Libyan arms: Buhari’s lamentations

…also published in Daily Trust

President Muhammadu Buhari often laments over the inflow of trafficked Libyan arms, which contributes hugely to the persistence of terror attacks in Nigeria. His recent lamentation was at a sideline meeting with President Alhassan Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire during the recent Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) summit in Abuja.

The overwhelming chaos that ensued in Libya following the brutal killing of its leader, Mu’ammar Ghaddafi and the overthrow of his regime along with the country’s military and other security institutions had precipitated free-for-all looting of military arsenals across the country by warring armed factions fighting for the control of oil fields, cities and other strategic locations in the country.  

Also as the chaos escalated, foreign arms flooded Libya as more and more armed groups with conflicting agendas continued to emerge, which also attracted organized international arms traffickers who have since then continued to supply arms to  armed groups in West Africa, North Africa and other parts of the continent.

Kano crisis: Clash of egos

…also published in Daily Trust

Though the ongoing dispute between the Kano State Governor Abdullah Umar Ganduje and Sarkin Kano Muhammad Sunusi ll was triggered following governor Ganduje’s allegation that Sarki Sunusi had clandestinely sought to undermine his reelection bid earlier this year, a critical look at how it has played out since then reveals a clash of egos as the underlying dynamic behind its escalation.

Of course, neither Ganduje nor Sunusi ll would admit it for obvious reasons. The former cites historical reasons and development imperatives to justify the creation of additional first-class emirates in the state, while the latter simply rejects it and seeks the restoration of the status quo through mediations and judicial means.

Resisting e-governance in Nigeria

..also published in Daily Trust  

With the introduction and implementation of a growing number of IT-based transparency enhancement platforms and tools in Nigeria, the country is gradually catching up with the world on e-governance thanks to which governance and organized private sector business are increasingly becoming transparent.

Though still below standard in terms of efficiency and coverage, things like personal biometric identification system, e-platforms for Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) management among other platforms and tools have the potential, if sustained, to practically eliminate systematic corruption in governance and public service delivery sectors in the country.

Iran: A threatened theocracy

...also published in Daily Trust

Though the wave of protests that has recently hit Iran isn’t the first of its kind, the protesters’ demands this time around are unprecedented. Prompted by a sudden increase in fuel prices, the protesters have demanded not only far-reaching economic reforms to arrest the persistent economic deterioration in the country, but also the abolishment of the entire Welayatul-faqeeh theocratic dictatorship that has ruled the country since the Khomeini-led revolution in 1979.

A room like no other

…also published in Daily Trust  

On Monday the 12^th of the month of Rabi’ul-Awwal one thousand four hundred and thirty years ago; and at around mid-morning, the Last Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (SAW) departed this life at the age of 63 after he had delivered the Message and accomplished his mission on earth.

By the way, though his death was indeed on that day and date, Islam never sanctioned any commemorative event for it, as also none of his Sahaba including members of his revered Household ever commemorated it either. Therefore, inasmuch as commemorating his death is an unfounded act of worship i.e. bid’ah even though its day, date, month and year are known for sure, celebrating his birthday i.e. the so-called Maulud on the 12^th of Rabi’ul-Awwal or any other date for that matter is particularly unfounded, because  apart from the absence of any Qur’anic or Sunnatic reference to it, there is absolutely no single categorically reliable historical source about the exact month and date (not day) of his birth, in the first place. Equally, none of his Sahaba including members of his honourable Household ever celebrated it either.