Angle 1. The dethronement and alleged banishing of Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir of Kano portends more issues than an average Nigerian would appreciate. The situation becomes more curious with the Kano State Government denying that he was banished, implying that Sanusi lied. As the matter has gone to court already, it is likely that we have not heard the last of the Sanusi saga. Common speculation is that Sanusi, being a highly educated, experienced, level-headed and liberal-minded Muslim, was on the side of zero-radicalism. He stood in the way of Macho-men. Another target would be Shehu Sani.
Angle 2. While the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, said that his administration would not negotiate with bandits or grant them amnesty, some lawmakers considered it fit and legal to sponsor a bill to treat terrorists like heroic freedom fighters. While Governor el-Rufai apologised for his administration’s inability to protect the people killed by bandits, some Nigerian lawmakers consider it heroic to propose a North-West Development Bill as a supplement to Repentant Insurgents Bill. Where the money to fund the projects would come from, if the bills become law, is a part of the economic shenanigans that we practise in Nigeria: National Oily Cake.
Angle 3. T. Y. Danjuma’s lamentations did not begin or end in Nigeria, for he took his case to the U.K Parliament. His grouse? Clever introduction of Sharia Law in a secular Nigerian state. He did not stop with Sharia and Islamic agenda but went on to talk about land grabbing from indigenous people and giving such land to nomadic people for a homeland. Neither was Danjuma alone in raising such alarm. Apart from naming names and telling us the strategies being adopted, those who would put us on the alert are not known to be careless talkers or ignorant people. Maybe asleep before.
Did we not see a news bombshell “Obasanjo slams Buhari Again, says Buhari deceiving Nigerians, empowering Boko Haram?” Please refer to The Tide Newspaper of Monday, January 21, 2019. There are more such finger-pointing from various quarters. Are they wrong?
Angles 4 & 5: Threat to democracy and an ailing economy, are no empty speculations. What is the state of Excess Crude Account, current exchange rate of the Naira to a dollar, truth about $4 million payment to a nameless lawyer, etc? Was somebody not quoted over to us, as saying: “The British handed Nigeria over to us, the Fulanis, at Independence. The land (Nigeria) belongs to us. We must reclaim what belongs to us?” Did we not have a news headline: “Stop external borrowing, Expert warns Buhari?” How independent are the Judiciary an National Assembly?
Apart from spending on purchases of exotic cars in the midst of hunger among the citizens, despite protests, how accountable and transparent have the management of recovered loots been?
Angle 6: Insecurity is a major challenge in the country for which there has been no effective remedy. Rather, regional and private security outfits are springing up, including the existence of a Sharia police. There is Amotekun which is almost operational, there was also a news headline: “We set up Operation Shege Ka Fasa in reaction to Amotekun.” South-East zone is yet to adopt a name for its regional security outfit. Perhaps, we may not take “Ogbunigwe” seriously yet, as coming from that zone for the purpose of security. A more disturbing phenomenon is the proliferation of firearms, with Senator Bulus telling us that “Gun Runners are powerful and untouchable” Nigerians. Gun Runners! Power.
Angle 7. Northern Elders’ lamentations, like that of T. Y. Danjuma, arose from the security jinx and speculations about the philosophy and sponsorship of terrorism and senseless killings in the country. We had seen such news headlines like” “Herdsmen Set Ortom’s Rice Farm Ablaze,” “Herdsmen Rape Two Housewives, Injure Six In Delta,” “Killings In Nigeria Worrisome”-Catholic Bishop; “How We Escaped Maiduguri Gate Massacre”- CAN Chiefs; “US Interfaith Leaders Declare Nigeria Ticking Time Bomb,” Etc. Many more!
For Northern Elders and Youths to tell President Buhari to “Resign” means that their disappointment and lamentations have reached the crescendo.
Angle 8. Hate speech and Anti-protest Bills are usually precursors to a gagging and clamp-down policy which may have some unfathomable motives. We have heard about “Reps Accusing Nigeria’s Neighbours of Aiding Insecurity.” Was the chairman, House Committee on Defence, Mr Babajimi Benson, wrong to say that there is probably an international dimension to ISIS and ISWAP activities in Nigeria?
Angle 9. Restructuring clamour is not such “irrelevance” which some people try to attach to that demand. It has to do with true practice and application of the principles and ideals of federalism. Pa Ayo Adebanjo was wrong to say “Buhari Does Not Know What Restructuring Mans.” If we practise true federalism there would be less tension.
Angle 10. Security vote, like cult phenomenon, is shrouded in secrecy wherein anything fair and foul can pass the test of scrutiny.
Arnold Alalibo told us that “The Court of Appeal in Abuja in the case of former Taraba State Governor, Jolly Nyame, clearly stated that failure of public officers to give an account of security votes entrusted to them amounts to stealing…” why must security votes not be subject to public audit?
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.

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