Date Published: 04/05/10

The Major Mustapha Jokolo BBC Hausa Service Interview By Ndiameeh Babrik.

I followed with keen interest most interviews granted by Major Mustapha Jokolo and even his former boss General Mohammadu Buhari. All the interviews granted by the two as usual are patriotic, honest and down to earth.

The interview granted the BBC Hausa Service on Saturday 3rd April 2010 by the Major was most touching that I honestly cried. Listening to Jokolo say the truths as it were is unprecedented in the history of Northern Nigeria.

Some of us are old enough to have seen some of those things he spoke about in the North. Some of us grew to think that it was automatic to go to ABU Zaria despite being a Christian.

I am happy he particularly mentioned the fact that as recent as the 1970s, the North was still monolithic. Even as late as the 1980s, the North was monolithic and Nigerians were patriotic and purposeful in service to their fatherland.

For us as a people to move forward and for Nigeria to claim it place in the comity of nations, we have to retract our steps to where things started to get wrong.  Alhaji Abdulkarim Daiyabu has hit the nail right on the head. In his Guardian interview of Sunday 28th March 2010, he said it as it is.

Before 1985, Nigerians never cared whoever was the Head of State, Governor, Military Service Chiefs, University Vice Chancellors and their likes. The archives are there for us to confirm all these things.

During the Shagari administration, apart Mr MD Yusuf, all the service chiefs were Christians. The then Senate President, Joseph Wayas, House of Representatives Speaker, Ume-Ezeoke and NPN Chairman Adisa Akinloye were all from the South and Christians.

During the Buhari years, Generals Buhari, Idiagbon, Babangida, Magoro and AVM Alfa were all Muslims. I always and will still refer to that regime as the golden years of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Any crises in Northern Nigeria before 1985 were purely political or were just an intra-faith fight between Muslim sect as was the maitatsine riots. What I mean to say is that it was never Muslims burning churches or Christians burning mosques as was witnessed right from Kafanchan 1987.

The Jos crises I say for the umpteenth was caused by the 1991 creation of Jos North Local Government which was created to cause the mayhem we have been witnessing.

The numerous crises bedeviling Northern Nigeria since that 1985 till date has been due to the divide and rule tactics used by military politicians and their civilian collaborators.

Quoting Major Jokolo in his interview, the late Sardauna in his wisdom took all Northerners along with him.  There was no tribe or religion in his dictionary. Sunday Awoniyi was his private secretary. Professor Ishaya Audu was the first indigenous Vice Chancellor of ABU Zaria. He recruited Northerners of all tribes and religion into the Nigerian Army. But look at the North today, Professor Andrew Nok, the best has been refused the Vice Chancellor ship of ABU Zaria because he is a Christian. Professor Sunday Bwala has been refused the Chief Medical Directorship and Vice Chancellor ship of the University of Maiduguri and the Teaching Hospital because he is a Christian.  Indeed it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a Professor Jacob Kwaga to become the Vice Chancellor of ABU Zaria. Likewise it is easier for an Arab Muslim to head NTA Maiduguri, Kano, Bauchi, and Sokoto than a Northern Christian. It was not so before 1985. Northern Christians before then were proud Northerners and had sense of belonging.

Since that ill-fated day in Kafanchan in 1987, the seed of discord was sown in the North and has blossom into full-grown adult and is almost consuming Nigeria. Of course we all know that the preamble was sown in 1986 when Nigeria was secretly dragged into OIC if I may remain all of us.

Since Northern Nigerian politicians know that more than half of the populations are illiterates, they use the opium of the masses which is religion and hence the political sharia introduced in 1999/2000.

Even with the introduction of sharia in 1999, virtual all the sharia governors have been accused by the EFCC for embezzlement of state fund.

As the Hausa man will say, “Waiwaya maganin mantuwa’’.

Now that some good people are saying the truth, more good people should speak up. Let us as a region re-trace our steps back to where things began to go wrong.  Where we can make amend, let us make amend. Where we need the re-conciliation and truth committee, let us have one. Where we need to forgo some rights and privileges for the sake of peace let us do that. For example if the Sayawas and the Famiwas in Bauchi need their kingdom, why can’t they be granted? Likewise if the Kilbas and the Kamwe/Higi in Adamwa State need their own kingdoms let them have it.

The North and Middle Belt of Nigeria must move forward. If the Great Britain can lose or forfeit its empire, why must oppression and parochialism continue in Nigeria of 21st century?

Finally for the North and Nigeria to move forward, let us apportion blame when there is need for that. At least we know those who have sown this seed of discord in the North and even in Nigeria especially since 1985.  

If you don’t know yet, then seen the Sunday Guardian of March 28, 2010.

I personally thank Major Mustapha Jokolo for his honest and frank interviews.

Those who destroyed Nigeria must never be allowed to come back to finish ruining Nigeria. Not the least those hated democracy with a passion and annulled the fairest and fairest election ever held in Nigeria. Chief MKO Abiola and Gani Fawehinmi will feel betrayed in their graves. Even the souls of the millions of Nigerians killed after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election will not allow that to happen.

Ndiameeh Babrik.

ndiame_2005@yahoo.co.uk