What does Labaran Maku have against the Fulani?
Although he has apologised, every Nigerian should condemn the recent outburst of the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku in a reference to the Fulani. It is evident that the minister is becoming irascible in trying to blow the PDP led government’s trumpet. His tirade against Governors Wamakko and Kwankwaso of Sokoto and Kano states respectively […]
Although he has apologised, every Nigerian should condemn the recent outburst of the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku in a reference to the Fulani. It is evident that the minister is becoming irascible in trying to blow the PDP led government’s trumpet. His tirade against Governors Wamakko and Kwankwaso of Sokoto and Kano states respectively failed to address the burning issues confronting the nation today. Indeed, being of Northern origin himself, Maku should be aware of the weight of his ranting. No amount of apology can attenuate a deliberate insult on a people.
In describing the exit of the five governors from PDP to APC, Maku said “they are like the Fulani nomads, they move from one party to another without shame.” This is a calculated insult. One wonders how the Fulani stock in PDP would feel about this.
The fact that we tend to miss in the political development of the country today is simple acknowledgement of degeneration of state of affairs. It is incontrovertible that the country is witnessing monumental poverty. This is because critical infrastructure that would facilitate employment generation is neglected for chase of political office glamour. Government is about addressing issues of good governance, which should reflect on the general life pattern of the citizens, not rhetoric. The prevalent insecurity in the country has endangered economic and social growth in some parts of the country. Security of life and property is a social responsibility the government owes the governed. It guarantees the courage to invest by potential investors and precipitates greater and freer social interactions among the populace. That confidence of a secured citizenry is fast eroding from the psyche of every Nigerian. There is capricious lack of trust by the masses towards their leaders, and worst among themselves, because of perceived alienation.
The two governors that Maku singled out for vilification were very fundamental to PDP fortunes in the 2011 general elections by their delivery of strategic votes that ensured PDP victory. They are now painful losses that have generated grief that employs vulgar language in depicting its characterization. The present scenario is a dramatic stage crafted by PDP in hitherto callous leadership style that thrived in isolationism and high handedness. The recent change in the leadership of the party has justified the stance of the patriotic governors that had all along been drumming the necessity for that change in PDP in the interest of the country.
So it is unfortunate that such patriotic zeal is now being described as “oversize ego” by Labaran Maku in a strange context. In a true democracy, contributors to shape policy earn respect and not intimidation as being witnessed in the structural tilt of information dissemination of the Maku image-making formula. His current outbursts at every forum prompt doubt as to his capacity and capability to continue to manage the nation’s information system. Unless there is a deliberate scheme to use him as agent of more mischief making, there are other Nigerians that can favourably substitute with greater wisdom and circumspect.
The analysis of the present composition of the leadership of APC in Sokoto and Kano by Labaran Maku when looked carefully is vindictive orchestration of frustrated interest bent on creating disaffection among the people of the two states. The analysis is obvious in intent and purposes. Governors as chief executives cannot be irrelevant in their party leadership. It is normal democratic practice that they control the party at the state level to maintain necessary discipline and good followership. PDP or Labaran Maku cannot deny this fact, no matter how hard they try to stoke up embers of disaffection in Kano and Sokoto.
Unfortunately, it appears Labaran Maku might be relishing a dicey defection by those so-called founding fathers of APC in the states he mentioned. Why would the internal issues of APC bother the Minister of Information? The evidential showmanship or persuasive nature in justifying the exit of the so-called founding fathers of APC in Kano and Sokoto failed to situate their action within Maku’s Fulani movement theory.
PDP instigated its present fate, and now there is strong opposition in APC certainly the party is at the brink of disintegration.
APC is the party of the masses, including the Fulani that Maku has tried to malign. It is a party that transcends every parochial sentiment. It is a party that provides platform for all those oppressed by the dictatorship we have seen since 1999.
Umar is President of Sokoto Liberal Democrats Media
Foundation<[email protected]>