Wednesday 22 August 2018
STRENGTHENING CITIZENS’ VOICES FOR SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA
Being a Paper presented at the 1st National Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)/Launch of Innovation for Change (I4C), Nigeria, organized by the Civil Society Advance Forum on SDGs (CAS2030), held at Grand Ibro Hotel, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja (1st August, 2018).
Thursday 12 July 2012
VERY INTERESTING AND TOUCHING!!!
I listened to a very interesting true life story (via VOA Hausa Service) last Saturday morning that moved me. The story goes as follows:
On Friday, the 22nd Day of June, 2012 when Kaduna curfew was relaxed for 4 hours (12 - 4pm) to allow Muslims in the State to observe their Juma'at prayers, people saw that development as a good opportunity for them to attend to other things, like buying food stuff and withdrawing some money from ATM Machines among others.
One Shehu Halliru (a Muslim) was at one of the GTB branches in the Kaduna metropolis with his ATM card (but of another bank) to withdraw some money. When it came to his turn to withdraw the money (after spending a quite long time on the queue), the ATM machine could not dispense the money to him due to the fact that his card is not that of GTB but of another bank. Shehu Halliru had no alternative but to step aside for the next person in the long queue (Dr. Okoye) to try his luck.
Shehu Halliru was of course devastated, very disturbed and confused. He stood beside the ATM machine for a while thinking of what should be his next line of action, bearing in mind the shortest time he had within which to act. But to his big surprise, Dr. Okoye (who was able to withdraw his money, and whom Shehu is seeing for the first time) came to him and offered him half of the money he just withdrew from the machine. "Here is my phone number" said Okoye. "Return the money to me whenever you are able to withdraw."
My dear friend can you believe this? Dr. Okoye, a Christian rescuing and aiding his Muslim brother (Shehu) at a time when many Muslims and Christians were hating and killing each other? A time when Kaduna City was on fire?
Kudos to Dr. Okoye! Okoye you are my MAN OF THE YEAR!
I decided to share this story because I am sure there is a good lesson we can learn from it.
ONE NIGERIA, ONE PEOPLE!!!
PEACE!!!
Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo
Faculty of Law,
Bayero University, Kano
08033477704, 08055558250
Tuesday 6 September 2011
Nigerian Youths Must Stand Focused and United
With the recent unfortunate attacks made by the radical Islamist group popularly known as “Boko Haram” and the unending Muslim-Christian clashes in Jos, Plateau State, I find it very necessary to write this short piece in order to make a clarion call to my fellow great Nigerian Youths to avoid sentiment and bigotry, and stand focused and united, so that together we can take our beloved country, Nigeria, to a greater level.
But before I go any further, as a Muslim, I would like to put it categorically clear here that the ongoing acts of the Extremist Group known as “Boko Haram” are unislamic. Islam does not condone violence. The Arabic word “Islam” was derived from the root word “Salaam” which means “Peace and Safety”. As such, committing suicide by a Muslim or killing other innocent people (by him) without due cause, is prohibited and, of course, one of the greatest sins in Islam.
However, being a regular reader of some of the Nigerian Newspapers, particularly Vanguard Newspaper (online version), I must say that I am not encouraged by the way some unenlightened Nigerian Youths are blindly reacting to the issue of “Boko Haram”, which will not in any way solve the “Boko Haram” problem, but rather create another problem for Nigeria, which would be much bigger than the “Boko Haram” problem itself. No one is disputing the fact that the “Boko Haram” problem is a critical one which has to be addressed as a matter of urgency. But still we must be very careful in addressing it, because the problem is a complex one and there is more in it than we can superficially see. As a student and also a development worker, I find time and conducted a wider research on the ideology behind “Boko Haram”, including its origin and root causes, as well as its membership and activities. My research paid more attention on the root causes, because I strongly believe that the “Boko Haram” problem can only be solved if some of its root causes are identified and addressed. And after my research, I jumped into the conclusion that it is bad leadership and social injustices of our corrupt leaders that give birth to “Boko Haram”. It is indeed the same bad leadership that gives birth to all other evils and menaces, such as the Niger Delta Militancy and the ongoing Jos Crisis, which are always pulling our nation backward.
Similarly, it is also sad how our corrupt politicians, who are responsible for the emergence of “Boko Haram” are at the same time capitalizing on it to create confusion and bring disunity among Nigerians in order to achieve their personal political aims. These corrupt politicians have the fear that once poor Nigerians are enlightened and united, then the next thing they would do is to challenge them (politicians) and go against their long standing injustices. In order to prevent this challenge, these politicians continue to use their “Divide and Rule” system, by usually formulating and fuelling ethnic and religious crises which usually resulted into disharmony and disunity among the poor Nigerians.
At this juncture therefore, I would like to call on my fellow Nigerian Youths, who constitute more than 70% of the country’s population to kindly put aside our ethnic and religious differences and come together on one platform so as to rebuild our great country Nigeria. Sentiment, emotion and bigotry will not take us anywhere. It will only give our exploiters the chance to continue exploiting us and looting our national treasury. We must stop killing each other and destroying each other’s homes and properties all in the name of religion. Rather, we must come together and fight corruption. We must fight the present neo-liberal economic policies of our government, which have further impoverished our people, immensely increased youth unemployment and increased astronomically the cost of living for the ordinary citizens. We must start projecting towards rebuilding Another Nigeria, which is quite possible. Another Nigeria where there will be total rule of law, equity, justice and fairness for all. Another Nigeria where there will be good educational system, effective medical care, constant power supply, portable drinking water, employment opportunities for all and other infrastructural facilities for the betterment of the ordinary citizens. Another Nigeria where government will be answerable, accountable and responsive to its people.
Finally, for us to get this Another Nigeria of our dream, we must start the movement today and right now. We can start today from our community levels, by educating and enlightening those our friends, brothers and sisters on how they can actively participate towards achieving this other Nigeria, especially by using their votes wisely during elections. And we must always put it at the back of our mind that unless and until positive, responsive and effective leadership is obtained in Nigeria, we can never see an end to these epidemics, like “Boko Haram” and the rest. Let me close with the following words to my great Nigerian Youths, please, DO NOT ANTAGONISE, BUT RATHER ORGANISE!
Long Live Nigeria!
Long Live Nigerian Youths!
Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo
Faculty of Law,
Bayero University, Kano
08033477704
08055558250
Thursday 1 September 2011
State of Human Rights in Kano State
The governments’ transition from military to civilian rule in 1999 after almost 30 years of military dominance undoubtedly, ushered in hope and relief to most Nigerians that government under a democratic dispensation would effectively address the issue of human rights abuses that were prevalent during the military regimes. However, such hopes/belief now appear debatable following over a decade of democratic governance in Nigeria regarding the nation’s human rights record.
In January, 2009, the Kano State Hisbah Board ordered the Voice of Widows, Divorcees and Orphans of Nigeria (VOWAN) a non-governmental organization concerned with the welfare of widows and divorcees, to refrain from staging a rally in Kano, referring to the intended rally as ‘un-islamic’ since it has never been witnessed in the Hausa community for women to be on the streets in the name of protest.
In Kano State reported incidences of torture perpetrated by workers in government hospitals who use torture as a form of treatment for mentally retarded patients at the Dawanau Psychiatric Hospital
CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Like in other parts of the country, most women violations in Kano State
Furthermore, in this part of the country, women who are a victim of domestic violence who lay complaints and pursues legal remedy against their husbands’ risk a break-up of the marriage or generate insecurity. The husband may also deny or withdraw his economic support from her. The effect of this is that the women would normally resort to the informal justice system that operates within the community, which could be the extended family, the village head, or the community head to seek redress for violations of their rights even when it borders on criminality.
At this level however, the women are often castigated for making a domestic issue public and coupled with the inherent discriminatory practices that encourage the subjugation of women to men, they are left with no choice than remain silent. Women and girls are subjected to multiple forms of violence in their homes. In Northern Nigeria and in Kano for example, the most common forms identified includes wife battering ranging from rape, verbal abuse, denial of financial resources, denial of food, child/forced marriage, sexual violence and torture.
SPECIFIC CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Jamila, 37, owns and manages a food restaurant where she raises income to support her family. This business became necessary as the husband, Alh. Audu, could not provide food for her and their four children. Alh Audu is reputed for always beating Jamila on grounds of merely suspecting her of having illicit affairs with her customers. A similar incident of brutal attack and beating of Jamila by her husband occurred on 22nd July, 2010, involving the use of knife and extreme force on her body; including Jamila’s private part. This resulted in grievous bodily harm including fractures on her left leg, broken left arm and different scars as a result of the injuries sustained in the course of the attack. Alh. Audu has been charged to court while Jamila is currently receiving treatment at the Murtala Specialist Hospital , Kano
Amina, 19, was forced into marriage at the tender age of 15 years to a 40 years old Mallam Ibrahim. The marriage was said to be an arrangement between Amina’s parents and the family of mallam Ibrahim owing to both families long standing relationship. The marriage is blessed with 2 female children who are out of school. Mallam Ibrahim believes that it’s a waste of time and investment in sending a woman to school since they are regarded as products for sale and sooner or later will be sold off. Amina is also not educated as her father did not send her to school and the husband would not either.
Amina says her husband treats her with utter disrespect and she does not matter in the relationship. She is never asked her opinions on domestic issues, but to just take orders from her husband. Her ordeal is further compounded by the frequent beatings she receives from her husband particularly when she demands for food or money for up keep. Mallam Ibrahim usually returns home late at night and drunk every day and has consciously abandoned Amina and their children to fend for themselves or starve to death. Amina’s parents refused to intervene in the matter which they considered was a private family affair and had insisted that Amina should not disclose her sore relationship with the husband to anybody. They also did not support Amina’s decision to file for divorce so as to save their face since they had unilaterally married her off without her consent; thereby compelling Amina to remain in the marriage against all odds and irrespective of the fact that Mallam Ibrahim eventually took a second wife.
Amina says her condition is unbearable but fears to push the matter further being a Muslim and her faith frowns at revealing her marital disharmony. Amina believes her life would have been better if she had gone to school and not married off so early to a man she never loved. She has decided to live in silence through her marriage under her oppressive husband and hoping that Allah will intervene in her case.
Adamu and Farida, 22, have been living together in courstship which led to her being pregnant. When Adamu discovered that Farida was pregnant, he made no hesitation to deny same; alleging that Farida has been sleeping around with other men. He became unnecessarily hostile to Farida and beats her occasionally. Farida’s parents have who got her pregnant. When Farida was reporting this incidence to KAHRN, she confirmed that Adamu was responsible for the pregnancy.
Fatima, 27, was raped and assaulted by a police officer who was said to be Fatima ’s boyfriend. The alleged offender also confiscated some of her house hold items including electronics. Fatima was yet to make any formal report as at time our partners got to know of the incidence.
INHERITANCE
Another form of violation against women that was reported was on denial of inheritance rights by family members of deceased husbands. There were however, few of such cases perhaps due to the right of inheritance accepted women under the Qur’an which in most communities in Kano State
Halima, 35, was married to late Mohammed for 15 years before his demise 3 years ago. Halima has 6 children who are all females. Her late husband owns a house and provision store. The late husband’s brother did not allow Halima to inherit or enjoy any of the late husband’s properties for the mere reason that she had no male child.
Jummai, 38, is a petty trader with 5 children. She lost her husband two years ago and has been fending for the children single handedly since then. Jummai was denied inheritance of her late husband’s property by the relatives to the husband. The community head later intervened in the matter and helped to resolve same. Jummai has since moved into her matrimonial home with her children.
HIV – STATUS DISCRIMINATION
Mary, 33, is a mother of 6 children but was sent out of her matrimonial home by her husband when she was tested positive to HIV. All efforts made at convincing the husband to bring her back to the home proved abortive.
Jummai, 38, stigmatized by her co-tenants and people in her work place following rumor by neighbors that she is HIV positive. She was consequently dreaded and avoided by the people around her.
CHILD ABUSE
On 15th June, 2010, 15 year old Hafsatu Amadu, from Kwankwaso town, Kano State, ran away from her parental home to avoid being forced into marrying an old man about the age of her father. The matter was referred to the Hisbah Board were Hafsatu was accommodated as the father refused to heed to any intervention to send Hafsatu to school.
On 8th January, 2010, in Kano State
In Kano State , there was the case of a 15-year old Fatima who was taken by a woman trafficker to Sagamu in Ogun State Fatima was often sexually harassed whenever she went out to sell food. When the situation became unbearable for her, she ran away from Sagamu to Kano State
UNLAWFUL ARREST AND DETENTION
In Kano State , there has been a sour relationship between Hausa movie practitioners and the kano State
The censor board uses the Hisbah group as watch-dogs to enforce compliance with the institution’s regulations. The Hisbah Board in connivance with the police, raided shops and in most cases forcefully arrested and detained persons linked to the film industry and alleged to be involved in producing ostensibly illicit and immoral materials, or for refusing to register their new products with the censor board. The censor board operates a mobile court and suspects were summarily sentenced to jail terms or given options of fine without being afforded a fair hearing or the opportunity of defending themselves.
September, 2007, an actor, musician, and director, Adam Zang, was arrested and sentenced to three months imprisonment with a fine of N1000 for releasing a music video CD without first submitting same to the Kano State Aminu Ala Kano State
Apart from the prison sentences, the police and the Hisbah Group used other acts of intimidation against studios and lower profile film industry workers to the effect that each participant in the industry gets full registration with the censor board. Many youths in the film and related entertainment industry get arrested, detained and sentenced to various prison terms and fines. On 23rd June, 2010, Muhammad Adam and 6 other persons were arrested, detained and made to pay fines for various charges by the censor board mobile court on this account.
January, 2010, sale Babangida, a detainee in Kurmawa prison was re-arrested before leaving the court room upon his discharge. The police justify these re-arrest on grounds that discharges do not amount to acquittals not minding that the discharges are often borne out of lack of diligent prosecution.
ASSAULT
Sometime early last year 2010, April, to be specific three air force personnel acting under the instruction of one Flt. Lt. Umar of the 303 training school Air Force Base Kano beat to a state of coma Mr. Adebayo a spray painter in Kofar Ruwa just for not finishing spray painting the latter’s car as promised. When Mr. Adebayo’s union, Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) Complained to the 303 Commandant Audu Danbaki he only apologized that’s all. Mr. Adebayo was later left with the responsibility of treating himself. See photograph.
Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo
Faculty of Law,
Bayero University, Kano
08033477704
08055558250
Youth Position Paper on Electoral Reform in Nigeria
YOUTH POSITION PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL / ELECTORAL REFORM IN NIGERIA
YOUTH MEMORANDUM ON ELECTORAL REFORM IN NIGERIA, SUBMITTED TO THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW AT A NORTH-WEST PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON THE 14TH AND 15TH DECEMBER, 2009 AT SANI ABACHA STADIUM (INDOOR HALL), KOFAR MATA, KANO
Protocols:
On behalf of the United Action for Democracy, UAD (North-West Zone) and Youth Coalition on Electoral Reform, North-West Wing, it is my pleasure to present the Youth Memorandum on the Constitutional & Electoral Reform to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review. This paper is an attempt to capture and communicate the position of Nigerian youth on the Constitutional/Electoral Reform in Nigeria
Nigerian youths celebrate the initiative taken by the President, His Excellency, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua to inaugurate the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) and the bold step taken by the National Assembly to review the constitution at the instance of Executive bills being forwarded to it. We commend the Committee for requesting the general public to submit memoranda and for organizing hearings. Thus, this effort sets the ball rolling towards entrenching electoral justice in
Overview:Bad elections have great consequences for this nation. At best it gives birth to a weak government which inflicts distress upon the people. Unfortunately, the people as whole pay the price, most especially young people, left on margins, neglected and forgotten in poverty and misery. Our civil life cannot be complete if the ideas and opinions of young people are missing from campaigns and grassroots effort to change policy. The process must take on board the involvement of young people at all levels in debating freely the content of the constitution and Electoral reform. Youths should be worked with and not worked for. Youths should be seen and heard at the same time
The youths of this generation stand on the threshold of remarkable history. With over 68% of
While many governments and social institutions are struggling with the idea of youth participation and other even questioning its usefulness, some governments have evidently taken good initiatives to promote youth participation. Under the provisions of the National Youth Statute of 1993 and the Parliamentary Act of 1995, five young people between the ages of 18 – 30 are elected to the national government in
As a coalition, having critically examined the state of affairs in the country, we consider credible electoral system as the only foundation upon which the pillars of good governance can be erected if we are to arrive at the beautiful edifice of sustainable development in the Nigeria Independence
About the Youth Memorandum on Electoral Reforms in Nigeria
1. Mainstreaming Youth in electoral and political processes: On the average, youths represent a mere 5% of all elected legislators worldwide and we remain underrepresented in most national and international administrative structures. Yet youths constitute the largest block of our population. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution confers upon all citizens the right to democratic governance and Section 77 (2) states that every citizen in
2. Addressing the issue of Partial Franchise: Franchise is the right to vote and be voted for. Unfortunately, franchise is only a right to vote in
We posit that franchise be protected from a constitutional point of view with a provision that allows the voter to be voted for. The intellect involved in making a choice of vote approves the right of being voted for. Besides, the scourge of HIV/AIDS, natural disasters, conflicts and other exigent situations has contributed an interesting perspective to the whole issue of democratic deepening and franchise. Youth (around age 18) have been forced in several circumstances to assume leadership and control of communities, owing to death or invalidity of seniors. These emergency leader-youths definitely deserve to be protected by law to seek leadership of their constituencies through elections.
3. Poverty eradication as an electoral reform component: The socio-economic environment within which elections are conducted cannot be divorced from the outcome of those elections. In
4. Affirmative action for increased youth policy participation in government: Given that 68% Nigeria’s population is made up of young people between the ages of 18 & 35 and coupled with the fact that young people deserve increased policy participation, we firmly posit that the Nigerian Constitution should guarantee the youth participations at all levels of government . The same goes for nomination as Ministers, Ambassadors, Special Assistants and Special Advisers where we recommend that, at least, 10% of these portfolios should be dedicated to young people.
5. Youth Electoral Support (YES) Fund: The Federal government through INEC should be mandated by a constitutional provision to set-up a Youth Electoral Support (YES) Fund. The YES Fund should be statutorily funded through a contribution of 5% of INECs statutory allocation from the Consolidated Revenue Fund at federal level and 5% of Special SIEC Fund at state levels. The YES Fund should serve as a financial resource pool for youth political aspirants to draw from to meet the costs of seeking elective offices in
Definition of youth: We submit that the Constitution should include a clause definition of youth. For the purpose of this submission, youth should be defined as anyone between the ages of 18 and 35.
Our Position and Recommendations:
1. Independent Candidacy: Section 65 (2) (b), S106, S131, and S177 of the 1999 Constitution should be amended to make provision for an individual to run as an independent candidate. One means by which the political space can be opened is to accommodate independent candidature. It is our opinion that qualified persons who do not wish to join any political party for ideological or personal reasons, should have the right to run for elections as independent candidates. This contributes to enhancing the deepening of our democracy.
2. Independence Nigeria
3. Appointment Process: We strongly support the electoral reform committee’s on the appointment of the Chairman of the electoral commission that the National Judicial Council (Which is the only arm of government that is non-partisan and trained to be impartial) be responsible for receiving applications from the general public, shortlist candidates and forward same to the council of state and to the senate for confirmation.
4. Composition of INEC Board (Youths must have a slot on the board): The electoral reform committee recommendation and the executive bill failed to include youth representatives on the board of the electoral commission. It amounts to absolute neglect of the youths. The board should be constituted to reflect various interests in the society. Democracy is about numbers. Youths constitute a larger percentage of our population and so cannot be neglected. We have power in our numbers therefore our interest must be reflected on INEC board. In addition to the recommendations already made, we demand that there should be youth representatives on the board of the electoral commission.
5. The power to appoint the Chairman of INEC should be removed from the Presidency: The position of the Chairman of the Commission should be advertised. The National Judicial Institute shall consider the applications, shortlist candidates and forward same to the council of state and to the senate for confirmation. The commission is among the federal executive bodies established pursuant to Section 153 (1) of the 1999 Constitution. Therefore we propose that Section 153 of the constitution should be amended to remove INEC from direct executive control.
6. The composition of INEC board should include at least 1 youth representative between the ages of 18 to 35.
7. Section 155 of the 1999 Constitution should be amended to provide that the tenure of office of the Chairman and members of the board of INEC shall be five years from the date of appointment, renewable only once.
8. Section 84 of the 1999 Constitution should be amended to give the effect that the recurrent expenditure of INEC shall be a first line charge on a Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation. This includes salaries and allowances of the members of the commission.
9. There is a great need to reform the legal and constitutional framework governing elections in Nigeria
10. Language: Language is a veritable tool for communication. There is no gainsaying that the language of the 1999 Constitution is too technical for an average Nigerian to read and understand. The constitution as ground norm of any given society is meant to be understood by every citizen for effective implementation and enforcement of citizens’ rights. We posit that the Committee must take into consideration, the language and terminologies to be employed in drafting a new constitution. The market woman, the petty trader, the cobbler on the street, the security guard, the messenger, the road-side mechanic, undergraduate and the graduate should pick up the constitution, read and understand it.
11. Party registration: Section 222 of the constitution and the electoral act 2006 should be amended to remove from INEC the power to register and monitor political parties. The powers should be vested in a new body to be known as Political Parties Registration and Regulatory Commission.
12. Electoral offences: Section 174 (c) of the 1999 Constitution should be amended such that the constitutional power of nolle prosequi vested in the Attorney-General of the Federation or of a state does not apply to electoral offences.
13. The Electoral Act 2006 should be amended to establish the Electoral Offences Commission. The Commission shall coordinate, enforce and prosecute all electoral offences.
14. The composition of the Commission shall have members who are of unquestionable character and non-partisan.
15. There shall be a youth representative on the board and the chairman shall be appointed by the National Judicial Council subject to confirmation by the Senate.
16. Determination of electoral disputes: Section 285 of 1999 constitution should be amended to specify the period for considering petitions as follows: the determination of cases by tribunals should take four months and appeals should take a further 2 months, a total of 6 months.
17. Section 149 of the Electoral Act 2006 should be repealed. No elected person should assume office until the case against him/her in the tribunal or court is disposed of.
18. Sections 132 (2) and 178 (2) of the 1999 Constitution should be amended to appoint a single date for presidential and gubernatorial elections which should be held at least six months before the expiration of the term of the current holders of office. In that way, victories in earlier elections do not influence other elections.
19. Cross Carpeting: Section 68 (1) (g) 1999 constitution prohibits cross carpeting for members of the Senate and House of Representatives. There exists a lacuna in Sections 135 and S180 1999 Constitution the import of which does not prohibit cross carpeting for the President and Governor. S135 and S180 should be amended to make cross carpeting a ground for removal of office for the President and Governors.
20. Section 65 (1) (a) should be amended to reduce the age limit to 30 years for Senate. Section 65 (1) (b) and Section 106 (b) should be amended to reduce the age requirement to 25 years for House of Representatives and state houses of assembly.
21. Section 65 (2) (a), Section 106 (c), S131 (d) and S177 (d) should be substituted by elevating the education qualification to a university certificate or its equivalent.
22. Proportional Representation: Section 49 of 1999 Constitution should be amended to ensure that 30% of party lists under the proposed proportional representation system are reserved for women, 10% for youth and 5% for physically challenged persons without prejudice to their right to also compete for representation under the First – Past-The-Post-System.
23. Section 49 and Section 91 of the 1999 Constitution should be amended to make provision for a permanent seat for Youth.
24. Chapter 2 and Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution should be harmonized to make all the rights contained therein justiciable and enforceable. Chapter II of the constitution contains fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy. This is to the effect that the violation of rights contained under Chapter II cannot give rise to a cause of action.
Conclusion:For us, the fundamental reason for electoral reform is to restore the electoral sovereignty back to the people – the voters reform should therefore be tailored to establish confidence of the masses in electoral processes of the country. Ordinary people like youths suffer the most from votes theft and mandate denial as they are being ‘robbed’ of their rights of selecting whom they want to lead them. It has to be stated here emphatically that the power of vote has to be restored to the people.
The votes must simply count! We think that other stakeholders will be interested to share power between and among them at the expense of the common man. We will be watching to see if the benchmarks to establish proper reforms would be accepted both by this committee and the government at the end of the hearing and the entire review process.
We will be looking forward to see if the youthful sovereignty will be realized through this reform process by having young people placed on the composition of INEC and by fully restoring the youth franchise.
Signed by:
- Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo
08033477704, 08055558250
- Rabi’u Umar Maska
07033828272
- Musa Abdullahi Sufi
08054724860, 07064873753
Stop Regionalizing Yar'adua's Sickness and the Presidency
It is quite unfortunate that some Nigerians are always ignoring the truth and out of their selfish interest acting and reacting on religious and regional sentiments over the condition of Yar’adua’s health and the status of Jonathan as acting President of Nigeria. As far as I am concerned, at this critical moment, having Christian or Muslim leader should not be an Agenda to Nigeria. What Nigeria is in dire need is a good leader who will move this country forward, even if he doesn’t have a religion at all, not to mention the part of the country where he comes from. I am a Muslim, from Northern Nigeria, who believes in the Holy Qur’an and the Hadeeths (Prophetic Traditions), but I won’t mind having a Christian or even pagan President coming from any part of this country provided he is physically fit, and will lead and serve my beloved country Nigeria well. Besides, what mechanism is the “so called Shugabannin Arewa” (meaning Northern leaders) putting in place towards the development of Arewa and its people? For instance, what are they contributing towards the promotion of “Education” and reduction of “Poverty” in the region? Very soon the truth shall be clear to all those acting on regional sentiments. Please, let us believe in “One Nigeria one People”.
Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo
Faculty of Law
Bayero University, Kano
08033477704
08055558250
Northern Elites Zoning is not an Issue to Nigerians!
The ongoing debate on the desirability and constitutionality or otherwise of the “Zoning System” in Nigeria has become an order of the day in the country’s news. There is a great deal of diverse opinions from several Nigerians on whether “PDP Zoning Arrangement” should continue to be respected or not. However, the question one may ask here is, is “Zoning” in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999)? Or is “Zoning” one of the principles of true democracy? Anyway, that should be by the way, because as far as I am concerned, the ongoing debate is another means (added to other thousand means) that the present PDP Government is using in diverting the attention of Millions of suffering Nigerians from the unfulfilled and undelivered promises made to them. Let’s take 7-Points Agenda (which I always referred to as “7-Points Hidden Agenda”) as an example. What is currently happening in the power, education and health sectors among others? What achievement did Nigerians witness so far (From 2007 to date)? Are these systems improving or worsening? Then, what are the ways forward? But, instead of PDP Government and other “Pro-Zoning” agitators addressing and asking questions on these critical issues, they are all focusing their attention and wasting their energy on carrying out debates on “Zoning” and campaigns for 2011 Presidential Office, which has little meaning and importance to majority of the Nigerian populace.
On the other hand, as a Northerner or rather Northern Youth let me discuss “Zoning” and its impact to the Northern Region. It is obvious that some Northern Politicians who are “Pro-Zoning” are now using “Zoning” as a tool in campaigning for 2011 Presidential Office. Some of them have ruled this nation before but it is glaring that they left behind little or no legacy even for the North they are claiming and using. Likewise, when we look at the history of previous leadership Nigeria had from Independence to date (both Military and Civil), we find out that Northern Region produced majority of the leaders the country had. Yet, the Region is still far behind in terms of economic, educational and social development among others compared to its counterpart in the country. Then in this case, what did the Region benefit from this leadership of its own “so called” indigenes?
Therefore, based on the above, I think with the number of non-stop and uninterrupted years Nigeria spent practicing democracy, it is high time for Nigerians to start practicing democracy proper. What our Dear country Nigeria is in dire need is a good leader who will move the country forward, regardless of his/her sex, age, religion, ethnicity or tribe. Hence, with “Zoning” or no “Zoning” Nigerians should start giving priority on the credibility, integrity and capability of any candidate they would vote into political office come 2011 General Election.
Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo
Faculty of Law,
Bayero University, Kano
08033477704, 08055558250
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