Of HOME BASED, ABUJA POLITICIANS AND THE "SAS LEGACY"

THE TRAGEDY which has befallen Borno since the emergence of a style of politics based entirely on coercion and enticement (Thuggery and money)in the name of Ecomog is unprecedented. Prior to this democratic experiment, Political affiliation and affinity of the citizens in Borno was entirely based on ideology and the interest of our land. As epitomised by our true statesmen, the likes of Late Alhaji Ibrahim Imam, Late Sir Kashim Ibrahim, Late Zannah Bukar Dipcharima, Late Alh Ibrahim Biu and so on, politics in Borno has never been a cash and thuggery affair. These leaders remained dear and revered by the people. They did their best during their time. They provided service without embezzling the state treasury. Because of their positive contributions, their names will remain indelible in our hearts. As a mark of love and honour, many named their children after them, long after they have passed away. In 1999, Borno was aptly referred to as the "Home of Peace". This title beautifully coincided with the disposition of the God fearing man at the helm of affairs then, the Late Alh Mala Kachalla, Governor of Borno State (1999-2003). For him, there was no earthly thing worthy of a human life or suffering. He was fondly nicknamed "the man of peace". People conceded that he actually earned this precious title. In 2003, even though Gen. Muhammadu Buhari emerged the Presidential flagbearer of the then All Peoples' Party, a political militia, known as "ECOMOG" composed of mainly unfortunate youths under the heavy influence of drugs and money had been set up by Sheriff to coerce and harass political opponents who disagreed with his crooked version of politics. Coupled with the Buhari factor, he easily became the Governor of Borno state and the people of Borno had high expectations. These expectations were dashed as the militia harassed and intimidated all decent and educated potential opponents. Among his cronies and beneficiaries, his word was law. The State House of Assembly became a mere rubber stamp. His policies further impoverished the citizens and ensured that he alone could financially empower anyone. The middle class in Borno State was practically wiped out as most citizens lived from hand to mouth. Those who could afford to move out of the state moved to Abuja and other cities and continued their livelihood. Meanwhile, one does not want to dwell on the relationship between the Jamatu Ahlis Sunnah Lid Da'awatu wal Jihad or Boko Haram and the Government of Ali Modu Sheriff. As every Borno watcher must know, it is a fact that the then state government mismanaged the tension that developed between the Nigerian Police Force and the Boko Haram sect which led to the uprising of July, 2009. This uprising is the beginning of the current insecurity which has spilled over to many states costing thousands of lives and loses in their billions. As the Chief Security Officer of the state, he had the singular responsibility of preventing the loss of a single life in the state. Where it happens, he had the singular responsibility of authorising an investigation and ensuring that Justice is not only done but seem to have been done. However, as events would have it, the aftermaths of the crackdown on the sect led to terrorism, including suicide bombings in the country. The role of these unfortunate youths Sheriff used on his way to power in spreading the new culture of violence in Borno need not be over emphasised. The Ecomog militia were armed with clubs, machetes, daggers and other dangerous weapons. Under the heavy influence of hard drugs and money, these youngsters actually engaged in physical combats even among themselves, atimes resulting in the loss of lives or limbs. Political civility, politeness and patriotism became extinct as gangsterism and the politics of self interest took over while educative political discourse disappeared in to the thin air. During the reign of this failed Governor, we witnessed Borno transform from a revered home of peace to a notorious theatre of war. The resultant economic catastrophe this maladministration has invited is too horrendous to estimate. Recently, a highly placed citizen has opined that it has dragged Borno backwards by at least Fifty years. While on his way to power in 2003, Ali Sheriff coined the phrase "Abuja Politicians". In his bid to discredit a cream of better educated, more patriotic citizens of Borno who reside outside the state as a result of business or other opportunities, he called them "Abuja politicians", even though he lived mostly outside the state before he came governor himself. The phrase is now being used by his cronies, godsons and beneficiaries without shame. The emergence of the concept of nation-state in contemporary history is aimed at developing the society to improve quality of life for the citizens and residents. Governments around the world therefore engage in different strategies and techniques to achieve this. In the quest to achieve development therefore, Borno needs to learn about other states, cities, societies and nations. Borno should even send its citizens to other lands on scholarship so that it could benefit from the knowledge gained...in Agriculture, Commerce, Tourism, Technology, Health, Power and other aspects of human endeavour. Borno citizens must not be encouraged to remain at home like cockroaches and be eating their faeces without adding any value to the society. Like the proverbial fish in the well, they will continue to pull down one another and destroy themselves. This should be unacceptable. From the foregoing, it is a sheer act of ignorance and even foolishness to assert that a citizen must reside in Borno before he could contribute his quota to its development. Alhaji Mohammed Indimi among others, is a citizen of Borno who tried his best to establish a pump manufacturing firm in Maiduguri and recently pledged to establish a solar energy outfit for the production of green electricity. He mostly resides outside Nigeria. In a nutshell, our argument is that wealth creation and addition to the GDP of a state or country is a direct function of whatever external investment a state or country could get. Therefore, those who reside outside the state and regularly patriate funds into Borno in whatever form are instrumental to the growth of the economy of the state. No one should therefore dismiss them as "Abuja Politicians", for they represent the hope of Borno. Among serious countries like India, Philippines, Egypt, Israel, Pakistan etc, repatriation of earnings by their nationals living abroad constitute a substantial part of their annual earnings and even incorporated into the national budget. The failed Governor's cronies, political associates and beneficisties should be asked: WHAT IS THIS "SAS LEGACY" they are talking about?