The North, Jan. 15 and related worries

This coup d’état, which is Nigeria’s first, not only brutally brought to an end the lives of these worthy leaders of the North, but also the remarkable and steady progress the region was going through based on the sound, purposeful, selfless, result- and people-oriented administrative style of these leaders.Both Sardauna and Tafawa Balewa were nationalists […]

This coup d’état, which is Nigeria’s first, not only brutally brought to an end the lives of these worthy leaders of the North, but also the remarkable and steady progress the region was going through based on the sound, purposeful, selfless, result- and people-oriented administrative style of these leaders.
Both Sardauna and Tafawa Balewa were nationalists to the core and patriots who staunchly believed in the oneness of the North; where social justice, equal opportunities, fair play, religious and inter-tribal harmony, and peaceful co-existence would reign supreme. It was during Sardauna’s time that administration of justice in the North was flawless and not for the highest bidder, rapid educational development was stimulated through the establishment of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and the Regional Scholarship Board, massive infrastructural improvement was achieved under the able government of the highly successful Northern Nigeria Development Corporation (NNDC), effective security was maintained through the provision of proper and adequate technical, moral and public enlightenment institutions such as Radio Kaduna (now Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria FRCN) “Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo” and New Nigerian Newspapers were established and adequately funded.
Within those glorious 5 years and 4 months (October 1960 to January 1966) the North, under the tender care and competent administration of Sardauna, finally referred to as Gamji Mazan Kwarai (In reference to his exceptional leadership and mentoring qualities), the North witnessed an unprecedented growth in all sectors of the economy that revolved around large scale agricultural production as symbolized by the groundnut pyramid (Dala in Hausa” in Kano and numerous cotton deports in other parts of the North. As a matter of fact, the North was, to a large extent, the region sustaining the Nigerian economy at that time through proceeds realized from groundnut exports and massive manufacturing of clothing materials by Arewa Textiles, Kaduna to feed Nigerian and some other West African Markets, large chunk of revenue generated from the North was also used to finance the exploration of oil in the Niger Delta Basin, which culminated in the eventual discovery of oil in commercial quantities at Oloibiri, present Rivers State in 1956.
Almost everything was therefore going right for the North until these overzealous Majors struck with devastating consequences which the region is yet to fully recover from up to now. Sardauna’s vision for the North was thus short-lived, his grand plan for the region halted and his workable formula for addressing the numerous challenges of the North truncated.
Against this backdrop, it is apt to posit that the coup d’état of January 15th 1966 is largely responsible for the retrogression or relative under-development of post Sardauna North. He (Sardauna) was not allowed to complete his term in office, neither the chance to bequeath a worthy successor who will continue with his laudable administrative legacy in serving the North, and nor the chance to be of benefit to the North with his guidance and wise counsel as an elder statesman. In order words, the North was deprived of the nurturing of its true father at an early age of 6 years old.
To me there is no historical episode that is so emotive and politically sensitive than the January 15th to 1966 coup – a day when the journey to greater Nigeria envisioned by Sardauna and Tafawa Balewa was doomed. January 15th of every year serves as a constant reminder of the devastating brutality.
Now 47 years on, it is time for the Northerners to look back with reflect. The ideals for which Sardauna lived and died for is enough to inspire us come together every year to commemorate the life and death of the political sage. The conventional wisdom behind commemoration of the life and death of great personalities is not just for the sake of remembering history or discussing the circumstance of their exit to eternity but to remind the commemorators how necessary is to continue asking suck question as how do this great men manage to succeed? Does the ideals for which these great men live and die for bound by time and space? Why the exploration of oil and gas on the Benue trough frustrated despite evidence of large reserves based on the 1957 Survey data conducted by the UK Department of Geological Survey, why the dredging of River Nigeria halted and such other big question that lie in 2015. Attempt to answer these questions, have the potential of transforming the North to a position of distinction in terms of socio-political and economic prosperity.
However, without such questions, such a commemoration will always end-up creating an endless opportunity for others to survive on the misery of such great men.
Conclusively, the North that is rich in history and culture is morally decadent and on the decline. Ethno-religious conflicts have been a recurrent normality. Poverty has become marked, just like election violence. This is in addition to the systematic marginalization, criminalization, torture and mass murder of innocent northerners in the pretext of fighting Boko Haram.
The North without justice is like a ship with tall mast and great sails but no keel to keep it upright in a storm. This day once again provides the Northern political establishment the unique opportunity for reflection, self examination and the development of self-correcting mechanism that will ensure that the North revolves on the fulcrum of social justice.
Allah ya jikan Gamji.
Sani writes from Business Education Department, C.O.E. Jalingo; and can be reached at [email protected]