Sokoto Carnage: Why (Dr) Nastura is different

 

.

By: Usman M. Ilelah.

I am writing this piece highly worried and deeply concerns over the recent carnages in Sokoto State and the North West in particular. Our State is traumatic and still in shock over the inhuman and satanic killings of our brothers in sisters while on transit.

This is happening in a region that has the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria and 19th States Northern Governors,Members of the Federal Executive Council, Highly renowned Islamic clerics and Countless traditional rulers. 

On thing that make me feel very optimistic is that (Dr) Nastura Ashir Sherrif was citing him along the Sokoto renowned Sokoto cleric Sheirk Bello Yabo. I am confident that the duo meeting will in the overall interest of Nigerians who's future keep looming in the air and certainly he has proven beyond speeches that is in indeed a different personality when compared to the current crop of leaders.

We are unfortunate to find ourselves in a system that lost it moralitiy in Human thoughts, cultural heritage and Politics of conscience. We are only left with rulers who only has respect and can protect only their thrones but not the primary responsibilities of ensuring that lives and properties of the citizenry taken care off.

The North is indeed leaderless and we unfortunate to have found ourselves in a region who's Political leaders place no priority to human lives. It is an unarguable discussion that human lives in the North is more cheaper than even the commodities in the market.

The Continue Killings and abduction for ransom in the North West region deserves more than Mr President attention. It is expected that by now the President should have been to Sokoto State to share his pains with the family of the love ones born to ashes in the State. 

This is a region that gave him the highest votes in the 2015 and 2019 respectively and before the emergence of this change administration many could not believe that this will continue to happen under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari who is also the son of the soil.

This Insecurity is coming at the time the Federal Government is on top gear to remove fuel subsidy come 2022. It means that Nigerians must brace up as hard times awaits all Nigerians that will be alive next year. It is so sad that most of the Northern elites are now conspirators of the ongoing Insecurity challenges in the North West region because their Continued silent while these mindless groups are holding hostage clearly justify our submission.

The main reason why the Chairman of the Coalition of Northern Groups-CNG  (Dr)  Nastura Ashir Sherrif is different is ,beyond Condenmnation and issuing Press Statements on the Federal Government plan to hike the price of Petroleum next year and the recent killings in Sokoto State. He has in person today visited Sokoto State to sympathize with the families of the victims of those who were born to ashes by bandits in Sokoto State.

He equally used the occasion pray to pray for the repose Soul of those who lost their lives and equally to seek Allah's intervention to restore back peace in the North and Sokoto State in particular. This is a man who does not hold a any Political Office but has chosen to traveled this long kilometres to personally comfort the good people of Sokoto State. 

At least my heart has found peace that despite the challenges confronting the Northern region yet there are people who shared the perception of late Maitama Sule concerns. He has already taken a stands on the ongoing plan to remove subsidy to which most of our Political elites are keeping silent over. 

To me ,With the exception of Nastura Ashir Sherrif in the entire Northern Nigeria only few can match his outstanding sacrifices in ensuring that the North is back to its feets. This is the definition of leadership capabilities and potentialities in the face of the current realities. No doubt about it that CNG is now beyond just a voice in the North but  a rallying point towards restoring the region lost glory.

 Ilelah, Department of Sociology University of Abuja.Writes from Sokoto, 

Nigeria.

12th December,2021.