Opinion

Certificate of Survival

Published

4 years ago

July 8, 2021

By: Amir Abdulazeez

Some weeks ago, I was caught up in a debate involving some people who were trying to justify the Federal Government of Nigeria’s ban on Twitter and those who were opposed to it. To be fair to all, every side had some very good points strong enough to sway a neutral person to their side. However, one thing remains fundamental and clear even to the debaters; the Twitter ban is not going to solve any of our short and long-term problems, including the very ones for which the Federal Government used to justify the ban.

For any critical observer, it will not be difficult to note that the Buhari administration had not taken lightly any action that will or is capable of undermining official state authority or that of the President since its coming in 2015. This is perhaps why over 1000 Shiites were alleged to have been killed in the early days of the administration for blocking the way of the Chief of Army Staff among other things. It may be also the reason why IPOB and End SARS protesters were not treated with the kid gloves with which bandits and mass murderers of ordinary citizens are apparently treated. Twitter had not offended ordinary Nigerians as much as it had offended the Presidency and hence the ban. Regardless, at least the ban is a strong message that not everything can be tolerated by Nigeria, especially the sort of highhanded arbitrariness on the part of the social media tech giant.

President Buhari Decorates COAS With New Rank Of Lieutenant General

A few hours before the ban came into effect, I was surfing the platform to catch up with the day’s national and international news when I came across an interesting statement credited to ex-Senator Dino Melaye. Melaye was reported to have said that any Nigerian that survived this APC’s administration to its end alive deserves a certificate of survival. I don’t know whether he actually said that or not, but the statement is typical of him. Besides, the truth is that ordinary Nigerians are currently receiving the suffering of their lives.

According to the Consumer Price Index report, recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s inflation rate for May 2021 stands at 17.93%, a slight drop from April 2021 which was 18.12%. Food which is the most critical item recorded an inflation rate of 22.28% in May. This is the highest since April of 2017. Nigeria ranks 13th in the global inflation table and 7th in Africa, making it among the worst worldwide. At less than $80 per month, Nigeria’s minimum wage is one of the poorest in the world. A substantial percentage of the Nigerian population has been reduced to begging. The crime rate in almost every state of the federation is on the increase; income is static, expenditure is growing, no jobs and opportunities.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change over time in the prices of 740 goods and services consumed by people for day-to-day living. The index weights are based on expenditures of both urban and rural households in the 36 states. How good a measure it is to quantify our real suffering from this hyperinflation is another question of its own.

Our real problem is that these figures are only giving us an idea but not the true picture of the cost of living in the country. We all know that these figures are mainly hypothetical; we have essential goods and services that have recorded a 100% increase in prices within weeks. Another concern is that other countries facing inflation are somehow doing well relatively. For example, the twelve countries worse than Nigeria in the global inflation ranking are better off in terms of peace and security (with the exception of may be Syria) and prosperity (with the exception of may be Sudan and South Sudan).

The country is faced with multiple, unprecedented and overwhelming security challenges from all fronts. With no clear end in sight, many people in some parts of the country live every day in uncertainty while helplessly waiting for the worst. In places like parts of Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger States, people live to tell the daily stories of tragedy while hopelessly waiting to be consumed like their brethren. Survival has become a privilege these days.

The government is overwhelmed and had resorted to foreign debts to keep the collapsing economy working. Nigeria’s External Debt has reached $32.9 billion US Dollars as at March 2021. Roughly, each and every Nigerian is indebted to the tune of 65,000 to 70,000 Naira at an official exchange rate of dollar to Naira. We have not stopped borrowing; a substantial amount of our current and future budgets still depends on external borrowing. We are not talking of internal debt.

Ordinary Nigerians are finding life unbearable. Are these sufferings temporary? What are we doing to stop this? Why is every previous year better? How does the future look like for ourselves and our children? How many of us will survive this? Is survival our emerging national culture and priority? People are employing any available means to survive thereby gradually turning the society into a jungle where everyone wants to thrive even at the expense of others.

What is the overall implication of all these? Now here comes the real danger. When a greater majority of a country’s citizens are preoccupied with how to survive, no one will be left to create and add the value that will take the country to the promised land. When most people spend 75% of their time trying to fetch for their families amidst rising costs and harsh conditions, they can only spend the remaining 25% to rest against the next struggle, leaving them with zero time to think and create anything. When almost everyone is living to attain Dino Melaye’s certificate of Survival, we will have no other aspirations other than food and shelter. The result will be a backward nation that will remain static for only God knows when.

We cannot say that the current government is doing nothing about all these challenges, but they are doing nothing revolutionary. Measures like N-power, Conditional Cash Transfer, and the likes are cosmetic, inadequate, and unsustainable. Even their effects in the short term are too minimal to reflect on the general quality of national life. First and foremost, the country must have a comprehensive and exhaustive national development plan with inputs from local, state, and federal stakeholders. This plan must be well developed, implemented, and not politicized. If needs be, it should be backed by legislation. Government appointees at any time must be people that understand and can implement that plan religiously irrespective of their demography and political affiliations.

The development plan should be able to strengthen sectors like manufacturing, power, infrastructure, security, and justice because such sectors have the potential of automatically creating and consolidating direct and indirect development. For example, if there is adequate security and power supply, independent businesses would run for 24 hours. When some people who conduct businesses during the day are asleep, some others who were resting during the day will conduct businesses during the night. Nigerian businesses will work for 24 hours with no valuable time to waste thereby hugely increasing productivity. We should be able to produce most of the goods we import.

When power is available, thousands of jobs would be created both directly and indirectly. Therefore, advisably, rather than invest in providing direct jobs which cannot satisfy all, let the government strengthen security and power. We have seen what the telecommunication and entertainment industries have done to our economy through direct and indirect jobs creation with ripple effects and I think that success can be replicated in many other sectors. When this is done, governments will rely on its happy and self-employed citizens for taxes rather than the other way round.

It is unfortunate that we are being unable to implement basic solutions offered every now and then because politics has been our number one national priority since 1999. This has made many people to lose interest in providing any meaningful input to the Nigerian development discourse. I have received countless messages over the last eight months, including from some newspaper editors over my long break from analytical writing with some enquiring on what must be responsible. I usually didnt have any consistent answer, sometimes I’ll just compose any reply that comes to mind.

Whatever will be said, has been said many times before, we just lack the will as a nation to take the bull by the horn. Just some days ago, a reader reminded me that it has being a year since I wrote an opinion piece asking why. I doubted and quickly went to my personal online blog only to confirm what he said was indeed true. I was surprised myself, but what the reader didn’t know is that I am currently battling to obtain my own certificate of survival.

Twitter: @AmirAbdulazeez

Opinion

Why Governor Abba Yusuf deserves more recognitions for leadership resilience

Published

4 hours ago

April 22, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

National Forum of Kano Indigene Lawyers has canvassed for additional profound decorations of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, in recognition of his leadership style that resonate resilience and dedication to quality governance.

Satisfied with the unwavering commitment and doggedness of the state government, towards transformative administration, the group affirmed that Governor Yusuf stands out in the crowd.

The forum rejoiced over recent flurry of encomiums on Governor Yusuf over series of awards from reputable corporate organizations, who accorded him the honors for his meaningfully impact on the socio-economic well being of Kano citizens.

However, the group, in a statement by it’s national coordinator posited that Governor Yusuf deserves more recognition for demonstrating exceptional disposition during the tense situations that played out around Sallah festivities in Kano.

The group said when the plot to take advantage of recent Sallah Durbar tussle to unleash provocation, and subsequently declare state of emergency, Governor Yusuf was never saturated with overwhelming endurance and resilience, which eventually triumphed over the evil plot.

He said for that alone, Governor Yusuf deserves another gold medal for exhibiting high level of wisdom and emotional resilience, which enabled him to overcome the tribulation.

“It was a week of glamour for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf whose unwavering dedication to human and social economic development in Kano state were noticed and rewarded by array of meritorious awards.

“From Leadership newspapers, Abuja; Vanguard newspapers, Lagos and African Heritage Concept, Marrakech in Morocco, Governor Yusuf received distinguished accolades and applause for redefining governance in Kano.

“The shinning week began on Tuesday 9th, April, with the prestigious Leadership Governor of the Year 2024 named after Governor Yusuf in recognition of his outstanding contributions to education sector in Kano.

“No doubt, the leadership award was a validation of Governor Yusuf’s bold reforms in education and repositioning of the sector after years of neglect by the immediate past administration.

“Besides, Governor Yusuf was particularly commended by the Leadership newspaper for going extra miles with allocation of 31% of the state’s annual budget to education, surpassing the UNESCO benchmark”.

The statement further reads : “The celebration of the peoples Governor returned to Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, where Yusuf earned another encomium as Governor of the year 2024 “Good Governance” category on the stable of Vanguard Newspapers.

“In Lagos, the man of the moment was recognized for his administration’s transformative achievements in the education and healthcare sectors.

” 24 hours later, the out pour of admiration moved to the city of Marrakesh, Morocco, where African Heritage Concept Magazine bestowed Governor Yusuf with another honor where distinguished African leaders and policy influencers were celebrated.

“Yusuf, was recognized on the continental stage with the prestigious African Good Governance Award 2025, in honour of his visionary leadership and commitment to people-centered governance and excellence in leadership, and public service.

” More over, we are of the firm conviction that Governor Yusuf deserves another award of excellence for distinctive emotional intelligence and purposeful leadership he displayed at the heat of Eid-il-Fitr Sallah Festivities in the state.

” When it was evident the plot to take advantage of Sallah Durbar around the prolong emirship, tussle to unleash violent provocation in Kano. It was a well calculated plot to give undue opportunity to declare state of emergency. Yet, Governor Yusuf was never saturated with overwhelming endurance and resilience which eventually overwhelmed the evil plan”.

Usman Imam Tudun Wizirchi Esq
Chairman

Opinion

Inside My Conversation With A Kwankwasiyya Disciple -Hamisu Hadejia

Published

12 hours ago

April 22, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

Last week, I rang my friend who is a Kano-based Kwankwasiyya disciple to know more about the rumour I heard about RMK joining APC. Though not in the inner sanctum of the Kwankwasiyya Movement himself, I knew my friend would know something I didn’t.

I rang because I could not, on my own, see any sincere, Talakawa-centric, Arewa-benefitting or pan-Nigerian justification for Madugu to make such a move.

For I know, at the popular level, which is what matter most to me, it is indisputable that all PBAT’s neoliberal, IMF-inspired economic policies have succeeded in are plunging the poor and middle class deeper and deeper into unprecedented hunger and poverty—so Kwankwaso’s justification cannot be framed as pro-poor or Talakwa-centric.

At the regional level, everyone knows that after Arewa contributed at least 60% of the votes that brought him to power, PBAT has turned around to not only bite the fingers that fed him but also actually cut off those fingers in a manner that defies all logic, commonsense, and rationality— so Kwankwaso’s justification can neither be generally framed as Arewa-centric nor particularly pro-Kano.

My contact (who I am sure will read this) minced no word in confirming to me that yes the rumour I had heard wasn’t groundless before going further to educate me about Kwankwaso’s or Kwankwasiyya’s calculations (aka justifications) for such a consideration (if not a decison).

“Hamisu, I have no doubt about the sincerity of your interventions which I’ve been following closely, however, I’ll tell you this: while ordinary folks like you and I have our eyes on 2027, politicians like Kwankwaso and others have their eyes on 2031”, he kicked off as I listened with rapt attention.

“Kwankwaso”, he argues, “sees this moment as the opportunity to build the bridges which he would require to actualise his presidential ambition in 2031.” Put in simpler terms, Kwankwaso wants to help PBAT today in anticipation of PBAT paying him back tomorrow in 2031 “ when it will be the north’s turn” to produce Nigeria’s president.

“By hook or by crook,” he added, “Tinubu will bring himself back to power in 2031”. This, according to him, is the reality that Kwankwaso sees and wants to tailor his moves to fit in.

Unable to challenge my friend’s analysis of the Realpolitik behind RMK’s imminent political moves, I now asked about where the poor and Arewa stand in all of this. Here my friend bursts out laughing hilariously before bringing the example back home to me:

“Hamisu, Aminu Ringim (NNPP’s 2023 guber candidate in Jigawa) with his red cap went up and down towns and villages in Jigawa pulling impressive crowds across the state. But what did we end up with? Just one state House of Assembly member!”.

“The reality is,” he continued, “in today’s Nigeria, a politician needs that elite connection to actualise his ambitions. Look at Buhari as an example.”

So I was thoroughly lectured by Sidi.

My take from the chat is: While RMK is grass-rooted and genuinely cares for the poor as seen in many of his pro-poor initiatives, he seems to have now—for public good or ill—found out that there is a point up to which Takawa’s love and support can take a politician. Beyond this point, what matters most significantly, RMK appears to have now discovered, is intra and inter elite alliances. Call it the eliticization of Kwankwaso. Call it Realpolitik. Call it what you may!

Later I thought about other people such as the current NSA who also allegedly has ambitions for the presidency and is no doubt a close PBAT’s ally. What of Nasir Ahmad El Rufa’i’ and his hitherto cosy relationship with PBAT and how it all ended up in tears and regrets. Isn’t RMK taking the risks of squandering his goodwill to join a bandwagon under which he might be thrown the El-Rufai style?

Hamisu Hadejia Wrote From London

Opinion

From Vision To Impact: How Comrade Waiya is Redefining Information and Internal Affairs in Kano

Published

2 days ago

April 20, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

By Tijjani Sarki

On the 7th of January,
2025, His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State made a decisive appointment—Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya was entrusted with the leadership of the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs.

In just 100 days, the Honourable Commissioner has not only embraced his role with remarkable energy and clarity of purpose, but he has also redefined what it means to serve with passion, strategy, and a deep sense of responsibility.

At his inaugural meeting, the Commissioner outlined a forward-looking vision for the state’s media landscape, emphasizing his commitment to implementing innovative strategies that will enhance the performance, credibility, and reach of state-owned media outlets. He highlighted the importance of strengthening staff welfare and investing in professional capacity building as key priorities, noting that these efforts are essential to ensuring the delivery of high-quality, impactful services to the public.

From the outset, Comrade Waiya hit the ground running, embarking on a comprehensive familiarization tour across key parastatals under his ministry—ARTV, Triump publishing company,Kano Printing Press, and Radio Kano. The goal was clear to foster unity, establish cordial working relationships, and lay the groundwork for a collaborative, performance-driven ecosystem.

EMPOWERING THE INFORMATION MACHINERY:

Recognizing the vital role information officers play in governance and grassroots communication, the Commissioner organized a three-day capacity-building training for information officers across the 44 local government areas of the state. This unprecedented step has reinvigorated the public information machinery, ensuring that the government’s developmental strides are effectively communicated and well understood by citizens.

Furthermore, Comrade Waiya engaged with Senior and Special Reporters (SR & SSR) in a strategic dialogue to enhance the amplification of the Kano state Governor’s developmental agenda—an initiative that underscores his commitment to transparency and proactive media engagement.

He also breathed new life into the once-dormant Gauta Club, creating a vibrant platform for cultural and social exchange among ministry staff and stakeholders.

DRIVING DIGITAL ADVOCACY:

Understanding the evolving media landscape, the Commissioner inaugurated the H.E Project Promotion Advocates, a team dedicated to projecting the achievements of His Excellency via platforms like Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. This has significantly improved the state’s digital visibility and public engagement.

He also held sensitization meetings with online media operators, ensuring a responsible and credible media presence in the digital space.

PROMOTING DECENCY AND DIALOGUE:

In a time when political discourse often falls prey to toxicity, Comrade Waiya’s leadership stands out. He has held meetings with political programme presenters to encourage the use of decent language, as well as engaged political activists on the need for clean and constructive engagement.

Further, he extended a hand of partnership to Friday mosque Imams, seeking their support in promoting peace, unity, and progressive messaging within the communities.

BRIDGING MEDIA AND GOVERMENT:

In a bid to strengthen relationships between the media and the state, the Commissioner organized strategic meetings with media executives and held an interactive session with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel. These engagements have fostered mutual understanding and streamlined communication between the government and the media.

He also facilitated a productive meeting with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) aimed at sanitizing the media space and ensuring that content shared with the public adheres to ethical and professional standards.

WELFARE AND INNOVATION:

To tackle the growing trend of misinformation among journalists in the state, the Honourable Commissioner has underscored the urgent need to restore accuracy, integrity, and professionalism within the media space. As a strategic response to this challenge, he established the Kano State Ministry of Information Advisory Council—an initiative designed to elevate the standards of information management and public communication in the state. The Council, initially composed of seven distinguished members and chaired by veteran broadcaster Alhaji Ahmed Aminu, is expected to play a crucial role in guiding media practices and improving the overall quality of information dissemination. Beyond curbing misinformation, the initiative aims to foster a more informed and engaged public, strengthen the credibility of media institutions, and promote a culture of responsible and ethical journalism in Kano State.

One of the hallmark achievements within these first 100 days is the establishment and inauguration of a cooperative society for staff of the Ministry. This not only reflects the Commissioner’s concern for staff welfare but also his vision for long-term economic empowerment.

LOOKING AHEAD:

One of the most impactful events during his early tenure was the Iftar lecture, where veteran journalists and NUJ members gathered to reflect on the way forward for journalism in Kano and beyond. It was a moment of unity, introspection, and shared purpose.

As Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya marks his first 100 days in office, his tenure is already a blueprint for what visionary, people-centered, and media-savvy leadership looks like. With a firm foundation now in place, expectations are high and justifiably so. If the last 100 days are any indication, the future of the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs is bright and promising.

The journey has only just begun, but the impact is already being felt—loud and clear.

Tijjani Sarki
Wrote from Zawaciki,Kano
18th April, 2025