ELEVEN YEARS OF DEMOCRACY: Success or Failure?

Day in, day out, a wise man says that a year is just akin to a day. It is now eleven years since the return of civilian and democratic rule or government in Nigeria and simultaneously the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonatan, is now in his third week in office after stepping into the shoes of the former president Late Umaru Musa ‘Yar’adua who died some weeks back, after spending about three years steering the mantle of leadership in Nigeria as its number one citizen from 2007 to 5th May 2010.



It is now desirable for Nigerians, especially those at the grass roots level, to look back and cogitate over this period of decade of democratic rule in Nigeria on what dividend or developments do they achieve or experience. Though they have since expressed their dismay over the catastrophic conditions they had found themselves during the eight years of draconian rule of Mr. Obasanjo.Those conditions/situations of unemployment, high cost of living, melting down industries and factories, e.t.c during those eight years of Obasanjo were some of the reasons that necessitated Nigerians to come out during the 2007 General elections (in order) to bring changes and thereby find a lasting panacea to their worries.



Few Nigerians expect that there could be a meaningful change on the ground of the mannerism of leadership of late Yar’adua at the inception or assumption of office by trying to legitimatize his government to the Nigerians in particular and the whole world in general. This is clearly because he is fully aware that the election that brought him into office was characterized by an unprecedented election malpractices in the history of Nigeria . Respect for the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, unity government, zero-tolerance to corruption, and the like, are some of the reasons why some Nigerians welcomed the late Yar’adua’s government. He (Yar’adua) actually delivered the goods with respect to the independence of the judiciary. This is corroborated from the fact that he remained mute when the election Tribunals and Courts were busy nullifying the elections of P.D.P candidates at the various level of government on the ground of electoral malpractices. Late Yar’adua has, without any iota of doubt, shown a sense of maturity in that respect which was not obtained in the Obasanjo’s era.



The recognition of the autonomy of the judiciary and that of the other branches of government by the Yar’adua’s administration had crucially changed the minds of many Nigerians from expecting to the hoping that a new messiah has come to save Nigeria and Nigerians from the shackles of squalor and poverty which they found themselves in during the Obasanjo’s era.

If we look at the power sector during Obasanjo’s regime, many committees were constituted to address the issue but with little to show. Billions of Naira have been spent fruitlessly. The present administration has also constituted the committees some years back for the same purpose but with little or no success at all. Many problems are still deeply rooted in the country ranging from lack of potable water, defective health system, educational degradation, lack of security and agricultural backwardness, to mention but a few.



It is very unfortunate that despite the vast natural resources that God in his infinite mercy endow Nigeria with, the resources are mismanaged by a very few and the masses are left in squalor and poverty. The national cake is being looted and squandered by few out of Whims and Fancies to the detriment of the majority. In some instances the money is spend not in the right way as in the case where dogs were transported into the country at the price of 2 millions naira. What a madness!



Jonathan should as a matter of urgent, address these issues once and for all to avoid further escalation of the problem, Especially the internal problem surrounding his party (PDP) so as to ensure a credible election come 2011 becouse we need to have a credible, free and fair election not selection. the election that will be accepted by all Nigerians and international observers, so that at the end, he (jonathan) will be trusted more, and also earn reputation both at home and abroad.



Now the question is what is the benefit derivable from the Nigerian democracy, is it a dividend or a loss? Infact there is nothing tangible to show which Nigerians can be said to have been benefited in the fast eleven years of democratic rule. Indeed the poor remain poorer and the reach remain reacher by day. This is therefore a challenge to the Jonathan’s government to do something concrete before the remaining year elapse and it then become too late to cry.

DIMOKURADIYYA A SHEKARU 11: Ina aka Dosa?

Kwanci tashi ba wuya, shekara kuma kwana ne inji masu iya magana. Yau shekaru goma sha daya kenen da mulkin dimokradiyya ya sake dawowa a kasarnan, yayin da kuma shugaba Goodluck Jonathan ke cika ‘yan kwanaki a gadon mulki bayan rasuwar shugaba Umaru ‘yaradua wanda ya kwashe shekaru kusan uku yana mulkin Nijeriya.



Shekaru goma sha daya da aka kwashe ana mulkin dimokradiyya lamari ne daya dace ‘yan Nijeriya musamman ma talakawa suyi waiwaye suga irin ribar da suka samu a wadannan shekaru. Koda yake, tuni ‘yan Nijeriya suka bayyana rashin jin dadinsu da irin bala’i da halin kaka-ni-kayi da suka shiga a karkashin mulkin Obasanjo na shekaru takwas wanda yakare ba tare da sun amfanu ba. Irin wannan hali da talakawa suka samu kansu a lokacin mulkin Obasanjo na rashin aikin yi, tsadar rayuwa, tabarbarewar masana’antu, da sauran matsananci hali yasa sukayi tururuwa don kawo sauyi a lokacin zaben 2007.



Kasancewar marigayi ‘Yar’adua shugaban kasa yasa wasu kalilan daga cikin yan Nijeriya tunanin cewa za’a samu sauyi don ganin yadda marigayi ‘Yar’adua ya dauko salon shugabancin da farko inda ya fara neman halasta gwamnatinsa a idon yan kasa dama duniya baki daya, domin kuwa yasan cewa zabensa cike yake da magudi. An fara maraba da marigayi ‘Yar’adua ne bayan ya bayyana aniyarsa na yin aiki da kowa inda ya fara neman goyon bayan ‘yan adawa dasu shiga a dama dasu don ci gaban Nijeriya, yayi kuma alkawarin sakin mara ga fannin shari’a batare da yi masu katsalandan ba da dai sauransu. Hakan kuwa ya fito fili ne yayinda alkalai suka rika yiwa masu rike da mukaman siyasa karkashin jam’iyar PDP kamar gwamnoni, yan majalisu, da dai sauransu wadanda aka halasta masu zaben da basu sukayi nasara ba tsirara a kotunan zabe, kuma marigayi shugaba ‘Yar’adua baice uffan ba, sabanin yadda Obasanjo ya rika cin karensa ba babbaka a kotunan zabe lokacin mulkinsa.

Baiwa fannin shari’a cin gashin kanta da marigayi ‘Yar’adua yayi da sauran hukumomi ya sauya tunanin yan Nijeriya kan ‘Yar’adua inda kowa ya fara yabamasa da cewa za’a samu kyakkyawar sauyi a gwamnatinsa da kuma kawo karshen halin da yan Nijeriya suka tsinci kansu a zamanin mulkin uban gidansa Obasanjo. Hakan yasa marigayi ‘Yar’adua ya fito da kudurori bakwai wanda yake son cimma a lokacin mulkinsa, wasu daga cikinsu an samu nasarar aiwatarwa, wasu kuma ana kan yinsu, amman Allah bai cika masa burinsa ya kamala sub a, sai dai yanzu zabi ya rage gashi Goodluck Jonathan na ganin an aiwatar da wadanna kudoririn da uban gidansa ya tsara ko akasin hakan.



Idan aka dubi fannin wutar lantarki, wanda shine uwa uba, kuma sanadiyyar sa masana’antu da dama sun durkushe,lamarin ba’a cewa komai. Lokacin Obasanjo ba irin kwamiti da ba’a kafa ba don samun saukin abun amman duk abanza, domin kuwa ankashe biliyoyin naira lokacin Obasanjo amman kwalliya bata biya kudin sabulu ba. Har yau, anada matsalar rashin kyakkyawar ruwan sha, rashin kwakkwaran tsarin kula da lafiyar yan Nijeriya, tabarbarewar tsarin ilimi, rashin tsaro, fannin noma ma duk bata canja zani ba.



Kullum dai abin sai kara tabarbarewa sukeyi duk kuwa da irin arzikin da Allah yayi wa Nijeriya, koda yake arzikin kan komane aljihunan kalilan daga cikin yan kasa sauran kuma a kashesu ta hanyar da bazasu amfani al’umma ba. Kamar dai yadda akeso a sayo wai karnuka kan naira miliyan biyu akan ko waani kare guda daya! Wanna lamari da mai yayi kama ?



Tilas Goodluck sai yayi da gaske don ganin ya sai sai ta sahun lamurran kasar nan musamman ma dai rikicin dake mamaye da jam’iyarsa ta PDP wadda ke fama da rikice rikicen cikin gida, wanda a halin yanzu a Nijeriya ana bukatar gwamnati mai karfi wadda zata fito kai tsaye don fuskantar kalubalen da suka mamaye kasar tun kafin dimokuradiyyar ta durkushe. akwai bukatar a tabbatar da anyi zaben adalci kuma tsarkakakke a 2011, zaben da yan Nijeriya zasu amince dashi da kasashen duniya, ba wai a nada masu wadanda basa so ba.



To wai a tsawon wadannan shekaru suwa suka amfana ko sukaci ribar mulkin dimokradiyyar nan? Shin anci riba ne ko asara akayi? Talaka bai amfana ba ta ko ina kuma baici ribar dimokradiyya ba don kuwa har yanzu yana nan yana ci gaba da dandana kudarsa da ta samo asalin tun mulkin Obasanjo, ba’a aiwatar da ayyukan ci gaban kasa ba, masana’antu sai kara durkushewa sukeyi, ga rashin aiki ga matasa, da dai sauransu. Don haka, wannan wani kalu bale ne ga shugaba Jonathan na ganin yayi kokarin aiwatar da manufofinsa a cikin shekara daya da ya rage ma gwamnatin sa.

Allah yayi mana jagoranci a dukkan ayyukan mu na alhairi, amin.

BA RABO DA GWANI BA, MAYE GURBINSA.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. Ranar alhamis rana ce da al’ummar Nijeriya suka tashi cikinta tare da samun mummunar labarin rasuwar shugaban kasa Alhaji Umaru musa Yar’adua, Matawallen Kastina. Ko da yake labarin baizo da mamaki ba kasancewar ya dade yana jinya kafin Allah yayi masa cikawa a daren laraba 5/5/10, kuma dama kowa yazo lokacin da aka diba masa, la shakka zai tafi ba tare da an kara masa koda dakika daya ba.
Alal hakika jihar Katsina, Nijeriya, afrika dama duniya baki daya sunyi rashin gwarzo wanda ya dukufa don ganin ya wadatar da al’ummar da yake shugabanci da ababan more rayuwa da inganta harkokinsu da gina kasa, kama daga samar da aikin yi ga matasa, bada ingantaccen Ilimi, inganta harkan tsaro da Noma, samar da wutan lantarki don cigaban masana’antu da dai sauransu. Amman hakansa ba ta kai ga cimma ruwa ba sai mai duka yayi ikonsa. Tabbas, rasuwar yar’adua ta bude wani sabon babi a fannin siyasar Nijeriya wanda a halin yanzu yake cike da rudani kama daga jam’iyarsa ta PDP da ma sauran jam’iyyun hamayya, kuma samun mai maye gurbinsa abune mai matukar wuya idan akayi la’akari da yadda Yar’adua ya sadaukar da kansa kuma mutum ne mai saukin kai wanda kuma yake ba kowa hakkinsa yadda ya kamata. Yar’adua ne shugaban kasa karkashin mulkin farar hulla na farko da ya amince cewa zaben da ya kawoshi gadon mulki cike yake da kura kurai, kuma ya dauki aniyar kawo sauyi kan yadda zabe zai rika gudana don yan Nijeriya su rika na’am da zabubbukan da za’a rika gudanarwa .
Ko shakka babu ansamu cigaba da chanji sosai ta fannin siyasa karkashin jagorancin marigayi Yar’adua. Alal misali, lokacin mulkinsa ne aka sakan ma fannin shari’a mara ba tare da yi masu katsalandan a cikin aikinsu ba da ma sauransu. Hakan kuwa ya fito fili ne yayinda alkalai suka rika yiwa masu rike da mukaman siyasa karkashin jam’iyar PDP kamar gwamnoni, yan majalisu, da dai sauransu wadanda aka halasta masu zaben da basu sukayi nasara ba tsirara a kotunan zabe, kuma shugaba ‘Yar’adua baice uffan ba, sabanin yadda Obasanjo ya rika cin karensa ba babbaka a kotunan zabe lokacin mulkinsa.
Baya ga baiwa fannin shari’a da suaran ma’aikatu cin gashin kansu, marigayi yar’adua ya samu nasarar magance matsalar da aka dade ana fama da ita na shekara da shekaru a yankin Niger-Delta mai arzikin mai, inda akayi ma tsagerun yankin afuwa don samar da zaman lafiya a yankin dama kasa baki daya. Hakika wannan ba karamin nasara bane ganin yadda su tsagerun suka ajjiye makamai suka rungumi afuwar da matawallen katsina yayi masu don kasa taci gaba. Har ila yau, a lokacin mulkinsa ne (Umaru Yar’adua) aka kawo karshen takaddamar da ka kwashe shekaru ana yi tsakanin Nijeriya da Cameroun a kan yankin bakasi.
Yar’adua ya kasance mutum mai son bin doka da oda, mutunta fannin shari’a, bin diddigin al’amurra, har ila yau mutum ne mai son zaman lafiya ba tare da anyi haya ni yaba. Don haka, wadannan abubuwa ne da ’yan Nijeriya bazu taba mantawa dasu ba game da marigayi Umaru Musa Yar’adua. Matawallen katsina ya bar gidan duniya tare da burin ganin ya kawo sauyi kan yadda ake gudanar da zabe da suaran wasu lamurra, Amman Allah bai cika masa wadannan burrorin ba. Sai dai muyi masa Addu’ar samun rahama daga ubangiji, ya kuma baiwa iyalansa, yan uwa da abokan arziki jure wannan babban rashi wanda maye gurbinsa a bu ne mai wuya. Mu kuma in tamu tazo, Allah yasa mu cika da imani.
Allah ya kara tsaremu, karemu, kiyayemu tare da yi mana garkuwa ga dukkan abubuwan da muke gudunsu, shakkunsu ko tsoronsu a zahiri da badili, tare kuma da rokon Allah ya kara shigemana gaba da yimana jagoranci a dukkan ayyukanmu nayau da kullum, amin.

TRIBUTE TO YAR'ADUA

To Allah we are and to him our return is! President Umaru Musa Yar’adua has been call to glory. That’s ordinary of human lives. He died when his contribution is highly needed in the country . We all believed that what God has destined to happen no human being on this earth can change it. While he lived, President Yar’adua was a cool headed unassuming person who gave everybody his due respect. A philanthropist,a man who stood for justice, fair play and equity. A hardworking and trustworthy man. Katsina state and Nigeria has lost an honest leader who meant well for his people.
President Yar’adua will surely be remembered for his quiet dignity, sincere believe in rule of law, commitment to Deeping democracy and landmark resolution of Niger Delta crisis. No doubt, his death has opened a new chapter in the political journey of Nigeria.
It’s our earnest prayer that the almighty Allah will have mercy on him, together with all the muslims who died before him right from the time of prophet Adam (A.S). May he afford us the will and patience to pray for them and bless us with those who will pray for us when we die. We pray to almighty Allah to continue to give the family, relatives and friends the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable lost. We also pray that his gentle soul shall continue to abode in aljanna firdaus.