The holy month is here again: Ramadan Kareem!

Also published in Daily Trust

As Ramadan approaches and indeed begins in less than forty eight hours, Muslims all over the world increasingly imbibe a greater sense of piety to prepare themselves for this annual spiritual exercise in pursuit of the Pleasure of Allah, His Mercy and Blessings, which are particularly abundant and much more easily accessible during the month of Ramadan.

Usually towards the beginning of the month of Ramadan, Muslim scholars and opinion leaders in different Muslim countries and communities around the world sensitize the faithful in their respective countries and communities on various issues related to Ramadan rituals and other relevant issues to enable them utilize this blessed but limited days and nights in order to reap as many rewards as possible.

Reforming Kano emirate

Also published in Daily Trust  

The achievements of the late Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero in preserving the integrity and moral authority of Kano emirate notwithstanding, the new Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Sunusi ll, as he is now officially called, is not only expected to build on his predecessor’s legacy but is also expected to reform the emirate to enable it continue to inspire and command public respect from which it derives and maintains relevance and indeed on which its survival depends.   

Besides, considering his antecedents, Kanawa’s expectations in him are high and sometimes even unrealistic, because many of them don’t seem to realize that, due to the constraints of his new job he can’t remain the same liberal intellectual, social critic and whistleblower, after all.

An Emir's dilemma

Also published in Daily Trust

Even though Kano Emirate and its entire affairs are exclusively Kanawa affairs, the nationwide media attention attracted by the succession controversy following the death of the late Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero last Friday signified the particular significance of the coveted Kano throne, which is certainly the most popular and arguably the most influential traditional throne in Nigeria.      

Besides, even before the death of the late Emir, there had been speculations anticipating intense succession tussle considering the chances of the contending princes particularly among the families of late Emir Sanusi Bayero who had obviously looked forward to reclaiming it ever since the controversial abdication of their father in 1963, and the family of late Emir Ado Bayero who had wanted to retain it. Likewise, there had also been intra-family struggle among the contending aspirants within either family.

Barbarity and survival

Also published in Daily Trust  

Though, the general stereotype about the Sub-Saharan Africans that they are inherently barbaric cannot be scientifically or academically justified, the amount of sheer cruelty that characterizes their acts of violence against one another supports and indeed makes it hard to refute this stereotype. After all, the alarming prevalence of this savage attitude among Nigerians can easily be manipulated to purportedly support it, because being a country with the largest Black people population in the world; Nigeria represents the most reliable yardstick to arrive at any conclusion about the Black people.

Obviously, Nigerians have for long lived and resiliently coped with the sense of constant horror imposed upon them by the prevalence of barbaric crimes in the society, which also influences and dictates their subconscious attitudes towards their day-to-day schedules and lifestyles. Unfortunately also, as the situation persists and continues to deteriorate further, many forms of violent acts of crime as grievous as assassination, armed robbery, ritual killing and gruesome lynching, have virtually ceased to provoke any considerable public shock anymore due to the high rate of their prevalence in the society.

Clues in Shekau’s monologue

Also published in Daily Trust 

The escalating succession of the bloody and indiscriminate attacks across the North is obviously becoming too overwhelming not only for the victims and the other vulnerable people, but also for those who follow its unfolding incidents, especially considering how some devastating incidents are quickly overshadowed by other incidents in terms of the number of fatalities and amount of devastation. After all, even the incident of the mass abduction of hundreds of teenage girls in Chibok, which has attracted unprecedented international attention, is gradually being overshadowed by other incidents.

Interestingly enough, even though it is so far the biggest single abduction committed by the insurgents, the amount of international outcry it has attracted continues to baffle many observers considering the fact that many massacres had been committed before the Chibok abduction and have indeed continued to take place across the region, yet the reaction (if any) of the same international community has always been inadequate and lacked sincere commitment to prevent its recurrence.