Zariyi Yusuf is the Chief Executive Officer of KtNana Consulting and spokesperson/member of the Public Affairs Team of the Big Tent Obi-Datti Campaign Council. In his interview with Bulus Gambo and Fwenji Go’ar, Yusuf digest the problematic disposition of Nigeria, where our leaders went wrong and citizens’ hope for a better tomorrow. Excepts: –
Yusuf
Since 1999 Nigeria has experienced sustainable democracy. What are your thoughts about the journey so far?
Indeed, our democracy since 1999 has been sustainable. Unfortunately, this sustainability has not translated to obvious dividends expected of a country with as vast potentials as Nigeria.
Although the journey had a beautiful start, we fell into a decline, better still, a reverse mode, especially in the past eight years. Bedeviling this democracy and hindering its dividends are nepotism, insecurity, and of recent past fanaticism. These have deeply entrenched lack of trust and a mutual suspicion between different ethnicities and religions, the variety of which would have been a beauty looking at the how long we’ve sustained this democracy.
Are there humanly created hurdles which you think has prevented us from consolidating on the dividends of democracy in the country?
Most certainly, I would say every hurdle is a human factor, as far as Nigeria’s failure to consolidate on the dividends of democracy is concern. Corruption has become the order of the day; inflated contracts, failure to deliver on contracts, abuse of public resources and the list goes on. We are our own problems in Nigeria.
The insecurity in the country has almost totally halted activities in agrarian societies, especially across the northern region of the country which is a slap on a nation that once almost singlehandedly championed peacekeeping in the West African Region.
The insensitivity of the government which is very obvious in some policies that has created an extremely harsh economic atmosphere for citizens has disconnected the people from the government they voted in and made life a living hell.
Even as a very religious or spiritual country, I would not tempt God by wanting to claim these hurdles are from elsewhere other than human.
It has become obvious that this country, at the moment is polarized along ethnic and religious lines. What would have necessitated this negative development?
Frankly, Nigeria has always had its lines of religious and ethnic sentiments right from before independence. However, these lines have grown to become gulfs in the past recent years. The nepotism and ethno-religious bigotry that has characterized this present administration has never been experienced since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914. It’s almost convenient to say, ‘the minimum requirement of heading any sensitive position in Buhari’s regime is being a Northern Muslim’.
Clerics have become more uncivil and fanatic in their sermons, politicians have employed ethnical and religious sentiments as campaign tools.
Lack of equity, justice and fairness against the demographics preferably referred to as ‘minorities’ widens the poles. There is a serious deficit in creating or even working to create a national value around which all Nigerians will rally regardless ethnicity or religion.
How can we reroot our thoughts towards igniting our founding fathers’ passion for socio-economic and political integration and nation building?
With the founding fathers, I would say some of them were nationalists while some others were regionalists, and I won’t mention any names. So, both categories had their socio-economic and political agenda, but one category would sacrifice national interest to pursue reginal goals and the other would pursue national interests even at the harm of regional interests. I must state, however, that their intent, in either case, was sincere and determined, which are the qualities to make a good starting point – sincerity and determination.
As it is, to realize any socio-economic and political integration of the Nigerian state, the state of federation must be re-negotiated to accommodate all interests in justice, fairness and equity. This could be pursued in a most civil and democratic way without disrupting the polity. I would advise a full implementation of the National Confab under President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
What are your thoughts about the permutations in anticipation of the 2023 elections?
First, let me share my own permutations, because there a whole lot of them. There are permutations about who wins there are permutations about whether or not the elections would hold, considering the level of preparedness of the electoral umpire, INEC, i.e., whether it would be postponed, and there are security concerns especially with the evacuation of some foreign diplomats sometime last year.
The state of the nation is such that neither those currently running affairs nor the key political players in the forthcoming elections are so certain about any outcome. Yes, it is that unpredictable as far as some realities are concerned. But it is, on the other hand, very predictable, that is, gauging the optimism and hope the majority of Nigerians have in the forthcoming elections there has been a great increase in voter registration, even though a lot of PVC are yet to be collected. I will say, unapologetically, that the spirit of Obidience takes away the mind of the average Nigerian from the dark reality we face to a bright future of hope.
Leading in the contest for the first office of the land are the desperate ones and the people’s servant. On the one hand is dark and uncertain times ahead. On the other hand, is a future of the rebirth of a new Nigeria and hope.
How can Nigerians get it right this time around?
We must vote our conscience. We must be bold to demand nothing less than a free and fair election. We must probe deeply the character of any contestant presenting themselves for any elective office and be bold and determined to vote out the bad and vote in the good.
At this moment, getting it right means voting into Aso Rock a visionary, unifier and a restorer who will set us on an entirely new path of growth, progress and national integration.
The soul of Nigeria is at stake. We either get it right this time around or we have no country anymore to proudly call home.
We are made to understand that you presently run an NGO. What is the organisation all about?
Hmmmm, I wouldn’t know if to call it an NGO. The organization is into language translation, editing, field research/survey, raising humanitarian aid to communities affected by terrorist attacks and giving a voice to them, especially in setting the right narrative straight out.
Most NGOs today are facing various challenges, including funding, trust earning, and transparent application of resources for the betterment of our society. Why is so?
A lot of organizations, even the big ones, are just conduits to self-enrichment. There is also the global image of Nigeria which trickles down to organizations and even businesses transacting outside our shores. People have presented results for work they did not do or assigned huge sums to projects that costed less than a tenth of what they claim. Sincerity precedes accountability, which is a major concern. One rotten bean…
I am of the opinion that the beginning and end of an NGO is the community and nothing else. The exquisite and expensive status of many NGOs do not commensurate the work they do in communities let alone bring about any betterment.
Can you tell us some of your achievements through your NGO which are worthy of emulation?
In my little way, I try to counter false narratives that tend to silence victims of terrorist attacks, especially in the Middle-Belt region of Nigeria.
Recently, there was an unprovoked attack in Kagoro, Kaduna state, in December 2022, where 40 souls perished. Other than raising support for the affected community, I understood also that in solving a crisis, it must be sincerely diagnosed and labelled for what it truly is. You cannot refer to a terrorist or attack as a communal clash or hide expansionism under the guise of climate change necessitated migration. Following the right channel in addressing these issues is what love to see others even excel even better in doing.
What do you hope for Nigeria?
I hope for Nigeria peace, unity and unprecedented advancement in economy, science and technology, education and health. I hope for a new path where we no longer dwell of sentiments of religion, ethnicity or region. I hope for Nigeria a day when our passport takes the place of honour in the international community; where I am not treated with extra caution because I am a Nigerian but respected as a true Nigerian.
Your final words.
I will re-echo something I said earlier:
The soul of Nigeria is at stake, we either get it right this time around or we have no country to proudly call home. Get your PVCs, set your mind and vote the duo with the physical and intellectual stamina to captain our nation to the shores of peace, unity and progress.
Thank you.
