Month: September 2023

By Abdurrahman Muhammad

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condoled the Chairman of Jamā’atu Izālatil Bid’ah wa Iqāmatis-Sunnah (JIBWIS) Nigeria – Sheikh Dr Abdullahi Bala Lau, on the death of a member of the executive of the organisation, Sheikh Abubakar Giro Argungu.

In the condolence message signed by its National Secretary, Malam Ibrahim Musa Yelwa Al-kisa’i, MURIC said that the deceased was reported to have passed away on Wednesday night and buried at his hometown cemetery in Argungu after Zuhr yesterday.

Giro was reported by his son to have sought forgiveness from his friends and family, and in the end, he uttered the Kalimatush-shahādah (the last testimony of belief in Allah). Sheikh Giro was known to be a committed and consistent Islamic scholar throughout his lifetime and had little or no attachments to worldly materials.

His death is indeed a national and international tragedy that befell Muslims, yet we admit that death is a necessary end, and it must be accepted by devoted Muslims in the right way.

The National Secretary prayed on behalf of the organisation for Allah to forgive the deceased and to give all those bereaved by his death the fortitude to bear the loss.

By Aisha Musa Auyo

A beautiful marriage comprises couples who see and know how to appreciate one another by verbalising their positive estimation of each other. Some couples don’t just internalise their appreciation of each other’s beauty but voice it out. 

Men, when you see your wife as she is dressing up, don’t keep quiet; it’s an opportunity to tell her how beautiful she looks, for you are her mirror. I started with men because they are the gender that is very stingy with words. It’s the same gender that was telling you how beautiful you were before marriage. Now they became mute; I wonder what happened.  

Men, you are the only ones who see the fabulous underwear your spouse is wearing, which others will never have an opportunity to see or compliment. If she does not have undies worth complimenting, get her one! Who is more qualified to tell a woman she is beautiful than her husband?

It is very encouraging for a spouse to know that their partner appreciates how they look and still thinks of them as handsome or beautiful, not minding the number of years they have been together as a couple. It does not matter how old you are or how long you have been married. Simple appreciation, no matter the form, is a beautiful way of adding colour to your marriage. The food is delicious, the home smells nice, the bathroom looks spotless, this hairstyle looks great on you, etc., will cost you nothing but earn you a lot.

As much as men enjoy verbal appreciation, they also crave respect and admiration. Admiration for their hard work, masculinity, sacrifices, and admiration for their ideals, deeds, and wins.

When a spouse knows they are highly appreciated or valued, the one who receives the love will always have an urge or a longing to give back what they have received. So it’s a win-win.

Even if you have been giving and not receiving compliments, don’t despair. You will agree that giving of appreciation has a package attached to it: the joy of giving. A gift which lightens your heart and sends waves of fulfilment to you whenever you show gratitude. It’s a win-win situation.

Remember, your spouse is an opportunity to show love, kindness and gratitude; the best expression of meekness and humility and, above all, the best person after God to lavish all the praise you can fathom.

Aisha Musa Auyo is a Doctorate researcher in Educational Psychology, a wife, a mother of three, a homemaker, a caterer and a parenting/ relationship coach.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

A shocking case of alleged homicide unfolded in Hamburg, Germany, as a 37-year-old man faced trial for the brutal murder of his 100-year-old grandmother. 

The accused, a German native born in Estonia, appeared in court on Thursday to answer the grave charges against him. 

The prosecution’s case revolves around the accused’s inability to care for his elderly grandmother, who was 100 years old and suffered from dementia.

The prosecuting lawyer emphasised this point in court, stating, “He could not cope with looking after her.” The horrifying incident took place in the early hours of March 6, when the accused reportedly launched a vicious attack on his defenceless grandmother inside her Hamburg home. 

The elderly woman, struggling to fend off her assailant while sitting in a wheelchair, endured a harrowing assault. 

According to the prosecution, the victim suffered at least 16 blows to her head and neck during the violent encounter. The brutal attack resulted in her falling to the ground, sustaining a broken shoulder, and ultimately succumbing to spinal injuries. 

The accused, in a chilling turn of events, took it upon himself to alert emergency services to the grisly act he had committed. When the police arrived at the scene, they discovered the lifeless body of the 100-year-old woman.

Remarkably, the man offered no resistance and surrendered himself to the authorities without incident. 

As the trial unfolds in the northern German city of Hamburg, the court will delve further into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.

The accused faces a charge of homicide, and the legal proceedings will determine his guilt or innocence in the murder of his own grandmother.

By Tukur Hafsat Sani 

The art or science of breastfeeding can be projected to be as old as the childbirth phenomenon itself. Some historians have hypothesised that this important act became a widespread practice about 2.6 million years ago.

Inappropriate marketing of breast milk substitutes, stigmatisation, body image crisis, and public shaming, among others, have continued to undermine the efforts of medical experts and world organisations to improve breastfeeding rates and duration worldwide. With the world evolving, this is gradually changing.

In view of the importance of breastfeeding, over 30 years ago and even more precisely on February 14th, 1991, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) came up with the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), of course in partnership with World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), government agencies and other non-governmental organisations across the globe.

The event was innovative, aiming to establish a global breastfeeding culture and provide support for breastfeeding mothers or even surrogates everywhere while promoting exclusive breastfeeding for a minimum of six months.

Therefore, World Breastfeeding Week is an annual tradition celebrated from the first and ends on the seventh of August worldwide, each year with a peculiar theme or slogan. Interestingly today, more than 100 countries globally participate in this important event.

On themes, for example, WABA, for the year 2020, chose “Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet’’ as its theme. The focus of WBW 2020 was aligned with thematic area 3 in WBW-SDG 2030 and is on the impact of infant feeding on the environment or climate change and the imperative to protect, promote and support breastfeeding for the health of the planet and its people owing to the fact that breastmilk is environmentally safe; produced and delivered without pollution.

In 2021 it was “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility”, which was with respect to the survival, health and well-being of women, children and nations, as well as how nursing mothers can be supported. For last year, it was “Step up for Breastfeeding – Educate and Support”. The WABA for this year set a theme – “Enabling breastfeeding: making a difference for working parents.”

Breastfeeding is the process of feeding a mother’s breast milk to her infant – newborn baby because, apart from the bond of love that is built between a mother and her child through the process, breast milk is the most important and essential food an infant should receive due to colostrum it contains, and this colostrum possess antibodies and other immunological benefits that can give babies a healthy boost.

Universally, breastfeeding is of two types, exclusive breastfeeding and partial breastfeeding, which only a few in our society are able to differentiate and know the significance of.

Exclusive breastfeeding implies availing a child only breast milk without any solid food for the first eighteen weeks of his or her life, while for partial breastfeeding, an infant receives both breast milk and solid or semi-solid food. Noteworthy of the fact that exclusive breastfeeding is highly recommended by health professionals both for the benefit of mother and child. 

Since is singular act of breastfeeding helps mothers, according to studies, reduce conditions such as depression and breast cancer while simultaneously breeding children who are physically, biologically and mentally alert, it becomes imperative to help drive the 2023 campaign of “Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!” – a campaign which focuses on promoting practices that can help support workplace-related breastfeeding in different countries.

Hence, employers of labour should support working-class mothers in different countries across different contract types and sectors and promote action that can be taken to help ensure breastfeeding works for all working-class women.

This can be achieved through sensitisation, supporting rather than stigmatisation of this prime natural process, and providing secluded areas where working mothers can feed their babies without eyes preying on them needlessly while at work. 

While mothers across the globe are encouraged to keep up the good work of breastfeeding in other to build a healthier and smarter global population, providing them access to breastfeeding their babies while at work would mean that we are making breastfeeding and work, work!

God Bless All Mothers Across the World.

Hafsat, a 200-level Student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, writes via hafsasarney@gmail.com.

By Abdussamad Yahya Sufi

My Literature teacher cautioned me in secondary school to avoid using Pidgin English during communication. Mr. Ibrahim Bello would always tell me that using pidgin in the infancy of learning English would affect my budding standard English. Since then, I have never used it and always try to avoid it in writing and speaking.

Now that I’m at university, I have met different people from southern Nigeria who always use pidgin. At first, I feared what would happen to my infant English. However, later, I realised that I could still maintain the standard since they all understood standard English; they just chose not to use it.

During my first days at university, the pidgin speakers in my hostel irritated me the most. Everyone used the language, and I didn’t understand 80% of it. When someone talked to me, especially my roommates, I would ask them to translate what they said.

After a few days, many of the guys in the hostel noticed me and began teasing me, thinking I simply chose not to speak the language until they understood that I didn’t understand it. They started calling me ‘English Man,’ which didn’t bother me as I had heard such names before.

Some invited me to their rooms to tell me stories, and I never rejected that opportunity. I knew it would help me improve my English skills. When I told them stories, they paid attention and asked questions in good English, not bad pidgin. 

Honestly, that helped me build my public speaking skills, and I appreciate the guys for understanding me then, unlike before. Even when I meet any of them on campus now, they introduce me as the ‘English Man.’ to their friends, and they all speak good English while exchanging greetings.

I don’t mind being silly while learning; I don’t hide myself when interacting with my schoolmates and friends. They are my laboratory, where I practise what I have learned. Even if they laugh at me or call me names, I use those experiences to practise my learning skills.

Abdussamad Yahya Sufi wrote via abdussamadsufi744@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has expressed gratitude to Allah and the Kaduna state people for their enormous supports and confidence reposed on the administration in the crucial first 100 days in office.

Govenor Sani’s first 100 days in office has taken several key interventions across security, health, education, infrastructure and rural development.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Muhammad Lawal Shehu, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Wednesday.

The statement reads, “To mark this milestone,several activities were lined up and several projects cutting across the 7 pillars of the SUSTAIN manifesto were announced and commissioned.

“With safety and security as the first pillar of the SUSTAIN manifesto, the Kaduna State Government in partnership with other security agencies commenced the training of 7,000 recruits of the Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVS).

“The recruits were drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. This move to strengthen the Kaduna Vigilance Service to assist the police and other security agencies in the state in combating crime has been welcomed by all well-meaning citizens.

“In efforts to upgrade infrastructure, the construction of 32 rural roads covering about 406km across our 23 Local Government Areas has commenced as part of efforts to transform our rural areas, a main policy thrust of this administration.

“In health, state-of-the-art-mobile diagnostic trucks purchased by Kaduna State Government were commissioned and essential medical equipment are currently being distributed to our 290 Primary HealthCare Centres. The mobile trucks come fully-fitted with medical diagnostic equipment to render integrated health services in hard-to-reach and underserved communities across Kaduna state.

“Similarly, a fully-equipped Women and Child Shelter at Katuru Road was commissioned ,to serve as a transit home for children and women who are subjected to violence abuse by offering them medical, psychosocial and legal support.

“In continuation of activities marking the first 100 days in office, and as evidence of his commitment to education especially girl-child education, Governor Uba Sani commissioned a constructed/renovated 200-bed capacity hostel block, 16 classrooms, and a sickbay at the Government Girls Secondary School, Kawo, Kaduna North LGA.

“The Governor to the delight of parents state-wide also performed the groundbreaking for the construction of 62 Junior and Secondary Schools across the state, where he used the opportunity to reiterate that in Kaduna state,primary and secondary education in state-owned schools is free,” the statement added.

By Aminah M. Abubakar 

The crackdown on women begging for alms or food in Arewa communities has raised questions and fears of human rights violations. Attacks on innocent women, based on fear-mongering claims of a group of women trained as cultists to carry out nefarious missions, are becoming increasingly alarming.

Several audio clips circulating on social media alleged that about 100 women were trained by a secret society group to infiltrate Arewa communities, posing as beggars or impoverished individuals needing financial assistance. It is claimed that if you allow them into your home and offer any assistance, whether money or food, you will instantly collapse or die.

How was this baseless and manipulative statement conceived?

Who is responsible for perpetuating the fear-mongering that endangers women’s lives in Northern Nigeria?

Why do many, including the educated class, believe such a narrative paves the way for the blatant abuse of vulnerable women?

Why haven’t religious scholars and traditional leaders investigated to uncover the truth behind this notorious fear-mongering, which poses a threat to innocent women struggling with poverty and hunger?

At times of every new power shift in Nigeria, there has been different tribulation and tension. Hence, rumourmongers have a role to play in creating chaos and instability.

Islam condemns rumour-mongering. It is well known that Islam enjoins its followers to act cautiously and verify any story or news that comes to them according to Shari’ah because Allah says in the noble Qur’an:

“Believers, when a dishonest  person brings you a piece of news, carefully ascertain its truth, lest you should hurt a people in ignorance and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.” ~ Surah Al-Hujuraat 49:6.

While I may be mistaken, my instincts compel me to question the authenticity of the initial stories that struck fear into the hearts of people, creating tension and distrust towards women seeking financial assistance at a time when most families struggle to afford decent food.

I wonder if the fabricated fear-mongering was aimed at silencing people and preventing them from voicing their grievances toward government policies that exacerbated the existing economic breakdown caused by the previous administration. It’s always difficult to discern the extent to which those in power will go to manipulate and conceal their shortcomings.

Just two days ago, I witnessed a disturbing video on Facebook where two destitute women were mercilessly beaten by a group of teenage boys for no apparent reason other than their quest for food or to visit another community. Similar incidents can be found on WhatsApp groups, where women have been stripped almost naked and beaten by groups of youths over flimsy allegations, such as causing the collapse of someone merely through conversation. Treating vulnerable women is unjust and unwarranted, as any form of human rights violation is profoundly concerning and illegal.

Those who pushed the fabricated narrative that 100 or 1000 occultic women were capable of killing people by simply greeting or begging have now created the violent “monsters” that are now taking advantage of the situation to attack or even kill poor women – widows & mothers whose means of survival depend only on going out to beg for food or financial support.

We are all aware that the harsh economic situation created by the new government has increased the number of people seeking food and financial assistance. This group includes mentally ill and poverty-stricken citizens. Millions of Nigerian families have been enduring significant hardships due to the new government’s policies and are unsurprised.

It has always been the usual norm in Nigeria: the politicians and elites live in luxury, indulging in the finest pleasures – lavishly eating the best whenever they desire, living in luxurious homes they build, while the ordinary citizens who entrusted politicians with their votes suffer from poverty and the consequences of self-serving decisions made by the elites.

I hope this brief piece sheds light on the fabricated fear-mongering prevailing in Arewa communities, emphasising the gravity of human rights violations. It also underscores how impoverished and hungry women have been made scapegoats by a nonsensical false alarm intended to divert attention from the harsh economic realities that adversely affect people’s health and well-being.

Aminah M. Abubakar sent the article via mbubakar.minah@gmail.com. She can also be contacted via her X handle (formally known as Twitter): @MinahMbubakar11.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Muslim world mourns the loss of Sheikh Abubakar Abdullahi Giro Argungu, a highly respected Islamic scholar whose teachings and dedication to Islam resonated globally.

Sheikh Argungu’s passing was announced on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, casting a profound sense of sorrow throughout the global Islamic community.

Sheikh Giro Argungu’s untimely demise comes as a shock to many, as he had been in high spirits while delivering a lecture the previous night.

The news of his passing has left many followers and admirers grappling with grief and disbelief.

Known for his profound knowledge of Islamic teachings and his unwavering commitment to spreading the message of peace and understanding, Sheikh Argungu was a beacon of wisdom and enlightenment.

By Saifullahi Attahir

“It’s still morning in Nigeria, democracy is just eight years old, our Nation has changed for the better, but there is much left to do……for Nigeria of today,  the Sun is still rising” – Yar’adua during campaign 2007.

I deliberately chose the above phrase as a   subtitle of my essay due to the sorrow  I felt whenever I remembered the chances our dear country missed by losing the above rare political figure through the cold hand of death. Although I’m a Muslim who believes in destiny, I still can’t help but recount the countless opportunities and milestones we were about to scale during a very golden hour in the political history of Nigeria.

Before 2007, little was known about this gentleman apart from his home state, Katsina. Although many Northern Governors were busy lobbying in Abuja for President Obasanjo to anoint them as PDP presidential flag bearers, Umaru Yar’adua was far in the remote state of Katsina. Unconcerned with the political atmosphere in Abuja, he was busy building a legacy of service known in his family’s blood.

In a  dramatic twist of fate, President Obasanjo handed over the PDP ticket to Umaru Yar’adua after inviting him to Abuja. This singular act of courage and benevolence by Obasanjo, which deserved accolades, was done after scrutiny of all the Northern Governors at that time, with historians quoting Obasanjo as saying, ‘Yar’adua was one of the few spotless politicians with a good track record of efficient administration’.  This can be a powerful message to powermongers, especially in today’s politics,  that God can give it (power)  to whom He likes without lobbying or cutting corners.

Umaru Yar’adua was born in 1951 to Late Musa Yar’adua, a former Lagos Minister during the Tafawa Balewa administration. His father was also a Chieftain (Matawalle)  in Katsina Royal court. Their household was a signatory of service, honesty and discipline that produced many notable figures, including his senior brother, Late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua.

Yar’adua attended the prestigious  Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)  Zaria,  where he obtained a degree and master’s in chemistry education between 1972 and 1978. He had a stint as a lecturer at CAST in Zaria and Katsina Polytechnic. Umaru Yar’adua was a teacher by heart who took teaching as his favourite hobby and job despite his affluent family background. This can testify to this man’s ultimate humility and love of service for his Nation.

It was not only teaching that Yar’adua knew, as part of their family tradition, but he was also later a Director of several companies that were founded by either his brother or Late father, including;  Habib Bank Limited, Lodigiani Nig Limited, Hamada Limited, Sambo farms. This is to show that Yar’adua has a taste in the private sector as a prudent manager of resources with vast practical knowledge of the economy.

During his tenure as Governor of Katsina state, he was the first in Nigeria to declare his assets to the public. He also saw to the massive construction of public schools, equipping and rehabilitating hospitals, good road networks, and prudent management of Katsina treasury. These are not just created lies but historical facts. One example that can testify to this is how Yar’adua picked and groomed one of the finest intellectual and hardworking administrators Nigeria has ever had, Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi. This economic guru has worked closely with Yar’adua as an aide and later as commissioner of finance. The hard work of this fellow led to Obasanjo appointing him as Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Commission. Indeed, Tanimu Yakubu would be an article I would separately write one day by God’s grace.

The choice of Yar’adua as the presidential candidate was not without foes; even among the Cabinet Ministers of Obasanjo, some people looked at themselves as the most competent for that job, so this automatically created harsh criticism between them and Yar’adua even before the government took off.  The example of what transpired between Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i and Yar’adua was an unfortunate event. Although I see El-Rufa’i as an exemplary leader and my political mentor, his bitterness and open hatred toward Yar’adua were less expected of him. At least, it should have ended after his death, but to the surprise of many, his untimely death has become a source of pride and rejoicing for others.

Among the first surprises Yar’adua to the world after his election was his confession that the election that brought him to power was faulty, but he asserted his commitment to bring change in electoral reforms. He quickly again declared his assets. The choice of Cabinet members in the Yar’adua government was a testimony to his commitment to Nigeria. Most of his political appointees are people of unquestionable character,  integrity and experienced technocrats.

Dr Shamsudeen Usman, a Kano-born Economic guru, was the Minister of National Planning. Dr Mansur Mukthar, another Kano technocrat, was the Minister of Finance.  Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, a radical Economist, was the head of CBN. Colonel Abdurrahman Dambazau, another Kano-strong man, was the chief of Army staff. Ojo Maduekwe, an intelligent diplomat, was the Foreign Minister. Dora Akunyili, an iron Lady, was the head of NAFDAC. Tanimu Yakubu, a rare gem, was the Chief Economic Adviser. Segun Adeniyi, a veteran writer and mentor, was the Presidential spokesperson. Abba Sayyadi Ruma, a confidant of Yar’adua, was the Minister of Agriculture. Dr. Aliyu Modibbo is in charge of FCT. Mrs.  Fareeda Waziri as EFCC boss. Attahiru Jega, as the unforgettable INEC chairman. Even Mallam Nasir Elrufa’i was initially part of the government as head of Energy sector reform. These are some of the few members of Umaru’s administration to give an idea about what he intended for this country.

Immediately after its inauguration,  Yar’adua set the agenda for this country as ‘VISION 2020’ to set Nigeria as one of the world’s top 20 countries with a strong economy by 2020.

These were not empty promises or the usual character of some politicians, but a tangible and committed road map he has charted for Nigeria with the strong political will to deliver. Yar’adua developed the famous ‘7 POINT AGENDA’, a simplistic approach to good governance and a roadmap for a brighter Nigeria. This is unlike the multiple, complex, ambiguous, and confused slogans we have witnessed since his demise by the subsequent regimes.

7 POINT AGENDA is a set of policies Yar’adua envisioned concentrating on during his tenure as President. They are as follows: 1)Power and Energy.  2)Food security. 3) Wealth creation 4) Transportation. 5) Land reforms. 6) Security. 7) Human capital development/Education.

Despite the short period of his government, which was also interspersed by crises and frequent health concerns, within three years between May 2007 and May 2010,  Yar’adua was able to leave an indelible positive mark as one of the best leaders this country ever produced. Most Nigerians believe that had Umaru left in 2015, our story would have been a different one, full of hope.

1)Yar’adua was able to solve the crisis of the Niger Delta; this automatically brought security to the region and also boosted the crude oil production of Nigeria.

2)Yar’adua maintained the rule of law, especially in electoral matters, by bringing many reforms in INEC. Hence, many elections were won and given to the opposition parties, exemplified in Ekiti and others.

3) Inflation was dramatically brought down during his regime when many commodities became cheaper and subsidised, including petrol, fertiliser, food, etc.

4) Yar’adua gave Sanusi Lamido Sanusi the green light to carry out the radical reforms in the banking sector that led to rescuing our economy from recession and corrupt elites.

5) Yar’adua initiated and completed the draining of the river Niger to boost the hydroelectric power supply to Nigeria, especially in the blackout  Northern part.

Despite the above achievements, the Yar’adua government faced many challenges during his time. The Boko Haram crisis escalated after the killing of Muhd Yusuf (its leader). Also, Nigeria entered a diplomatic crisis with the US after arresting Farouq Mutallab in an airport, allegedly trying to detonate a Bomb. His government also faces many corruption cases perpetrated by some Cabinet and political associates.

Yar’adua was a doer, a silent achiever, a respected diplomat, and a prudent manager. He was married to his brave and confidant wife, Turai Yar’adua, in 1975. Three of his nine children were married to 3 Governors then ( Isah Yuguda, Sa’idu Dakin-gari, and Ibrahim Shema). His wife said Yar’adua’s favourite foods were ‘Kosai da biredi’ ( bread and bean cake, a popular simple Hausa food). He sometimes wore a wristwatch until it started rusting due to his simplistic life.

His life was cut short on 5- 2010 due to  Pericarditis, a complication from an underlying Chronic Kidney disease he has had for a long time.

Humility, honesty, discipline, listening ear, prudence, simplistic life, and hard work attracted Yar’adua to Obasanjo by anointing him as the  Presidential aspirant. They are the same characteristics that help him to deliver some of the promises he has made; they are also the same qualities that endear him to millions of Nigerians  13 years after his death.

Saifullahi Attahir wrote via saifullahiattahir93@gmail.com.

By Abdelghaffar Amoka

It is 100 days in office and six months after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the election, and the government seems directionless. It is more news that the hardship that President Muhammadu Buhari introduced us to has multiplied. Whether he removed the fuel subsidy or Buhari did, he has no excuse to be clueless for the past six months on the way forward. He asked for the job.

My problem is how our leaders are comfortable putting burdens on the people, burdens they have not prepared them to carry. There was a plan to remove the fuel subsidy. Common sense should tell them that it will affect purchasing power. It is that simple. But why was it so difficult to put up a parallel plan to stabilise the purchasing power of the people once the subsidy was removed? How some people are comfortable with a policy that does not follow the natural law of growth and development beats my imagination.

When a child is born, he is nurtured and trained to become an adult. He is either sent to school or learns a trade and gets empowered to take responsibility. He then gets a wife, has kids, and starts to take responsibility. Imagine giving the boy a wife with kids at 15 without empowering him to take care of the responsibility and expecting him to be fine. It is against the law of nature to burden anyone without preparing him for it.

Fuel subsidy removal was a long battle, and many people have campaigned to remove fuel subsidies since 2010. They made it look like the removal would save the government money for infrastructure and do wonders. But they never discussed the consequences of the removal on the people. How much have we saved for 100 days, and what have we achieved with it? What infrastructure is better than the general well-being of the people?

Funny enough, some of the advocates of the subsidy removal are currently complaining about the hardship on the land. That made me wonder what they were thinking when advocating for the removal. Some are even intellectuals. They thought subsidy was like a tap that you just switch off, and everything is fine. They think it’s that simple. The state government has now given money to share some stuff as palliative. Is 5kg of rice or Semovita all we need to overcome this heartless burden? Who are the people giving them economic advice?

There are three schools of thought on the post-fuel subsidy removal. Those benefitting from the removal will never see anything wrong with it. Those who feel we should endure the hardship and wait for the government to invest in infrastructure. Then, those who see everything wrong with the removal instead of fighting the corruption that shrouded fuel subsidies.

We are being advised to cut our expenses. They seem to have agreed with Buhari’s “Sharholiyah” (wasteful spending) principle. Where is the waste to cut? Those people think everyone has as much as they have to spend. How do you expect a junior staff working at the federal secretariat earning about N40k monthly to cut his expenses and manage? What will he cut? How do you expect a graduate working at the federal secretariat and earning about N60k monthly to cut costs? What will he cut?

For the first time since I became an adult,  federal government workers are being asked to work 2 or 3 days a week to reduce the cost of going to the office. Unfortunately, that will not help reduce the cost of living.

Fuel subsidy is removed, and we are expected to be patient and cope. School fees have increased due to the present economic reality, as acknowledged by FG, and we are expected to come with it. Floating naira to dollar in a country that imports 80% of its needs is a disaster.

The danger of keeping quiet.

It is no more news that crime rates have increased over the last months and are getting worse. Meanwhile, there are three classes of people: the upper, middle, and the lower class. The upper class is inaccessible. They have security escorts, bulletproof cars, tall fences, and gigantic gates with security dogs. The kids are abroad or well-secured. The middle class is accessible and lives not far away from the lower class. As far as the lower class is concerned, the upper and middle classes ( a fast-depleting class) are responsible for the difficulties they are experiencing.

As long as you can still manage to drive your car and feed, you belong to the haves as far as the lower class is concerned. As the crime rate soars, your house will be the first target to be vandalised and bugled. This narration from my friend, Muhammed Hashim Suleiman, keeps ringing the bell in my ear. The narration keeps reminding me of our likely danger in this situation. 

He managed to muster the courage to buy a few litres of petrol for his old Tokunbo car. The petrol station was swarming with people, young and old, not buying petrol but waiting for any buyer to saunter in, and they descended on that unlucky buyer begging for alms. After he purchased the few litres he could afford, entering his car became a struggle because the beggars were begging between him and the car. He silently ignored them and found his way inside the car. Then, a very old woman stood before the car until the petrol attendant shouted at her. 

Instead of leaving the front of my car, the old woman walked towards the driver’s side. On reaching his window, in a cold voice, she said: “Kun kwashe kuɗin ƙasar, kun bar mu da yunwa, yanzu muna roƙon ku abun da zamu ci amma kun hana mu. Wallahi, idan muka mutu da yunwa, sai Allah ya kama ku.” That: “You people have stolen the nation’s money and left us in hunger, now we are begging you for what to eat, but you won’t give us. If we die of hunger, I swear God will never allow you free.”

We are all victims of public embezzlement, but the old woman who happened to belong to the lower class is unaware of it. As we keep quiet adjusting to living with the burden placed on us by these elitists in government, know that the lower class that has been driven far below the poverty line has placed you on the same page with those that have stolen the nation’s money.

It is 100 days of disaster. I hope the government gets its acts together and be purposeful. Any government that fails in the general well-being of the people is a failed government.

Dear Nigerians who are supposed to be in the middle class but tending towards the lower class, If nothing is done and the time bomb should explode, you will be the first casualty. Your silence will cost you a lot. That will be a double casualty for a crime you and I are victims of.

Abdelghaffar Amoka Abdelmalik, PhD, wrote from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He can be reached via aaabdelmalik@gmail.com.