RE: SOKOTO WAITS APPEAL COURT

By Mohammed S. Umar

The editor’s duty, in any mass communication outfit, is to display professional maturity in allowing materials to pass through the gate. The maturity should include leaving out libelous issues, professional control of excessive freedom of expression especially in matters before any law court. Editors should know that certain matters enjoy restrictions in commentary when they border on security, not only a nation’s corporate security but also all its components.

Dr. Olu Onagoruwa still remains a hero to some over-zealous journalists in Nigeria, and villain to body of benchers. In the case of Azikiwe against Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) 1979, Dr. Onagoruwa, a reputed lawyer and columnist with the Sunday Times disparaged the professional competence of Justice Emmanuel Araka in a case before His Lordship. The learned judge became infuriated that a case before him (in the process) had already been decided on the pages of a newspaper by a senior lawyer in Lagos. By Onagoruwa’s action Justice Araka was not qualified as a judge; Enugu High Court was not appropriate to try the case; Dr. Onagoruwa could have handled the case to ensure justice to FEDECO at all cost

However, Justice Emmanuel Araka said one of the above was correct, and felt insulted. He invoked the arsenal at his disposal – contempt of his court. He editor of Sunday Times was summoned to Enugu High Court. He wisely retraced, but Dr. Onagoruwa because of recalcitrance was docked for contempt of court after which respect and dignity of Nigerian Judiciary became the circumspective approach of reasonable Nigerian journalists and literary commentators.

Not long ago, This Day newspaper allowed a piece by a young foreign trained journalist to scathe Prophet Muhammad (SAW) during a holy month for Muslims in a matter mature editor could have avoided. The Beauty Show in every ramification has no religious connotation in major faiths in Nigeria and therefore should be seen as deliberate orchestration of chaos or incitement and counterproductive.

Indeed every religion condemns show of nudity for whatever purpose, and thus offends when associated with any religious personage. The nation learnt some bitter lesson from that episode, and of course appreciated the danger of excessive freedom of expression.

On page 9, Daily Sun, Thursday February, 2008, one Kemi Olatunji is not only waiting for Appeal Court decision on the governorship of Sokoto state but arrogated to himself both power of attorney and judge in the case. He assumed the exact posture of Dr. Onagoruwa in pre-emptive approach to the Appeal filed by DPP against the judgement of Sokoto State Electoral Tribunal. He must have been satisfied to do the job of their lordships at the Appeal Court – sensitization!

If Mr. Olatuni knows the terrain of Sokoto state well some objectivity and balance should have been reflected in some issues he hastily addressed. It is overstatement for him to allude "if there is any state in Nigeria where the injustices of the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election call for a reversal, that state is no other than Sokoto State." He even went further to advocate riot in Sokoto state when he postulated "the DPP in Sokoto state and their supporters would have taken to the streets as recently witnessed I the local government polls held in some state recently…"

President Umar Yar’adua commended petitioners against him as facilitators of growth of democracy in Nigeria. General Muhammadu Buhari gentlemanly described the Presidential Tribunal’s verdict as "semi-final" and did not call for mob action. Even his lawyer, Mike Ahamba (SAN) though vexatious promised to exhaust his legal power at the Apex Court. Interestingly, Abia State had upset of power the same day and Abians must realize that destructive reactions can only retard whatever progress the state has enjoyed. Wild will arson is irreligious and divides a people continually. In any context the loser always blames the process instead of introspective analysis of areas of weakness to reposition for a better future or options.

The appeal filed by DPP against His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sarkin Yamman Sokoto) is before a court of competent jurisdiction in Kaduna. PDP lawyers are equal to the task of debunking diversionary claims of the opposition who boasted that Sokoto people are chicken and corn – that can easily be swayed. It is time to assert that Sokoto people are principled in choice of leadership from the pedigrees of Shehu Usmanu Danfodiyo, Sir, Ahmadu Bello (Sardaunan Sokoto), Alhaji Shehu Shagari and a number others.

For this reason, His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sarkin Yamman Sokoto) in absolute belief in the rule of law does not lose sleep over the distractions of the opposition. Allah has rewarded his patience and tolerance. He is not new to the antics of the opposition. Of course, every politician should expect contrary views and shenanigans. The same people humiliated and frustrated him even when they were together in APP later ANPP. He was seen as a threat to the cabal that eulogized appropriation of both public property and conscience to message selfish endeavours.

The government of Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda has restored the lost glory of the civil service. Local government councils, now operate as a third tier arm of the government in tandem with the federal structure. They enjoy release of their statutory allocation that enables them to embark on capital projects where local government chairmen shall be accountable to the people who elected them. The state now evenly distribute power and resources in contradiction to appropriation of local government funds to execute overvalued road projects meant to praise-sing the same cable Olatunji melodramatically hums their tune.

The youth instead of being used as tinder box in trouble formation are now trained in various skills to empower them as leaders of tomorrow to create peaceful environment for overall development. Since the inception of Sarkin Yamman’s administration there has been plethora of planned actions for poverty reduction through equitable distribution of resources. The government is conscious to justify through periodic publications every action it takes towards economic uplift of the people – palpable accountability. If it builds one-kilometer road it will justify its economic, social and political importance and not mere euphoria of power showpiece. It is also ready to listen to constructive criticisms, including those from the oppositions, in the act of governance – purposeful and altruistic.

We can now witness orderliness in the conduct of local council affairs. The over 3000 youth trained as part of youth empowerment programme are posted to various local governments to maintain security of lives and property. Those posted to local government councils ensure conduct of government business in orderly and modern dictates. The hitherto chaotic tumbling in local government secretariats has thinned to civilized and decorous processes of implementation of government policies. There is radical departure from mere sycophancy to productive engagements that assure total involvement of stakeholders to buoy up the economy so that Sokoto state moves in rhythm with development strides of visionary and progressive states of the federation in the 21st century. It is a new dawn that ushers in collective efforts in contrast to personality cult paradigm.

Our major happiness as a people is the determined effort to sustain the tempo of serious business in addressing issues of poverty and disease embarked upon by Sarkin Yamman’s government. Our worry is the quislings among us that constantly strive to sabotage the progress of our people out of sheer envy of the popularity of Sarkin Yamma who can win governorship election of the state as many times as called upon. We respect the rights of activists and sympathizers of the opposition parties but we should like issues to go beyond power to refection of programmes of action that would open up Sokoto state to economic development.

The posture of equitable distribution of resources and development of other sectors, other than roads, as enunciated by Sarkin Yamma shall diversify the economy and make our people less dependent on government patronage in employment and self-sustenance. The steady turn out of educated youth calls for urgent action to diversify the economy, so that our youth shall not face more graduate unemployment and underemployment in no distant future. The likes of Kemi Olatunji would prefer personal benefits derivable from mere sycophancy to addressing issues of overall development of Sokoto state.

Friends are welcome, but are expected to master the terrain, its peculiarities and changes as to afford objective commentaries. Road projects were executed at choking costs, schools were whitewashed without teachers, equipment and planned programme of actions to impart qualitative education to our children. Contracts were awarded on expectation of personal returns, not in overall development of the state.

His Excellency, Alhaji Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, (Sarkin Yamman Sokoto) is the choice of our people an time any day. We do not win an iota about the outcome of the Appeal Court. The focused nature of Sarkin Yamma’s administration is our pride. As a listening governor we can also reach him when we feel any derail from this focus. It is a sigh of relief from haughtiness and know-all.

MS. Umar is the President of Sokoto Solidarity (SOLID), a platform for the defense of cultural heritage of Sokoto State.

umarsani@hotmail.com