the sky which depicts peace and resilience. The first line of the national anthem calling for a 'rise', the hymn of the anthem stirs up the iota, the drop and the sippable liquid in the soul of the man, that this indeed is folded with good fortunes. A long time coming serenity.

On a dividing line, to those who see nothing good in Nigeria are not to blame, they may probably be blaming their parents why they are lagging behind not doing well as same with those who make it in their neighbourhood. At the sametime, we see the compassionate citizens who sew new attires decorated in the promised colour of green-white-green expressing optimism. Those of course are ones enjoying the little they possess and hope filling their statue which I can't live to be counted out of them.

With all that is said across outlets, the future of the country rests on its citizens, in its ability to produce a leader of thought with vast experience and global trend at the centre, and leaders across the periphery, taking charge to face the challenges on ground one at a time, sewing the wrapper of peace that is seemingly tore, and revive the past glories we might have lost.

Ahmad Murtala 

Ahmadmurtala43@gmail.com

021021

Vat Jamboree the collective wayout

VAT JAMBOREE, THE COLLECTIVE WATOUT 

Since the increment of VAT from 5% to 7.5% in early January 2020, some wings across the spheres of Southern Nigeria had frowned at some states with low IGRs, tagging them as saints-in-the-disguised-attires.

The rise in the nosegate began when states like Sokoto, Kano, Zamfara and the likes banned the opened drink of beers in some selected places; and the market advantage the beer has is seen in the IGR in states like Port Harcourt, Lagos and other Southern states. This raised the voices as to why would they appear saints when they can conveniently consume the VAT generated from the beer ?

The total percent generated from the beer nationwide is not up to 15% of the total VAT generated, accusing the state of not allowing open beer drinking does not hold water. And the notion that north entirely is a saint from beer drinking is a far-fetched myopic claim.   However, those states can be molested if the population cannot be engaged to generate IGRs.

Every Nigerian in effect, pays tax in one way or the other, either directly or indirectly. The voices emerging from Lagos and Port Harcourt to decentralise the VAT collection has a direct marriage between the large scale of economic prosperity and the oil the region has, the region which is the largest Nigerian source of revenue which literally translates to 70% of the Nigerian economy, with the port in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

VAT as widely practiced in the world is centrally collected. To ensure no grudges, there should be a fair share of tax allocation based on the derivation principle of a VAT generated or increment in it. Say, Lagos generates 30bn in a months, the derivation principle must be allotted in a lion share after allocating the whole tax across the states, this will give other low income states to take the cue so as to assess their domestic income and diversify by finding possible solution to their IGRs. 

The oil boom in the late 60s attracted a lot of individuals with capital at hand, thereby turning the sector into a (Red Ocean), to use entrepreneurial terms. Everywhere today across the country is a filling station. The influx in the market competition castrated the industry, leaving filling stations deep inside bushes at bay, periling at the mercy of God, wasting resources.

With abundance land mass in the North, mechanise farming must be adopted alongside processing factories, this will accommodate the large proportion of youths that are derogatory labelled as Almajiries into factories and industries, with the factories in a place, poverty will never resurface.

A filling station maximum accommodates say 10 peoples, with the nature of the structure, plus four head pumps, one manager, watchman and other attendants inside mart. Imagine if such capital is used to establish a rice processing mill or tomato paste or any other factory that has a byproduct and is a multiplier effect.

We should not shift the goalpost to another field, as some people are calling for scrapping and merging some states into another. This of course will strengthen the revenue when for instance the NorthEast is merged to become a single state. Notwithstanding, each state should channel its resources borrowed within or outside the state, or by international donors to harness their natural resources ranging from coal, oil, and invest heavily in technology so that all the capital projects should be income generating infrastructures.

When VAT is decentralised, the relinquishment that awaits virtually all the states is a threat to the Nigerian existence, as no tangible efforts on the ground to resurrect every sector that has died three decades ago. The ensuing atmosphere would be, governors going helter-skelter in attracting foreign investors to exploit the abundant natural resources, or a mayhem and chaos when salaries cannot be paid. God forbid !

A target should be set for each state to ensure within that timespan, they stabilise their IGRs. Alloting certain amounts every month for establishment of factories, a condusive and secured enviroment that will guarantee the take off of any investemnet, so that in the next decade no state will rest its neck on the shoulder of other states. 

As Gombe state governor would put it, this is a wake up call to ensure each state depends on itself, drafting realistic economic policies that give waiver on levy on SMEs to flourish which is the backbone of every economy in the world. 

Ahmad Murtala

Writes From Gombe State, The Heart Of NorthEast Of Nigeria.

Ahmadmurtala43@gmail.com

250921

Column: Nigerian Politics Hope and Despair

Nigerian Politics, Hope and Despair 

It's no more eccentric looking at the stake in which the country is derailing in all sectors ranging from insecurity, politics, economy, and national interest; and the retrogression that the  country is recording, day after day, yet, those running its affairs are concerned with what they zip off in the long run unpatriotically.

There is no need for further elaboration when we say the mother-Nigerian citizens who love her by mere words of mouth supersede the diehard patriotic citizens which stenches and plunges the country to what it's today, this goes with Yoruba adage that says, a house that still breathes in tranquility definitely, its bastard has not grown up.

With the scarcity of who to vote and who will wipe the tears of Nigerian that are facing the hardship at the bottom line, the political parties are now safe havens for any politician who projects the losing ahead, or is being chased by EFCC, a testimony from the former APC national chairman Adams Oshiomhole that says "once you join APC all your sins are forgiven" was not a fantasy. 

With this spread-promise on a mat, of course any individual who is running for his life with loads of charges and allegations will find a space on that mat to stick on. The names of beneficiaries of this corruption amnesty are countless and of course Femi Fani Kayode is the latest in the folk. One with God is majority they say, now one with the ruling party is majority as well. One begins to ask, what is his relevance in the party looking at his capacity ? Why then did he go straight to the national body to defect whereas becoming a party member starts from the grassroot ?   

The incumbent Zamfara state governor, who was lucky enough to attain the seat in the favour of judgement passed on the opposition party, managed to scale through when all the seats in the state were dissolved, now in a second term bid, he swept upfront, defected to the ruling party for a smooth ride to 2023.

When APC was formed in 2013, it put forth its three main agendas: To Revive the Economy, War against Corruption and Insecurity. Today, it worth slumping when addressing the audience to hear that the man who is in court facing charges and allegations on misappropriation of money worth billions of Naira has joined the ruling party which forgives all the sins committed no matter their magnitude.

The politics of ideology like that of Awolowo and Aminu Kano is not in existence today. With the current defection of politician like a flying eagle from one political party to the other, there should be a limit to which people can defect to bridge the trust deficit, granting the INEC power to oversee the defection opportunities and shortening the number of political parties to barely minimum; and having a law to state that a new member in the party is not allowed to contest until he stays in the party for at least 5 years or less. An individual should have only two opportunities to defect a party in his lifetime, making it three parties, by and large, the spirit of politics of ideology would be instill or at least will close the vicious door for the crooks to be manipulating the populace, the interest of thousand of people supersedes the individual interest and the right of association should be revised, particularly, political associations.     

All in a bid to the 2023 general election this came to being. With the lucrativity in the politics as industry and the flamboyant lifestyle adopted, no Nigerian politician would afford staying behind the door for a couple of years out of the centre table, else will turn to a hungery hyner. However, to remove the capillary of huge shares attached to the political offices may be difficult but is no doubt a way forward to the promise land as quoted by all politician when campaigning.

The trust which the people have for the party in the last 6 years has crippled, with the surge in the insecurity, inflation and hikes, and corruption charges even on the people in government. In spite of this, the few remaining supporters of the APC who termed themselves as "Buharists" virtually support him blindly, and now here is a man who abused, spitted venom and called him all sort of names against his person, vowing not to join the same train with him, has defected and was accepted with open palms, this dented the image of the party and evicts the iota of hope from the heart of remaining followers. We are going to a general election with a mono-electoral-race.

What then is the hope for a country that is going to an election with the 75% politicians involved assembling themselves in one party ? The ball is now at the electorates' coat to decide who is who among the politicians, who is resolute to stand selfless and courageous carrying Nigerians along to a higher height. For, brazenly, incessant defection is devoid of any sincerity and national interest, the politics of ideology is what should be rooted in the heart of any citizen perhaps the hope will reignite again.

Ahmad Murtala

Writes From Gombe State, the heart of North East.

Ahmadmurtala43@gmail.com

170921

SUCCESS IN THE STORM

One fateful day inside exams week, a week I was close to a brink of failure and was averted by a God sent individual, and the aversion was to determine my three consecutive awards. I came with a phone in my caftan trousers' pocket meant to be taken for repair, the sensor had broken and could not operate properly, a business phone which 75% of the business relied upon. I had in mind that after the particular exams, I would take it to Tsohuwar Kasuwa inside town. The exams course that never begged for expo due to its nature, Advanced English Composition ENGL 204. 

As the exams began, I composed an essay and a speech: as the outgoing president of the association, write a farewell speech as the question asked, I began writing smoothly. 

Two reasons I didn't drop the phone on the pulpit stand of LT9: the broken sensor and the course nature, thinking that even if the phone was caught, it could not operate, so the notion of malpractice would not be charged against me. As I was writing, the phone was silent and tied inside my trousers and its shape could be seen from afar, "hey ! What is that in your pocket" the faculty of Arts' exams officer who crossed the desk from my left asked furiously,  '' it's my phone ``I replied innocently "bring it"  I surrendered the phone and continued writing.

As I was writing, I didn't know the magnitude and intensity of the recklessness I had committed, "cika masa"  was the phrase I heard from afar, the fifth row from the pulpit while writing, uttered by the same man after he had pressed the power button and saw that the phone was on. I finished the composition successfully, crossed all the unused pages before submitting, this was the instruction always given when invigilators realised that some students started submitting. I crossed all the pages and went to submit, that was when I started realising the intensity. I submitted the script and was asked to write a statement, to be frank, then, I didn't know what that meant.

"He said you should write a statement" one supervisor said who was collecting the booklets. In a jerking voice I asked, I should write what ? "That which happened between you" he said. He was a lecturer from Religious department, Islamic Studies. He looked a bit heavy on his caftan and zanna cap, he was just executing the order.

I went back to where I sat, I wrote a statement precisely what transpired, I included the phone model and its state of health. Thank God, Mrs Bilkisu Arabi was there (the God sent). She taught us a course in 100L, she could bear witness if I could commit malpractice or not. My eyes began to wide, as the man brought out a paper filling my matric number and the course code on the paper, "what have you done to yourself Ahmadu" she asked in a sympathetic voice, she was disturbed seeing the man filling the form. I was so tense I did not even know what to do again. Some of my colleagues who witnessed the scene, lost confidence in what they were writing. "Wait for me outside" said Mrs Bilkisu, I couldn't understand.

I went outside straight to meet the Education faculty exams officer, unfortunately he was not around, I couldn't remember I was told to stay outside, the crack in my academic career could have been mended instantly, I began to lose conscience. On the way I met a friend who we shared the same faculty he was from Islamic studies, I narrated everything that happened. "Did he fill the form" he asked, yes I answered, the change in his face carried a heavy impression that needed to be expatiate, I now realised the magnitude of the danger I dived into.

I called the exams officer on the phone and greeted him, bowing a bit. "I went to a supervisor," he answered. Like a blink of an eye, the story had gone round the school, especially the colleagues we shared the same faculty with had carried the news, everyone a freelance journalist at his own pace. 

I waited for the E.O for more than two hours, I sat on one of the gossip cement benches around the faculty agape, all sorts of bad thoughts construed  and heating every angle of my head. Would I be expelled from the school ? This is two hundred level, my friends will move ahead and graduate leaving me behind. Must I have to write JAMB again if I am expelled ? What should I tell home, all these and other inimical thoughts, ruminating between hope and despair.

The exams officer arrived and drove to the parking space, a white 406 Peugeot always clean with the glass tinted. I walked towards him and collected his shoulder bag and entered his office. At that moment, Mrs Bilkisu was searching for me after the exams to go and sort it out once and for all, she didn't have my number she must have called, I trusted her, even if she had it, my phone was seized. I narrated all that transpired in detail and the reason why I came with the phone, the business phone. "Were you caught stealing" he asked veraciously, No, I answered. "This is what we tell you students always, you can't heed to simple instruction, Ok you can go for now, I will inquire further" thank you sir, please help me I managed to say innocently. 

The E.O was a man of principle, he would never subscribe to a malice or vicious act, this was his reputation everyone knew about him. There was a time I barged into his office without knocking, a day to our 100L first semester examination, I was a fresh student, not knowing how registered courses were arranged in the individual columns, I didn't carefully check mine, and there was a mistake, one course was not added in my exams card. "Kai !" He shouted in a Hausa accent "from where, how dare you barge in here without knocking is that how you are taught in your house" he asked a series of intermittent questions to resettle my brain, sorry sir I managed to interrupt within his questions. "What happened?" He asked again, my exam card has issues, a course is missing there and I've registered it.'' What is your number" I gave him, he rectified and reprint a new exam card. From there on we became close, he used to stop by to transact with me in my kiosk buying recharge card.  

 ***

The day of fright and despair elapsed, I went home, the negative thoughts increased in my mind, I had a sleepless night, though the next day, I had no exams. I narrated all that happened to my mom, she magnified the whole situation "damn it ! how dare you, you want to send yourself away from school, you want to waste our two years" she quarrelled, I managed to absorb the pressure and quench the situation showing that there was no cause for alarm. 

Anytime I was reading for the exams, the whole issue reignited and interrupted, it affected my performance. "I heard that you were caught with a phone in the exam hall" ? One friend asked me on my way to the Library, true I answered, "May you scale through this storm". These were the kind of prayers I received anytime I met with colleagues that were aware of the happenings. 

I began to lose weight, going lean.

  

Four days elapsed, I went to the English department, looking for an open office, to narrate to any available lecturer. Perhaps something should be done or at least enlighten me of a step to take. I was lucky enough to have at least a good relationship with the lecturers in the department. One office was opened, lucky enough, knocked and entered. I met a lecturer who taught us Orature in a hundred level. I greeted him and told him that there was a problem. "Ok I can hear go on what happened" I narrated to him, he heaved a slight sigh, he must be thinking that this student is playing with malpractice, he bent down to the last drawer on in his table and brought out a paper, it was a malpractice form, "did he fill this kind of form" he asked, yes I replied and nodded, "honestly there is nothing I can do, once this form is filled it means the end of a student" his remarks stirred up again the negative thoughts I had as if to slump. I went out walking at the mercy of God the Almighty. A half student who was still writing exams. I began to check all the notice boards faculty, Arts and Education if I might see a list of expelled students, so that I did not continue with exams in vain, no names placed on the boards, unless one kind of bulletin or another, some half tore. 

One inner voice among the voices within me whispered, it was the religious voice I guessed, "do fast a three day fasting", I found that very pivotal, I  began on the 10th day, considering the days did not fall into Friday, because religiously is forbidden. At midnight I would wake up to perform supplications seeking for divine intervention. During the day, if a beggar came to pass I gave alms with the intention to avert the ongoing predicament, not knowing which among the deeds would be answered and foster the eviction from the hook.  

On the 11th day, I went to English department again to meet Mal Abdulkadir Adamu who taught us in 100L and still in 200L, Mal there is a small issue I want to tell you, after I greeted him, "Ok unfold it then" I narrated everything. The kind of fight and quarrel he rendered that afternoon as if my mom had phoned him before, he almost uttered the same thing, he even took it personal, " come again ! You said a small issue, and by the way since when" ? He wanted to confirm whether I meant eleven days or I was saying yesterday. "how would you have this huge problem over eleven days and keep it all alone, how daft ! Do you think you have anything to tell and convince the panel, if you wait to face it ? haba Ahmad as if you are not a language student, I feel like hitting you right now,  who knows about it ?" He inquired, Mrs Bilkisu, she was there that day, I replied blaming myself within. "ok check on her in the office if she was around" I went out and took two steps up of a sloping tiles in the same corridor of the department, I knocked and found she was around, I summoned her attention linking it to Mal Abdulkadir she came and we entered together. 

"So Ahmadu" she began "I am not that important, I can't even tell you to stay and heed to the advice right" I shook my head left and right, and answered no Ma, I've lost control that day not even know what to do. "Malama, what can we do now"  he asked, "maybe he should excuse us first" I went outside and waited. During that period, she must have told him the state of my existence in the campus, perhaps I was expelled or had been rendered justice with mercy. I came back after some long minutes, knocked and entered, they concluded that I should come back the next day and hear the feedback. I went home still pondering. 

I broke the fast after the sunset and supplicated. Seeing Mrs Bilkisu and Mal Abdulkadir in his office, coupled with the response of our exams officer gave me kind of relief, sensing hope, but at the same time, having fear of the malpractice form that had been filled. I kept praying and even solicited some of my friends to pray for me, some I told them the reason I needed the prayer, some I just told them please include me in your prayers.

I was walking on the street going to the mosque not even a prayer time, following one guy who we always seat together and share views, sometimes going contrary, he suddenly turned back violently against me, held his fingers tight to form a huge fist and began to throw punches towards my brow, his eyes turned red, as I was moving my head left and right to escape the punches, he relaxed his fingers and twisted his thumb and the middle fingers indicating we meet next time, showing anguish of not hitting me… Then I heard the first prayer's call at dawn through the speaker as I was laying on the mattress in our room, I woke up and sat at the edge. So it was a dream I murmured, an omen of eviction perhaps from the ongoing predicament. I stretched my hands, marrying all my fingers towards the roof for some seconds and groaned a bit. I went for ablution and prayed,  then went to the mosque for two raka'a which marked the first prayers of the day.

After the prayers, and the morning azkars, around 15 minutes to 7am, I was on my way to school to hear the feedback, on reaching there around 6:57am, the departmental entrance was not opened, I sat behind the edifice of school of postgraduate studies which English Department faced, from that time on, till 1:00pm none of them appeared. I went to pray and came back to the same spot. The man who gave the order to fill the malpractice form came to pass through the short passage from LT3 towards the English department, I greeted him and he answered in recognition of my face.

Around 3:35 the Asir prayer could be heard from far and near, I went again and prayed, I came back still checked on them, none of them was around. 

***

There was a time one man who rented a shop in our balcony, came to meet me in my kiosk narrating to me that some people told him that, the way I behave and the mindset I had before I was admitted into the university, will surely strike against me to misbehave and I won't  make it to graduation. That sounded like a curse in my inner ears, I held those words in my left hand palm. There is a Yoruba philosophy that says, if you hold an advice in your left hand you won't miss place it or swallow it in food than to hold it in your right hand, meaning you won't forget it. Therefore, they were kept in my left palm.

As I sat, after the Asir prayer, these words resonated in my mind, merging together with the current situation, they gave birth to an inspiration where I composed a poem on the spot inside a half A4 paper titled IN VAIN. That day, the two lectures we had scheduled with none of them came, and my phone was in the Faculty of Arts since the day it was seized, I could have called them. I went home and then opened my kiosk late evening to make sells for the rest of the day. 

Day after, I went back again, and met Mal, Abdulkadir. He told me that from the Arts faculty they've suppressed the issue, and my phone would be given back to me after the exams. That was the day the last paper would be held in the school entirely. I had finished my exams before then. 

The phones that were seized during exams week from different departments were more than 30. I went there that day since 6am. It was on Friday, some students started gathering there. In spite of my early arrival, I met a lady student in the surrounding of the Faculty of Art and social sciences' board room, where students who committed one crime or the other faced a panel. 

The lady was said to have forgotten a written mathematical formula in her palms, as she went to submit her booklet in the exams room, the supervisor saw it she was caught, and asked to come and face the panel.

 

Around 10am students whose phones were seized had gathered, everyone narrating how his phone was seized, we were there up to the time the lady was summoned around 10:30am, she was inside facing the panel up to around 1:00pm. There was a point in time when one of the panelists came out from the room and went to the other room and brought a school constitution, he went back to the room, this gave almost all of us the impression that hardly this lady could convince this panel without her being expelled, she was expelled eventually. 

Mine almost sounded the same with her, because among us none of them reported that he wrote a statement or filled a malpractice form. Students anywhere in numbers must not gather without jokes, anytime during those hours, a joke was cracked. I only laughed a little, because I knew the fire was burning deep inside me. Thinking negatively that, it must be my turn to face the panel, I began to draft the words I would use before them and all sort of excuses that might help me scale through, then I remembered that a constitution was brought into the room, and there must be a rule that prohibited students from coming with phone into exams hall, if that is read against me, I would be gone.

One of the panelists brought our issue as they were all set to depart, the session seemed over, all held their files alongside bottle waters, cracking jokes in the boardrooms, one could hear the echo of their voices like national assembly when plenary. A voice from the echoing sound summoned us, "hey ! You who came with phones to exams hall" we all trooped in together and the chairman of the panel began, "you know that it's prohibited to come with a phone, and this would be your last warning, if you are caught again, I swear you are gone" he sounded serious, one of them intruded "by the way which department are you from" pointing to each of us and we all mentioned our departments ``thank God none of them is from sociology department'' one woman intruded, they all busted laughing. I was told she was the vice chairlady of the panel, she was a bit tall and fair in complexion. 

I heaved a huge sigh, it was now I believed that, I was out of the hook, and all my prayers were answered. I was not expelled at last but placed on the school black list. As we went to collect our phones, it was already the jum'at time, the Imam had arrived and we could hear the sermon, any moment from now, it would commence. After the prayers, we returned, we were asked to write an undertaking notes, which registered our list in the black list, we were all given the phone and we dispersed. 

From there on, anytime I was about to enter into exams hall, I would ensure I cross checked all implicative objects surrounding, my phones would be inside a bag of one of my friends, and on the desk, I will ensure all the paper either relevant or otherwise would be taken off me and where I would be seated. 

  

After some weeks, result was placed, I checked mine and found that I carried over the course, I already had it in mind, hardly to go scot free, perhaps when Mrs Bilkisu met him on my behalf, he pardoned me conditionally: removing my booklet out and tore it alongside the malpractice form. The booklet that if marked, doubtless would be an A grade, meanwhile a booklet in absent, is a student absent, and absent is equals to carry over. Thank God, it only ended a carry over, I still had a chance to resit the exams later in the last semester of my stay in the university, because, the next session second semester, we would be off for Teaching Practice, what if I was expelled, I would have been a school drop out starting afresh from the JAMB. 

The aversion from the brink of only God knew where the failure would lead to, gave birth to a Best Muslim Graduating Student from the department, an award which was given annually by the MSSN in the school. Not only that, in 2018, I won the first prize position in poetry competition senior category (the poet of the year Gombe State) accompanied with Hundred Thousand Naira. Then award from Creative Club Gombe State University. These successes recorded had a direct link to my stay in the university, had it been I was expelled it would have been a story for another day.  

Having someone who cares for one with no direct relationship only student-teacher or any other relationship that could help avert the storm that may affect the entire life of an individual, these kind of people are rear in the society and Mrs Bilkisu is one of them, not by mere words on the street but in practice, this accounts for the concrete inscription in the heart of the helped; holding such person in left hand palm and this finds special place in the heart to hold such kind of God sent individual with high esteem, prestige and utmost respect.

Ahmad Murtala

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