Arewa: 3 stories, 1 lesson, by Sani Bello Hamza
Storytelling has been proved to be very powerful in advocacy and change making campaign. It have an unreal power of effecting change and flushing unwanted patterns behavior and ways of life in our communities among all classes of people. As such, today I have decided, to narrate three stores with a single lesson. Let’s go!!!
Dark Hours in Arewa: Who took the blame?
If not a week ago that power was restored to Arewa, it has been 9 clear days since northerners last saw the flash of electricity in their homes. It was, as expected, a tough and challenging phase of their lives especially, to those whose live is completely dependent on electricity. Electrical appliances went to coma and many businesses were paralyzed. Report has it that significant lives were lost in hospitals as a result of shortage of oxygen due to the power outage in the north.
During those dark hours, it became a norm and accepted way of life in Arewa for people to rally at charging spots every morning to either collect their gadgets, or give them out for charging. People were always scouting for the slightest opportunity to charge their phones.
Mosques, Streets, market squares and public places metamorphosed to charging spots. This is coming in a time when the use of generator as alternative has become prohibitive due to the high cost of petrol, coupled with the continuous increase in transportation fare. On the other hand solar power is reserved for the creme de creme of the society. How do they survived that phase? If you ask me, I’ll say it was a miracle.
Prosecution of Minors: When silence is not Golden
Our Law enforcement agents deployed to secure and fight banditry in Arewa were successful in their exploit when they apprehended 114 suspected #Endbadgovernance protesters in Zaria, Kaduna and Kano. The suspected toddlers were arraigned 93 days after their arrest in contrast to the 24 or 48 hours provided by the law. The arraignment came after the pressure mounted on them by concerned Human Right lawyers, NBA, Religious leaders and some “responsible” parents of the kids.
From the pictures available to newsmen, the children were visibly dirty, malnourished, and obviously pale throughout the arraignment process. It was not surprising when some of them collapsed due to the loss of energy and strength caused by third person induced hunger and suffering in detention.
The children whom were supposed to be in classrooms busy with class exercises were forced to learn the preliminary stage of criminal proceeding in a single day. It took a great effort from well meaning Nigerians all over the world to mount pressure on the government through their social media handles and other mediums calling on the Federal government, inspector general of police and the Attorney General to drop the alleged charges of treason against them. The president finally succumbed to pressure and directed the AG to exercise his constitutional power of nolle prosque, to discontinue prosecuting the minors. Indeed, silence is not always Golden.
Banditry and Kidnapping: A stitch in time..
It all started with Boko Haram capturing the North East leading to a complete overhaul and forceful transformation in the region. Parents were killed, children were displaced and farmers were slaughtered. This has tremendously affected the already slow pace development in the region and stagnated economic and social activities in the region. Just when we thought we were free from the captivity of the Boko Haram mercineries, a new version of killers emerged in the Arewa named “Bandits” whom are mostly Fulani herdsmen from the northwest. These bandits kill, kidnap at will, and issue directives to villagers to vacate their homes or face the wrath of their machine guns. This also contributed immensely to further stagnate the dilapidated development facilities in the entire our dear Arewa. Our non-challant attitude throw us in this dirty pit. A stitch in time would’ve saved us.
Who is responsible for Arewa’s predicament?
Well, our current predicament may not be unconnected with these three stories. From the first story, a simple assumption would suffice. Imagine the recent power outage was in the south, imagine the noise, imagine the uproar and how it will will trend on all social media platforms making it a national issue and an embarrassment to the nation. I’m certain it wouldn’t have took the federal government 9 days to restore the power if it was in the south. I’m not saying the Federal government is bias. It was because we were reluctant and fond of sleeping on our rights playing tribal and regional card. Nobody took the responsibility, not our elites, leaders or masses, not even me, Mr. WRITER.
The second and third stories captures a very important point in our lives in Arewa. The protesting children and the unknown Bandits are on the street for two reasons. First, they are jobless and idle. Second, they are not enrolled in school or trade. The latter is responsible for the prevalent of the former. Majority of the children in the north are not enrolled in school, our parents still perceive schooling as a waste time and resources. Whether we love to hear it or not, Illiteracy and idleness are responsible for the prevalence of Banditry and slow pace development in Arewa.
All hands must be on deck to change the situation, our governors must be sincere in performing their constitutional duties. Politics should not be played at the detriment of the poor. Our youths should be encouraged to study to attain greater feat in life. Finally, we must religiously fight to kill the “school is scam” mantra. Until then, Arewa will continue be in “darkness”!
Sani Bello Hamza is a Law student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He writes from Zaria and can be reached through 09013506168 or sanibellohamza@gmail.com.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
