Opinion

By Mubarak Shuaybu Shelleng

Before, Adamawa, as a sovereign state, was counted among the most underdeveloped states in Nigeria. Many transitional administrations we had in the past failed to deliver their mandate in providing basic social amenities to the teeming populace.

The incumbent governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, was accurately counted among the few that impeccably excelled in delivering the security, education, health, and infrastructural needs of the state in his first four years in office. Something that is least expected from him. But the man surprised many by changing the narrative in running a system that touched the life of a common man in every nook and cranny of the state.

Unfortunately, none of the past administrations followed the right blueprint on how a committed and effective government should operate the way this current administration is doing.

Interestingly, it’s become a surprise to many that this current administration has succeeded in leaving no single stone unturned when talking about the provision of social amenities and workers’ welfare. A welcomed development that everyone, irrespective of their political parties, is applauding. If truly one has it in mind that we want Adamawa to develop and compete with other states in terms of infrastructural, political, and socioeconomic aspects, then this administration is moving on the right channel.

It’s now general knowledge that little or none among those that voted Fintiri into power regret their action, except those that are not interested in what is called ”Good governance” but focused more on stomach infrastructure. 

More often than not, those who truly had a dream of seeing progressive Adamawa through governance are usually not concerned with political affiliation, religion, or region, among other factors that characterize us as individuals. Rather individuals’ capacity to deliver, based on track record and physical projects, need no further political analysis. Political Candidates that will lead with utmost patience, a high sense of responsibility, and sincerity of purpose. 

Besides, very few among the most sophisticated and critically equipped minds think and analyze issues while keeping their personal biases and prejudice in interpreting and analyzing things that have a direct effect on societal wellbeing. Others find it difficult to think. Thus, remain with no option but to follow the Bandwagon.

The experience, they say, is the best teacher, and with what Adamawa state has been going through for years, regardless of the political party, one can be able to judge fairly on the kind of administration that instantaneously impacted positively the life of all and sundry.

Therefore, it’s high time we learn to turn a deaf ear to self-centred politicians who are influenced by the number of greedy sycophants surrounded with, seeking cheap political gains.

One is at every liberty to criticize or defend a particular divergent political view. But we should not deny the fact that some state governors have performed wonderfully well.

Truth is bitter and difficult to comprehend, but lies are sweet and travel faster than one could ever imagine. Though, understanding the complex game of politics is not for all but a few.

Mubarak Shuaybu Shelleng writes from Yola, Adamawa State.

By Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani

In a democratic setting like ours, leaders are expected to set guiding principles from which followers are expected to learn good conduct and moral behaviour. Sadly, the Bauchi state government is setting a bad precedent, which won’t augur well for the unborn generation.

I was compelled by a video going viral on the internet at the instance of the Bauchi state governor, his commissioners, and top government appointees watching as a car painted with the pictures of APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmad Tinubu, the Bauchi State APC governorship candidate, Ambassador Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar rtd. CFR and his deputy, Aliyu Musa Barden Gabas, were destroyed while they were watching with admiration.

Electoral market volatility makes them susceptible to negative campaigns since “voters have loosened their ties with their party.” Not only that, the people of Bauchi are tired of the misrule of the PDP, yet they resort to diverting attention to their abysmal failure. Education is comatose, infrastructural decay, salary has now become a privilege, pensioners are crying wolf etc.

 As patriotic citizens of Bauchi, we strongly condemn the ruling party’s abysmal attitude. However, it’s expected that they set a pace for the younger generation while noting that Bauchi, as a civilised state is much aware of the happenings in the city. What we desire is a rancorous-free campaign, and we, therefore, urge the APC not to tear the line of the ruling party; let us emphasise to our supporters to shun violence in whatever guise while, at the same time, mobilising people to turn out in mass to vote for the APC at all levels.

As a people-focused grassroots party, APC has continued to champion the cause of issue-based politics while snubbing every temptation by the PDP to lower our standards by joining them in their infamous style of uncouth politics fraught with crass incivility. To put the records straight, Sadique had never been found wanting in such negativity.

As the leading opposition in Bauchi state, we are conscious of our responsibility to be law-abiding and concentrate on the issue-based campaign. We shall do everything possible to discharge that responsibility with total commitment to the rule of law and the sanctity of our nascent democracy. Often, we call on Bauchi State not to be deterred by the lawlessness of the PDP; it’s imperative to use our PVC and send them out of Ramat House because this irresponsibility has no place in our nascent democracy.

The many ills that bedevilled our state include corruption, economic underperformance, abject poverty, and a dysfunctional educational system derived from the action of the ruling PDP. How does a government that benefited from the freedom of expression and association to rise to the highest echelons in the state become so insensitive and uncaring to free campaigns? 2023 we need a purpose-driving and visionary government with a mission to transform the state for the benefit of all and sundry. With Sadique as the 2023 governor, the above is assured. 

Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani writes from Galadima Mahmoud Street, Kasuwar Kaji Azare, Bauchi State.

By Ibrahim Garba.

Since the announcement of the success of oil discovery by the Muhammad Buhari-led administration through Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC Ltd., people from different parts of the country rejoiced over the milestone achievement.

However, the development came with many controversies by the citizens who are, in one way or another other, have a direct or indirect connection to the development that is from some groups of people and individuals from the host community.

Immediately after the ground-breaking ceremony, which was attended by his Excellency President Muhammad Buhari, Bauchi State Governor Bala Muhammed, the Group Managing Director NNPC Mele Kyari, among other dignitaries in Nigeria, an argument broke between the neighbouring states, Gombe and its mother state Bauchi, about who owns the Kolmani oil well.

Besides, Bauchi may be right to claim the ownership of Kolmani oil because the oil well is located in Barambu, a village under the Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi state. Bauchi cites the presence of their governor at the breaking ceremony as one of the reasons that they own the oil well.

Gombe state, on the other hand, has more than a reason to claim the ownership because of their closeness to the point where the oil was drilled. Therefore oil as liquid stuff cannot just be for Bauchi alone.

Unfortunately, farmers operating within the host community of MaiMadi, Kwaimawa, among the other 7sevencommunities, complained that they were not paid for the damage done to their farmlands during the oil drill.

Among them, one claimed the ownership of the Kolmani oil well, which according to him, was inherited from his father and yet to be compensated. Also, the report indicates that workers who served during the seismic operation were not adequately paid but only promised to be paid on unspecified dates.

Farmers and other people from the host community should be well informed about the operation of that kind to seek entitlement associated with the oil drill operation in their localities.

With the allegations above, one must note with dismay challenging the Public Relations section of that particular for failing the Social responsibility service expected to render to those communities.

Above all, what Nigerians need to know is how much we need to poster national development above our interest to build Nigeria of our dream. We should also learn from the experience of our people down the south. There is a need for cooperation and mutual understanding between the two states, the farmers, and the entire host community to benefit from such a remarkable achievement. 

Ibrahim Garba writes from Bauchi.

By Salisu Yusuf

Reading is the interpretation of some signs, symbols and codes into meaning for intellectual consumption. Reading is the third skill in the order of the four language skills behind writing, for one can only write when he knows how to read. The significance of reading can be viewed in the context of the world being a global village; reading has today made our world a unipolar entity where communities understand each other and realise their diversity.

In Islam, reading is the most crucial skill in seeking knowledge and understanding God. The first verse of revelation is “Iqra’a”, or read, for it’s through the pen(writing) that the Lord teaches man some knowledge.

Reading has been the highest source of joy for man. It emancipates and frees man from the shackles of servitude. People have read to escape from the deception of the perverts, the so-called clerics who misinterpret divine injunctions according to their caprices. Reading can wrench you from the grips and chicanery of postmodern politicians. Read and be free from the bog of tradition, the tyranny of the oppressor, the darkness of illiteracy and the glibness of the scammers. 

In fact, reading can make you a gentleman/lady; men/women have become milder, sober and more empathetic through years of excessive reading. When you read, you will understand yourself, your immediate environment, and your world. When you don’t read, you suffer from a lack of effective education. That’s called illiteracy.

 Reading can take you to places you’ve never been. I was once with the notorious Adolf Hitler in a ditch shortly before his infamous suicide. I was once in a Bagdad prison, witnessing the despicable hanging of dictator Saddam Hussein. I have been to Elysse Palace with the powerful Charles de Gaulle during his assassination attempt. Asare Konadu has given me an imaginative ride to cultural Ghana. James Hardly Chase has numerously chauffeured me to an underworld, taught me criminology, spying and espionage. Achebe has taught me some aspects of Igbo culture; in fact, he was the one who told me that “breaking cola” wasn’t only a Hausa culture.

I once read a fable with a combination of animal, bird and spirit characters. I melted into the sky, and became a spirit. I perched on branches of trees as a brood, hatching and nestling. I had become a spirit and mutated into a bird the next moment, flying on a vast, blue and cold sky, feeling acrophobic. I still remember with nostalgia those imaginative, daring escapades. A reader can go directly to a character’s mind and discover his inner thought. He can scale a river and be on war fronts. 

Reading can be your route to escape, add to your knowledge experience, and can polish your language, open you to new vistas and give you aesthetic joy.

 As an advanced reader, you shouldn’t read excessively at night (learn to rest for your mental well-being), or in sunny spots (you should go under a shade). Preferably, don’t read from a white paper; the best paper to read from is either a light yellow or light blue.

 The best thing in your reading is to protect and harness your eyes from being strained. Your eyes aren’t only your sighting treasure. They’re your intellectual and economic assets. By using the best and appropriate paper, you take a long-term measure that’s best for your eyes in later life.

The uncomfortable truth is that, you’ll reach a stage in your life when you lose that flexibility in and around your eyes. So, you must compensate them with reading glasses. But using the right paper will sustain the tempo and rhythm of your sight. You should harness your eyes at this crucial stage of your life. To quote from the famous English poet, Oliver Goldsmith, “husband out life tapers at the close. And keep the flames from wasting by repose.”

At an advanced level of our reading, we read when we’re in the mood, when we’re in the best mental state. This is why it’s crucial to coordinate your eyes and mind together during your reading; otherwise, you’ll only say the alphabet, not the semantic words. There’s a difference between saying and reading. In saying, you don’t understand; in reading, you get the gist.

During our personal/independent reading, we should avoid vocalisation and sub-vocalization because they’re diversionary; we employ the use of silent reading, where the eyes and mind do the bidding. We move the eyes but not the head.

 As an advanced reader, you should devise a contextual reading. A context reading is when a reader utilises all those syntactic, semantic, and discourse markers as well as the surrounding information, use an appropriate analytical approach to the vocabulary, and use the historical and cultural backgrounds in his quest for meaning. 

A reader should digest both the content and form. Reading is twofold; he digests the content for the message and the form or language where he learns some contextual expressions. 

Reading should be a lifetime endeavour. However, reading cannot be an obstacle to my midday siesta, my routine physical exercise, or my light walk. It cannot hinder my other religious obligations.

Reading is my morning tea, my late morning cake and drink, my heavy lunch, my afternoon dessert, and my evening supper. Reading is my light dinner. I will read until I can read no more until I feel numb and dark.

 Salisu Yusuf wrote from Katsina via salisuyusuf111@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u, PhD

Apart from hosting us in their house during the Thanksgiving holiday, Danielle Callaway Njama and her husband, Philip Njama, booked a ticket for us to visit the National Museum of African American History in Washington DC. It was another rich historical voyage. I strongly recommend visiting the museum if you happen to be in Washington DC.

The museum, formally launched by President Barack Obama in 2016, documents the history of slavery and the unspoken contribution of Africans to European and American economies.

Walking through the floors of the museum, an air of historical insecurity, goosebumps, and lamentation engulfs you. As you read through the stories of how the enslaved Africans were transported to Europe and North America in chains and other inhuman conditions, you feel the blood of sympathy circumambulating in your veins.

While these thoughts were going through my mind, there was sudden silence among my family. I turned back, and my eldest daughter was in tears, struggling to hold her emotions while reading through the stories of Africans like Ayoub Suleiman from The Gambia, who was enslaved in Maryland, and Mahommah Baquaqua from Benin, who was sold in Brazil and transported to New York.

Being a student of economic development, I couldn’t miss the section in the museum that estimated the value of cotton produced by African Americans to $250,000,000 in 1861; and the value assigned to enslaved African Americans at $3,059,000,000 in 1860. What is the value in today’s terms?

This is a difficult history, but as I have discussed many times with friends and colleagues, Africans shouldn’t allow themselves to be the psychological prisoners of the trauma caused by slavery. Yes, it is difficult, but Africans must move forward with zeal and unparalleled determination to write a glorious chapter of their story no matter the odds against them. Creating a path to development is the antibiotic to economic dependency.

Takeaway: Torturous lessons of history are difficult to ignore. It is the lessons from history that help determined communities to write a glittering chapter for future generations.

Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u, PhD, is a candidate for a Mid-Career Master’s in Public Administration at Harvard University, John F Kennedy School of Government. He can be reached via mjyushau@yahoo.com.

By Mukhtar Jarmajo

Surely enough, one of the banes of our society is that, in most cases, whom we have at the helm of affairs, whether in power or at the community level, are rulers, not leaders. There is a clear distinction between rulers and leaders. Rulers do not listen to their people. They rather authoritatively give directives that must be obeyed without any hesitations and whether or not the result of taking such action will be in the best interest of the greater majority.

While leaders are good listeners who walk and work together with their people in the greater interest of society. And as John Quincy Adams, the 6th US President who served between 1825 and 1829, would say: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

Thus, by the words of John Quincy, leaders are motivators who not only reposition the society to greater heights but also make the people become better in themselves. And that is why it is said that one of the functions of a leader is to build more leaders. Thus, if building people is rightly one of the functions of a leader, then Mallam Isa Yuguda is a true leader.

Deliberately, the Matawallen Bauchi has, over the years, built people as he journeyed from the banking sector through the federal executive council to the Bauchi state government house. Without putting much emphasis on how he transformed the defunct Inland Bank from regional to national and indeed his excellent performance at the aviation and transport ministries as well as in Bauchi state when he held sway between 2007-2015, Yuguda is also an excellent team player who coaches the people that work with him. With the needed dose of confidence characterized by conviction and determination, he is humility and modesty personified. This is why Isa Yuguda is imparting positive behaviours to many and, thus, a role model.

Today, Mallam Isa Yuguda stands tall on the ladder of success. But unusually, Yuguda`s success is, among other reasons, simply because of the number of people he has trained and built. He is second to none in Bauchi state in this regard. In the tripod stand, either directly or indirectly, the Matawallen Bauchi has positively impacted the lives of as many people as possible. For instance, including the incumbent governor Bala Muhammed of Bauchi state, Matawallen Bauchi has played essential roles in the lives of almost any shining star in the Pearl of Tourism.

And while his virtues are extolled in appreciation of Isa Yuguda`s immense contributions to the growth of humanity, it is also right to urge other community and political leaders to emulate the Matawallen Bauchi. After all, as Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American philosopher and essayist, would say, the essence “of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

Jarmajo wrote from Wuse 2, Abuja.

By Zailani Bappa

I read a post by someone who expressed his worry about the lack of unity of purpose (in fact, he said, unity of everything) among the Nigerian people. He was writing about the movie industry. He said Hollywood had been a household name for a country as vast as America. So also Bollywood for a country as big as India. Both countries are bigger and more economically prosperous than Nigeria.

However, despite the existence of Nollywood, we still have the Kannywood in Nigeria. He believes the existence and progression of Kannywood are retrogressive to the Unity of purpose in the industry in Nigeria. I reason with him. However, that is only when the matter is viewed from the surface. Scratch the surface a little, and you’ll see the bigger picture.

Both Nollywood and Kannywood emerged in prominence in the 1990s. Nollywood comes in English, pidgin, Igbo and Yoruba. The Kannywood comes mainly in Hausa and a few times in English. Looking at the Hollywood and Bollywood industries as both business and national projects, both Industries tend to project National Unity, National Pride and National dignity of their respective countries. And the business does not discriminate in the selection of protagonists.

However, in Nigeria, tribal, sectional and religious stereotypes continue to influence the industry, which makes it even more difficult to have a unified industry. To date, egg-heads of the Nollywood industry find it difficult to accept the fact that the industry needed to diversify and be all-inclusive in sourcing for their resource. For instance, African-Americans in the US are arguably the lowliest rated race in the US. However, the Hollywood industry does not believe so. The Industry became all-inclusive and explored for talents instead of being led by stereotypes. Now the negros are almost the best actors in the industry. That is how it grew to excellence.

In Nigeria, however, Nollywood, with the advantage of producing in English first, metamorphosed most of the vernacular protagonists into English productions but unwittingly limited the train to those from the South-East of the Country who saw themselves as the owners of the industry. For instance, the far Northern Nigerian does not deserve more than the role of a gateman in Nollywood films. If at all you hear the name Musa, Usman, or  Bala, then, it’s the guy employed to look after the gate or wash the cars of Obinna, Ifeanyi or Chibuzo. The Lagos-based Industry is not making any genuine efforts to integrate with the Kannywood industry, even as the latter continues to grow in influence and affluence in the North and elsewhere.

However, the Kannywood, with its vast audience across the Hausa-speaking communities across the globe, also failed to grow in its intellectual capacity. It instead gets stuck to its money-making trash productions in the name of soyayya themes, which, apart from the sheer entertainment it provides, literally promotes empty value to the morale, capacity and quality of lives of the audience, not to even talk of national value, pride and dignity.

In Nigeria, the film industry has no idea or focus on National project but purely exist for business reasons. Hollywood has developed over time to become an agenda setter for the United States policymakers and implementors. It has now become a platform and potent avenue for increasing the influence of the United States over other nations and peoples worldwide. The Indian Industry also helps that country placate the outside world with its numerous internal crises and contradictions by promoting a clean, prosperous and happy India.

In Nigeria, Nollywood promotes less national dignity and unity but corruption, indecency, cultism and disunity. It exposes more of the weak and bad sides of the country, its institutions, leaders and people instead of strengthening their good sides more. Why? Because they make better money doing that since their productions appeal more to the wrong side of humanity in us. The Kannywood, with its empty intellectual value, is simply vain. So, as the two continue to grow side by side like that, we may have to do with the fast growth of a two-left-legged maiden of an industry.

Zailani Bappa wrote from Bauchi State via zailanbappa@gmail.com.

By Aisar Salihu Musa

Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso clearly stated that, if elected as the president of Nigeria in the forthcoming 2023 presidential elections, the Local Government funding (LG Funds) will come directly from the Federal Government’s treasury without passing through the hands of the state governors. However, some people are now making noise about it, maintaining that Kwankwaso was the one in Kano who initiated that LG funds must pass through his hand before going to LG chairmen.

My worry now is; what is wrong in having a second thought? What’s wrong? We do have second thoughts on many things but that’s not a problem. To some, the problem is for Kwankwaso to have it. This your obsession or rather hatred with anything Kwankwaso will cause you serious problem. Adjust, please.

Politician decamp with you from one party to another, that’s not a problem. They come with their trial and error policy, it is not a problem. Clerics change fatwas, it is not a problem. You run from one girl to another, it is not an issue. The problem is for Kwankwaso to change a stand. Guys, what’s your problem? You should know that, Kwankwaso is still the best among all the contenders by whichever form of parameter you choose to judge and assess. He is just the best of all of them in terms of everything.

In the beginning, Kwankwaso saw how LG administrators were recklessly embezzling LG funds without any meaningful projects that will better the lives of their people. In order to solve that problem, he said LG funds will remain in the account of the state government, not his personal account. Any LG administrator with a project should write to the state government and request funding for its execution. I think at that time it was a good decision from him and it was purely out of good intention. Now that things have changed and he thinks giving them their money directly is better than entrusting it in the hands of the state governments, I think is something we should commend him about.

By Hamza Wankari

Meaning, which technically translates as semantics, plays a fundamental role in communication between a speaker and a listener. Without meaning, human activities would have been on a great decline, or worst, come to a halt, for at the heart of civilisation lies in language and meaning.

No doubt, some English words have a few prepositions with which they collocate in different contexts to convey different meanings with ease. If this is the case, then there is a need to study all the various prepositions associated with the words in our vocabulary for effective communication.

Prepositions indicate time, location, direction, etc., in relation to words. More precisely, in English language contexts, determine the prepositions to be used alongside words. In default on using apt prepositions, there may be adverse consequences. 

In light of this, this treatise attempts to shed some light on the different meanings as produced by the different prepositions germane to the word “market”.

According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 10th Edition, “market” is an occasion when people buy and sell goods; the open area or building where they meet to do this.

How, then, can the word (market) be deployed with different prepositions to make effective meanings?

IN the market

AT the market

ON the market

Examples

I am in the market. (Non-standard)

I am AT the market. (Standard)

Meaning:

I’m physically present AT the market.

I am IN the market for a new English dictionary. (Standard)

Meaning:

I’m interested in buying a new English dictionary. However, I may not be physically present AT the market.

My phone is IN the market. (Nonstandard)

My phone is ON the market. (Standard)

Meaning: My phone is up for sale to anyone interested.

Summary of the treatise

IN the market (to be interested in buying something).

AT the market  (to be physically present at the market).

ON the market ( to be up for sale).

Hamza Wankari wrote via ibrahimhamzawankari@gmail.com.

By AbduIlslam, Abdulsalam, Rukaiyah, & Rabiatu

This year, Sentient Media reveals that every 60 seconds, one animal suffers abuse. One afternoon, I counted 483 drops of blood on the ground and lost counting to empathy of, what blood is it? But what really transpired?

A wounded cow (with blood flowclose to the eye) was being paraded to the slaughtering ground which is about a mile and half (sometimes farther) from the livestock’s market of ‘Yanshanu in Jos. Added to the feeble state of this animal was respiratory mucosa effect, yet a reckless herder (sometimes a guy/boy) hit the cow with a goad on the eye wound because at some point, the cow didn’t move or moved slowly (its front legs were tied together) –immediately the cow fell to the ground due to the brutal and merciless hitting. This was repeated until the destination was reached. Such oppression is irrefutably done daily. This is simply because it is an animal! What a pity.

This scenario conforms to the argument of Peter Singer, author of Animal Liberation that “it would first be necessary to transform people’s attitude towards animal” Over 40 years ago, animal abuse was referred to as intentional act which causes pain to the animals. It sometimes brings too much suffering and even death. It comes in behaviors like beating, starving, choking etc., however, these maltreatments are rationalized in the ill and senseless feeling of ‘they’re animals’. But those acts beat conscience.

Yanshanu Livestock Market is a place where buying/selling of livestock are made daily. However due to its commercial string, most of the activities of dealers inflict severe suffering on the animals. Malam Suleiman Ahmad, Chairman Conflict Resolution ‘Yanshanu Market defended tucking livestock in a crevice space all in the name of transportation from villages to the market or from market to some destinations “we’re here for profits, [so] creating such fantasized comfort for animals will cost much [and] I know people don’t want meat costly.”

And on the issue of market herders inflicting unnecessary pain on the livestock while parading them out to eat or when marching them to the slaughtering ground, Malam Suleiman agreed that the herders sometimes overdo-it “let me be clear on something, due to unrest in our villages, they [Fulanis] protect their animals with several traditional methods and these sometimes remain even after sale – that’s why we use leather [plastic] to choke them when they refuse to stand up. However, we caution our boys on mishandling the animals as it is even un-Islamic and we put them in check with sanctions, but don’t forget, animals don’t understand you, to the good ones, it is the only language they understand, plus there are stubborn ones amongst them.”   

Admittedly, the African methods of animal husbandry values the goad, but the question here is, is it the most effective means of communication to animals? The answer is a capital No! This powerful oppression surely affects the health conditions of the livestock, so Malam Alkasim Ishaq, a vetinary outside the ‘Yanshanu Market condemned the recklessness reflecting that those keeping pets starve, let them stray and the cruel soul even beat, not to even mention some of the heartless dealers. He opined; “these people [dealers] are just here for business and time is money for them. Often, we vets around condemn their cruelty towards animals but you know our society [you become a black sheep for trying to better the system]. However, those hard beating and unreasonable tying affect the overall psyche and health of the animals.”

Whilst the vet expressing his concern, an individual who identified himself as member of Nigeria Livestock Association, Plateau State branch, lamented about his plight on unreasonable tying of animals and torture, because it stops the blood flow which explains the animals’ awkward behaviors sometimes.

It’s expected that such vast cruelty by humans should’ve been curbed by the government, but Malam Suleiman lamented that bad practices should’ve checked with government and Non-governmental organizations’ intervention. “We have written letters to the government but no response, so we can only do what is within our reach. In serious nations, they have abattiors and pay workers, no reckless beating and rush to make much money as we do.” He lamented.

However, going by the global animal husbandry, the vet and his friend pointed out that reforms need to start from the ordinary (not learned) members that made up of the animals’ bodies and organizations. And Mustapha Suleiman, a Vetinary Medicine student of Usman Danfodio University said; denial to understand the psychological condition of these guys [as he preferred to call animals] is what brought about abuses in our localities. He believed that if we pay good attention, we wouldn’t need to inflict pain on the animals with our traditional techniques.

But, it’s worrisome what the harshness of the herders on the animals is costing the host community – ‘Yanshanu. The livestock market is located in full residential area. Often, the maltreatment gets the animals wild – they end up going chaotic for about for over half an hour, smashing and aiming at everyone.

This discriminating treatment persists because humans fail to realize other living things’ response to stimuli – sometimes they’re feeble, they like, dislike; they feel hunger, anger, sick, even want to rest, but only when all these are understood. We should know that it is wrong to inflict suffering on other beings, even if not our own species. But attractive legislation on the subject matter is a priority.

AbduIlslam Kamaldeen Muhammad writes from Bayero University, Kano, together with

Abdulsalam Zikirullahi (SS3 Class) Alhaqq Comprehensive Private School Jos,

Rukaiyah Muhammad (SS2 Class) Alhaqq Comprehensive Private School Jos,Rabiatu Abubakar (SS2 Class) Alhaqq Comprehensive Private School Jos.