“We have a cancer within, close to the Presidency, that is growing. It is growing daily” – John Dean
I know that silence is an ill wind. Those who keep silent in the face of great moral crisis diminish humanity and the very essence of living. Nothing amplifies this reprehensible culture of silence like the timeless words of Martin Neimoller, the great anti-Nazi theologian and preacher: “First, they came for the communist; I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics and I did not speak up because I was a protestant. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me”, Neimoller said in 1946.I refuse to be a silence freak!
Approximately fifty years ago, the transition from originality to an imitative form of administration stripped the regalia of authority off Nigeria’s traditional rulers. To reduce their frustration, they were at a time given the post of the advisory council; however, this lasted but a short time as we now have personal assistants to Governors and the President (even for the First Lady).The imitative government, like cancerhas eaten so deep into every possible space reducing the traditional leaders to nothing, but mere bony structures with a flaccid flesh of authority. Quoting verbatim the Soun of Ogbomoso Land (a king in the South West Nigeria);“We are only figureheads in the administration of the country. Our powers are limited to our palaces”, he said during an excursion to his palace. But they did not get there overnight; it all started with the barter of cocoa and pepper for glass. What a loss!
Since this devastating act of extreme evil (on the part of the Whites) took place, Nigeria as a nation has known no peace. Today, a change in the form of our administration has figuratively robbed us of our authenticity and we wander in another man’s forest. Of all areas of our lives, the royalty has been the undefiled, by politics until recent times that the opposite has materialized.Succession to the throne was without the involvement of the government, but Kings are now given staff of authority by the government as recognition of their kingship; which is more or less like a delegation of power from the government to the royalty. Nevertheless, this is not the bone of contention, but the imminent confusion courtesy of a mixed government is the theme of this write-up, and it is not out of bounds for a bird and a fish to marry, the place of settlement after marriage will determine the life span of the matrimony.
As a major point of contact, the emergence of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, MalamSanusiLamidoSanusi as the Emir of Kano has been described as the last nail on the coffin of the PDP’s control of the state. From all reasonable political signals and the ratio of opposition (APC2 : PDP), political analysts need not snap their brains to conclude that he who plays the flute dictates the tune; the games of the wise are played by the wise and when the table turns in favour of an adversary, there are only two options: to succumb or to withstand. Unfortunately, in this instance, to succumb is derogatory and to withstand is unprofitable for the sufferer.If this is described as political, no feathers should be ruffled.
Now that all areas of our lives are politically driven, including the ancestral thrones, my fear builds on an imminent government mix.From all indications, those who are meant to preserve the cultures and traditions of the people (for that is their paramount role as at present)are now engaged in political practices: an act, which may metamorphose into absolute monarchy in the nearest future.
It should then be a little wonder when succession to the throne is no more by the blood-factor, but by the influence and political agenda of any interested folk. By this, I mean an unqualified person to the throne might emerge as the Royal Majesty of a particular jurisdiction once he has a like mind with the Governor of the state. Absolutely, LamidoSanusi is an heir to the throne, nonetheless, becoming the Emir is somewhat spiced with political strategies. Now, myriad of political supplantations are common for such happen in government with political parties, but the platform of realizing this strategy is that which I condemn. Definitely, the monarchs are close to the people in terms of proximity, but political elements should not be introduced for electoral reasons.
Nigeria has had enough problems which boiled down to factions of political parties in a state or local government; introducing the monarchs to the tussle will only subject the nation to amyotrophy. The youth’s riot in Kano over the APPOINTMENT of LamidoSanusi as the Emir is enough justification for the stated fact.Should the throne be a lee from the wind of prosecution due to misappropriation of funds?I pray the worse would not happen with his emergence.
In short, returning Nigeria to a true federal structure without the interference of monarchs is paramount in avoiding theopening of another series of violent disturbances. Provisions should be enshrined for traditional rulers in the constitution. Boundaries should be set as to the level their jurisdiction should surface. Understanding comes by definition.May the ruler-ship of the new Emir bring peace.
HEPHZIBAH
