The region is vast in landmass, with a population that is anything but productive and thoughtful. You can’t think 21st century and be proud of the threats inherent in the geographical expression called northern Nigeria.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is deposed. I do not pity him, if anything, I congratulate him for being free from the shackles of bondage called royal throne. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is too good a brain to be confine to some royalty that is traditionally stale and inconsequential. The northern traditional institution is a mirage that appears could conceive and birth dragons and dinosaurs.
Sanusi’s influence and affluence can afford him any sort of lifestyle. He chose to jettison same for the sake of the poor, vulnerable and dejected. He spoke against the establishment when it was not convenient to do so. He stood his ground and called for reforms that could better our lots at the expense of his prestige and comfort. What did he get in return?
The very people he was fighting for rose against him in defence of the status quo. We were all complicit in our silence and inaction. We watched while the men that pretend to love us most balkanized his kingdom and later dethroned him without any fight.
Sanusi could afford to send his children to the best schools in the world. He could look the other way and cash in on the Almajiri syndrome. He could support senseless polygamy that will only birth more lieutenants for Boko Haram, Kidnappers and Armed Bandits.
Today, we all merry at his misfortune thinking it is the fall of Sanusi. We are wrong. Sanusi may never be called the Emir of Kano again, but he will certainly rule over empires that determines the fate of Kano Emirate and the bigger conspiracy called Nigeria. Sanusi cannot go down the drain. Never!!!
I tell you this for free, the average northerner is a slave in love of his chains, sometimes, he doesn’t believe he is in chains. He sings the song of non-existent freedom while his master rapes his patrimony. How do you help a man that doesn’t believe anything is wrong with him?
We are diseased, poor, ignorant and delusional. We are more hopeless than hopelessness itself. Yes, we have the numbers, but to what good? We have the land, to what effect? We have political power, to what advantage?
We have been emasculated by the very people we call saviours. They are thwarting every move that will awake our conscience and create a platform for competition with their children. They don’t want our freedom, for that will mark the beginning of their end, and that’s what Sanusi Lamido represents – freedom and equality.
Only brainless entity tolerates a dollar thief and condones his power mongering. We obviously do not understand and appreciate the worth of Lamido.
Understandably too, we don’t appreciate brains and capacity. We rather support and believe in some fake Messiahs that only have penchant for globetrotting. A fake and incapacitated political leadership that is against free speech and opposition.
Until we understand the gravity of our problems and agree to do the right thing, may super beautiful brains like Sanusi never get relegated in the name of royalty, as certainly, we are north of nothingness.
By Bello Ibrahim