By Abdu Labaran Malumfashi
I once did a write up on the comical exploits of the social media comedian known as Dan Abba. At that time, I did not know much about him as I do now, because if I did, I would have called him ‘the irrepressible Dan Bello’. That is what he has been, but more so now.
I later came to know that he was born in the United States by a Nigerian parents, spoke Hausa language fluently, a biomedical engineer, has a PhD in comparative education, practiced journalism and is now a Hausa teacher in a Chinese primary school. He is also a fierce patriotic compatriot who abhors the corrupt practices that define the highest reaches of governance in Nigeria.
For sure, I cannot say what I am, but I can say what I am not, which is nowhere near Dan Bello’s academic achievement. And I am not being modest, just telling the truth, even though this is Nigeria, where telling the truth does not always get one what he wants.
Dan Bello’s recent take on the issue of banditry in the north may have provided the answer to the question frequently asked by worried Nigerians and their friends everywhere, which is; what is the secret of the ‘invincibility’ of the bandits? The groups of untrained, illiterate, but highly equipped non state actors, have for ages defied the fire power and numbers of the combined forces of Nigeria, plus the good will of all patriotic compatriots over the world.
In a video clip he recently released on the social media, the intrepid, courageous and immutable Dan Bello alleged that the banditry in the north, particularly the north west, was ‘financed’ by powerful northerners and their accomplices from other sections of the country because of the large deposits of precious stones found in the area. The three states of Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto are most endowed, according to him.
He further alleged that the underground deposits of the precious stones were by far greater than the oil deposits in the country. The states are said to be rich in diamonds, rubies, emerald, sapphire, topaz, opal and their like. Hence the intense activities of the bandits in the three states.
If the comic was right, it is the hope of this writer and many other patriotic compatriots that the federal government, as an entity, is not in any way involved with the bandits and their murderous activities, both of which have brought the area almost to its knees.
The hope is informed by the apparent failure of the security agencies to crush the bands of the lawless outlaws known as bandits. Every administration would claim to be fighting them, assuring the people that the days of the bandits will soon be over. But over it never is, nor its end even in sight, contrary to the earlier belief we had so confidently announced.
A former minister also alleged that his life was threatened because of his insistence that the SIM card of every phone user be captured in a single pool that could provide easy data to track and trace the exact position of users if the need arises. He claimed to have his way despite the threat.
The bandits now have the temerity to come on the social media, notably ‘Facebook’, and make allegations of the complicity of some high ups in the security architecture of the country, and other ‘important’ personalities in and outside the country. They keep on alleging that the bandits are only used by those who benefit the most from their murderous activities.
The inescapable conclusion to draw from this then
is to agree with Dan Bello, that some people are immensely benefiting from the pains of others. Some have even made the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives as a result of the menace of the banditry. And a few others ‘smile’ to the bank, happy with the ‘taking’ of the day.
Even those earlier believed to be above board, have turned out to be no saints either. Their ‘dirty’ dealings while in office have been exposed, going by revelations in the media and other sources.
Some months ago, gold bars worth N8 billion said to belong to a former north west governor, was allegedly arrested at an airport in Ghana. Whatever happened to the seized gold bars we are not told, but it is safe to assume that it has become the property of the Ghanaian government since its alleged owner would not come forward and own up to being the owner.
A question most God fearing people ignore not to ask is whether those of us who accumulate money beyond our need, believe in accounting for it on the Day of Judgement, before the Creator of all things, animate and inanimate. We all know of death coming to us sooner or later, and we cannot take anything with us, no matter how much we accumulated while alive. But some of us, somehow, do not appear to believe in meeting the Creator, talk less of accounting for everything before Him.
This is one of the preachments of the prophets of God to the believers prophets over the centuries.
How else does one begin to explain the unacceptably mad rush by Nigerians to amass riches and wealth, mostly from the Commonwealth, that is supposed to belong to all, regardless of one’s status in the society. Some of the richest people in the country are former or serving public servants, even though they did NOT inherit the wealth from their parents nor are they beneficiaries of any known wealth bequeathed to them.
Some of us go to the length of committing other heinous crimes not limited to banditry, so as to amass ill gotten fortune, the use of which is limited to our lifetime. It is not limited to the high ups, but (cut) across all levels of the society, if given the chance.
The preponderance of the so called yahoo boys, cultists and advance fee fraud experts in the country is informed by this needless need for worldly possession, and the disbelief in accounting for it before God in the world after this mundane existence.
May we be among those that will always live above board, so that our progenies will look back with gratitude to the Creator for bringing them forth from the genes of those who lived on only what their legitimate income enabled.
Malam Malumfashi wrote from Abuja.
