North
And The Dearth Of Representatives: Initiative for
Leadership For Nigeria
20 September 2010By Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega
The people of the northern region, over the years have
suffered the dearth of leadership representation
especially at the federal level. The crisis of
development and the ultimate disregards by some other
part of the country have on the rest of us; lies with
the qualities of the leaders that represent us at the
federal centre of political intrigues and economic
permutations. There is no doubt the northern region
has an arsenal of young and articulate minds who are
not only an achievers in their various chosen field of
endevours, but are also shining examples for the
younger generations. This men and women are not only
upright; but, also are resourceful in providing the
much needed synergy for Nigerian renaissances. But,
unfortunately, these bright minds were lefts to rote
in their respective areas due to lack of supports from
political heavy weighty or lacking robust family
lineage. This is not only a minus to the region; but
also to the country.
It is intrinsically clear, most of the leaders in the
region today; were discovered by the late Premier Sir
Ahmadu Bello Sarduana; without discrimination or
support; but based on their competences and
intelligent. During such epoch, the Premier was
determined; to raise a crop of leaders that will
champion the course of development. Such sincere and
commitment gave rise to a lot of technocrats and
administrators; who were the shining light of a region
that was seen as too backward to put a challenge to
southern domination. This is the price of leadership
in the life of society. Leaders often envisage the
future with certainty and they were always ready to
push their people into it. But,
unfortunately, the leaders that emerged later, not
only, withdraw the ladders that they used to climb to
the top; but, are bent on refusing to prepare next
groups of worthy successors to inherent the leadership
positions in the country.
They achieve this by destroying the fabrics of the
society that assisted them to grow and enjoy life.
It is imperative, to say, over the years the northern
states, often don’t project their best minds for
appointment and political representation at the
centre. Often the people that represent us either lack
the bearing to navigate themselves with the
responsibilities saddle with them or at best lack the
intellectual capacity to withstand the positions they
are occupying. This is rather pathetic for regions
that assembly gallant of stars and intellectuals of
high refutes; but out of elite mischief they are
either sideline; or permanently condiment to the
dustbin of historical hopelessness and confusion.
Often time, the Southern press have the courage to
lump us together as region that lack the educational
and intellectuals to drive the economy and the
political system since our dominance of the political
office. They said this, base on the quality of our
representatives at the centre. That is why whenever
providence provided the opportunity for gallant star,
to showcase his talents and intellectuals prowess
through appointment or elections; you find people
asking questions over the proficiency and the
reservoirs of the person’s intelligence or if truly he
is a northern. The Lagos/Ibadan axis of media have
often projected the north in bad light; especially as
regards to educational development and having the
right minds to mantled leadership positions.
Today, with the return to democratic rule and the
opportunities to elect sounds minds to represent us at
the centre as Ministers and National Assembly members;
unfortunately we lost the opportunities; especially
during the 2003 elections; where mediocre and
Lilliputian set of class were chosen through elite
conspiracy especially the Governors to represents us
at the hallow chambers of the National Assembly. The
qualities of voices we are getting or hearing from the
members from the north in the National Assembly; only
tell the crisis and qualities of representatives that
are representing us by the self seeking men of in the
block. The members currently representing the north in
the National Assembly are not the best from the
region, in term of intellectual prowess, integrity,
and
foresight and leadership acumen. What we have and have
had before, are band of self serving opportunists and
political neophytes who lack the directions to provide
the much needed intellectual and leadership directions
as symbols of people coming from a well cultured and
spirited region of the north. Statistics have shown
that a lot of members of the House of Representatives
and Senate from the Northern zone have no bill in
their name or contributed in house debate since they
were inaugurated. The question what is the essence of
their representation? If only we can have the lots of
Hon. Abdul Ningi, Hon Farook Lawal, Hon Ndume, Hon
Wadada, Rt Hon Ghali Na’aba, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
etc the whole drama in the house could have been
interesting; but what we have are nothing but, bench
warmers and absentees Lawmakers.
This is 21st century, the northern leaders must
understanding the fact that, continuous throw-in
mediocre and opportunists just because of their
sycophantic loyalty and supports to the political
leadership (Governors and Traditional rulers) will not
project the whole of the region in good light; it will
only undermine her potentials and further demonize the
region from the eyes of those who have never been to
the region to understand her cultural and religious
melees; but, sit comfortable on their desk to write
about the good people of the region in bad light;
sending aspersion in the minds of their readers. Let
get the vibrant members of the academic circle;
technocrats, specialists and morally conscious people
irrespective of their family lineage and political
background to support as leaders and representatives
in all ramifications of our lives. Let have a good
package of galaxy of stars as leaders that represents
the country and the region in all ramification.
The north has all the human potentials and the
committed people with sound moral and spiritual
background to support as leaders. Let our governors be
among the best among us; the Senator representing us
be a distinguished in character and learning; let
chose Hounourable members with the right mental and
spiritual state of mind; couple with youthful
exacerbate. Please send ministers that have the
capacity and intellectuals’ prowess to designated
ministries. Let see representation and leadership as a
service to the people not a means for personal
aggrandizement. The world sees us through our leaders;
they are the unit of analysis of the generality of us.
A situation we have ministers or representatives that
can articulate opinion about himself or the position
he is occupying; send a wrong signal on the rest of
us.
It is important to mention, that men of good ideas and
moral integrity; must enter the mockery and dirt water
of politics and contest for various offices. Someone
will say, it require large capital; which i will not
shy away from, but, that should be a reason we should
shy away; and live the stage for rascals and gangsters
to take over the reign of leadership and enslave us
and enriched themselves through state capture. We have
to network and build synergy to rescuer ourselves and
the dear nation from the hands of these opportunists
and bandits that invaded our farmland. This is a
clarion call for all stakeholders including our
traditional rulers, teachers, parents and religious
leaders to
propagate the message; because we have suffered enough
misrepresentation and demonization as result of the
actions and inactions of our misrepresented leaders in
all season. We have galaxy of men and women that can
provide the much needed synergy and leadership in all
ramification; starting with the forthcoming 2011
elections.
Finally, i am not saying we don’t have leaders in the
north; but, the fact still remains that, we lack men
and women with the temperament of leadership; we must
discover these men and women and give them the
opportunity to excel in their choosing field of
endevours. Failure to do this; we will end up with
opportunists, sycophants, and shallow minded minds as
northern leaders; who continue to promote their
selfish desires and enrichment amidst societal
neglects and destitutions. These opportunists will in
turn destroy or are destroying the social fabrics of
the society that support the continue
co-existence of our lives. Let package the best and
sale to the centre; let show to our distracters who
see nothing good in the north; that we have the galaxy
of humble men and women, with the right minds,
integrity, foresight, and moral and spiritual
stability to represents the region and the country at
large. Until then happy searching!
Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega National Facilitator,
Study Initiative for Leadership Discipline in Nigeria
(SILDIN) Area 3, Abuja belloskic@yahoo.com 07037176838
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