My recent trip to Sokoto to attend a workshop on 2019 political broadcast, organized by Nigeria Broadcasting commission (NBC), was an opportunity to see first -hand the developments in that part of the country after almost 20 years I last visited that historic city of Dan-Fodio, It was simply put, an eye opener.
The trip partly, debunked the stereotype that the North is backward, undeveloped and uneducated. It appeared from all indication that the North is in a hurry to develop due to the many years lost to the lack-luster leadership style of past Northern leaders. The era of do nothing, see nothing appears to be phasing out by sheer determination of the people themselves to offset predictions by book makers and commentators- through redeeming the time and all out education of the youth alongside traditional and Islamic education.
Aside the modern structures that are competing side by side with the mud houses we used to know, mechanical agriculture is also competing alongside the old method of plowing by cows/donkeys. Wind mills, solar panels, bore holes, artificial lakes, all season agriculture, well paved road network heralds a new dawn in the North; but it will take visionary leadership to proffer solution and sustain the tempo as the North cannot afford any longer to lag behind in terms of development and human capacity index.
The outside world is moving fast and time appears to be no more in favour of procrastinators; the moment to reawaken the sleeping giant- the North is now. And from Zaria academy to the numberless private schools mushrooming in many places as in Funtua a highly progressive city are indicators that it is no longer business as usual. The sheer high number of girl pupils enrolled in schools competing with their male counter parts sign post the fact that the Berlin wall of gender separation has fallen.
The North and Northerners earnestly yearn for change; not for the cosmetic change that ends with campaigns and on pages or advertorials on newspaper; but a genuine change that will turn around the narrative about the North and Northerners. It is evident that in the true sense of the word, no people are averse to the concept of change or progress. I saw and met with the youths, who understand the dynamics of change, who yearn to develop their talents, increase their capacity to meet with the challenges of the millennium.
As it is often said, leadership is crucial to the development of a people, that is why the Northerners themselves must start to interrogate the type of leaders they allow to lead them as it is often said, that a people deserve the type of leaders they get. The era of selfish, myopic and self-centered individuals and demagogues masquerading as leaders should be jettisoned for a more pragmatic and altruistic leadership based on informed, enlightened, egalitarian and development based agenda.
The same culture and religious settings that informed the emergence of Dubai, UAE, even Saudi-Arabia can drive the Northern dream. The North deserved a far better deal than Maitasine , Boko –haram ideology of mass destruction and annihilation. In other words, religion and culture can be a weapon, tool of construction, development and rehabilitation.
The people in the North in particular and Nigeria in general, earnestly yearn for the golden age of the Sardauna era; the all-time pace setter and the yard stick by which development in the North and elsewhere in the country is being measured .Almost fifty years after Sardauna died, his legacy is still visible-The Ahmadu Bello University remain an incredible epitaph of a great mind, a builder and master strategist.
The next stage now is full blast industrialization of the entire region; with the vast arable land, growing population, educated, vibrant and abundant human and material resources, the north is set to go. The only missing link today, is good and informed leadership that do not see governance with “born to rule “ mentality, In fact in a democracy, there is no room for “born to rule” syndrome, it is an aberration, atavistic and a misnomer, as those who you may look down on today, may tomorrow emerge undisputable leaders in society. The giant, the north had indeed awoken.
Akin Makanjuola-Head Political Desk, Greetings FM 105.7 Asokoro
