Opinion
Masari On Batsari
A doctrine is a belief or set of beliefs that form the main or part of a religion or system of ideas.
As a notary public, Governor Bello Masari of Katsina State is in a position to propound and issue a doctrine which encapsulates, not only his personal system of ideas, but also the religion he subscribes to. Recently it was reported that bandits killed over 33 persons in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State. So came Batsari and Masari!
The Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally-Displaced persons, Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed, paid a courtesy call on Governor Masari, after distributing relief materials to victims of the Batsari killings. It was reported that 42,000 persons affected by the killing spree received relief materials, ranging from food and grains, to household items.
Governor Masari, in a statement issued by Alkasim Abdulkadir, was quoted as saying as follows: “This is a barbaric and animalistic behaviour because the perpetrators of these crimes are like animals because they don’t have Western or Quranic education.
“These people are living with animals in the bush without any education, they behave like the wild animals in the bush”.
Whatever the motives, grouse or demands of the bandits for killing over 33 persons in the Batsari area of Katsina State, Nigerians were not told the identity or demands of the bandits. Be they herdsmen, Boko Haram terrorists or any other group of killers, Governor Masari called the perpetrators of the crime “Animals”.
It is a valid doctrine to say that it takes “Western or Quranic education” to turn an animal into a human being. It also follows logically that those “living with animals in the bush without any education” would be predisposed to behave like animals. Herdsmen come in!
The crux of the Masari doctrine lies in the validity of the fact that there is a difference between animals and humans. While Western or Quranic education would be a transforming factor in the status of humans, it also remains valid that those who live and interact daily with animals would be predisposed to behave more like animals than humans.
Let it be stated as a fact that it is not an easy task to become a human being. We can dismiss the platitude of some ignorant persons who assert that humans and animals have a common origin, with same innermost consistency. Those who know the hierarchies and structure of creation do know that humans have their origin in the spiritual sphere of existence.
With animals, the source of origin is lower and different, even though there are biological similarities in the physical functions of humans and animals. But the core differences are clear.
There is a difference between propounding a doctrine worthy of adherence, and being doctrinaire; this is where dogmatism, fanaticism and narrow-mindedness come in. In many cases, genuine doctrines propounded by serous minds are often turned into dogmatic platitudes by lazy and small-minded adherents. To turn a doctrine into a doctrinaire affair is to make assertions that your interpretation of a belief system is the complete truth, with no provision to review other opinions or alternative suggestions.
Jonathan Swift, author of an old book titled Gulliver’s Travels, accurately captured the mindset of dogmatism and fanaticism in the character of the Lilliputians. To engage in debates in the National Assembly on such issues as which side of an egg to start the breaking is a satirical symbolization of the grossest frivolity and little mindedness. An extention of the Masari doctrine would include the issues of dogmatism, ignorance, conceit, fanaticism, etc.
A major problem with animal-like frame of mind is the fact that people so predisposed are exploited and used by power merchants and empire builders as fool soldiers. When a human-animal is armed with deadly weapons, indoctrinated and sent out on a mission to kill without a motive borne of justice, the result is “Batsari Killings”. That mindless killings and acts of terrorism are getting out of hand in Nigeria can be attributed largely to a distortion of mindset.
What we know as Boko Haram, as terrorist extremists, is one such distorted mindset arising from religious fanaticism, coupled with animal-like ignorance. The fact that the perpetrators of the senseless killings are largely those that Governor Masari described as “living with animals in the bush” tells the story that such killers are more of animals than humans. Boko Haram, interpreted from Arabic, literally means “Away with Western education”.
Since the Masari doctrine recognizes the importance of “Western or Quranic education” as a means of transforming animal into human, it follows that Boko Haram sees Western education as inferior to Quaranic education. Since Quranic education is encapsulated in the Sharia, it would not be difficult to decode the message of Boko Haram.
Let us admit that the Movement of Sharia for Africa began long ago with Gadaffi’s Libya with a proposal for a United States of Africa. Some African leaders were enthused by the idea and the training of some normadic troops began. They lived with animals in the bush. Governor Masari’s doctrine deserves some serious attention. The era of military rule played a role, too.
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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