Editorial

The president had no business in Kano

 

The other weekend, the high and mighty gathered in Kano to witness the marriage ceremony of the children of the governors of Kano and Oyo states. It is gratifying that the wedding to all intents and purposes was successful. It is even more so as the wedding brought together people of different ethnic groups. This continues to point to the positives of a country with such diversity and the beauty therefrom. In fact, the meeting of cultures showcases glimpses of a beautiful future that we all can be proud of. It is worth celebrating that in 2018, in spite of all the bile and sometimes hyperbolic characterisation of ethnic tension among our peoples, some still manage to find space to unite in matrimony.
However, the wedding coincided with the abduction of over 100 school children. All girls in nearby Dapchi in Yobe state. In what is reminiscent of the kidnapping by the same Boko Haram of over 200 girls from a school in Chibok, Borno state. The events are so similar that it becomes annoying while discussing it. We were still smarting from the Dapchi blight when President Muhammadu Buhari flew to Kano for the society wedding. Ordinarily, there is nothing wrong with a president solidarising with those in festivity; just like he is expected to mourn with those grieving. As at the time of the wedding, the president had not gone to mourn with those whose wards had just been kidnapped or were mourning the series of killings that had trailed the year.
It was like the President was not properly minded. He could have sent a representative. It is not that difficult. In Kano, it may not matter much as the city and state are always glad to play host to this president. They love him and he would not have lost a strand of hair had he not attended. We are aware that the caressing received by Kano from politicians is simply for strategic political gains. Kano offers large electoral votes. But we are talking about the optics for the rest of the world. We are human. We equally know that all politics is local but the point really as things stand today is that Buhari holds the ace with regard to votes in the state. But history, which is usually the biggest judge will not be kind to a president who knowing that terrorists had 48 hours before kidnapped school children preferred to attend a wedding rather than meeting with his war generals to fine tune strategies for a rescue. That is leadership.
It is nonetheless interesting that the president later tried to make up for the blip. He has toured most of the areas that have been targets of terrorism. In fact he did not only visit Yobe, he went all the way to Dapchi and conferred with relatives including parents and teachers and friends of the kidnapped girls. This is surely a departure from the past. Although we hold the opinion that the kidnap should not have happened in the first place if only we are a careful people in this country. The president has promised that all the girls will be rescued in no time without harm coming their way. He noted that the government was exploring talks rather than force in resolving the issue.
We are certain though that had the president undertaken this trip on the day of the wedding it would have sent a strong message to the varmints that enjoy the sadness of others. It would have equally sent loud messages to others who may be planning similar acts of cowardice.
The people in the president’s inner circles should wake up to reality. We have passed this primitive style of governance. The Nigerian people (north and south) are changing with the times. It will not be surprising, if government continues in this obsolete mode of governing, the people they think know little will leave them behind. Aso Rock needs people with fresh ideas. Aso Rock needs forward-looking inner circle that should help President Buhari take a different but progressive leap towards running the country. Our leaders should not let the people leave them behind, it may lead to anarchy going forward.

Show More

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button