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Abubakar Jika’s article ‘Don’t disenfranchise the north’ struck me as the work of someone that has read too many articles written by the southwest press axis. According to Jika’s heart rending description of, ‘illiterate horde of almajiris descending unto Kano…..’[Vanguard Viewpoints, 9/21/00] But, hold it right there; enfranchise, means the right to vote, illiteracy, means unable to read and write. It does not mean unable to read and write the English language. If an almajiri whose education I have been fortunate to witness, could recite the Qur’an by rote and write Arabic, such an individual could not be said to be illiterate. Jika’s article is equivocal, as illiteracy has a bearing with being economically challenged but is distant from withdrawing the right to vote.

Anytime I visit home, I change my money at the Sabon Gari, Calabar. Till date, I have not been able to shortchange the Mallam I deal with. Here is a gentleman who does not speak or write English, but who has the ability to count, speak at least two languages, Fulfude and Hausa; and most importantly understand global economy and the fluctuations of the dollar! Who is an illiterate, me or him?

The north might have its grouse against the use of the national identity card as a tool in the political process, but illiteracy is not one of them. If illiteracy is the problem, how has the north been able to cope since the 1950s till date? Through, open and close balloting, option A4, a little to the left, a little to the right and all other political contortions that have been thrown at our national milieu? If you could convince an ‘illiterate’ to preserve the voters card, you could easily do same for the identity card? How have these ‘illiterates’ been voting all these years? For whom and for what reasons?

The so called ‘illiterates’ have been participating in political activity through actual voting, working in campaigns as happened in the ‘changi dole’ years. One does not need to understand the English language to be able to convince others to vote for a particular candidate or party. We still remember Shagari extolling the faithful not to vote for an unbeliever. Did he speak in English? Even Jika would agree that, ‘illiterates’, could alter the outcome of political elections and even take part., which they have been doing. How well educated was Barkin Zuwo?

The only obstacle which illiteracy might create in the political process, is in an individual contacting a public official to express grievances on a problem relating to that individual. But as a group, lobbying is what people like Muhammad Gombe, Bala Usman and CEDDERT are doing., and Jika’s article is all about lobbying for a particular viewpoint to be considered on behalf of himself and others. This phantom of the ‘northern illiterates’ is only found in the southwestern press because, I don’t know about you, but I know lots of northerners who are literate.

The recent exhortation by Datti Ahmed is grouped under organizational political activity to achieve an aim. The fact that he used the Hausa language to communicate with the audience, shows the level of political savvy of his listeners [illiterates]. We have the BBC, VOA, Voice of Germany Hausa Services and even at the village level, who has ever witnessed two Fulbes greet each other and exchange views and news at the regular markets where they meet to trade.

Strategically, the utilization of violence by the almajiris is a political tool to influence government decisions affecting their welfare. It is now left for the Jikas of this world to find ways and means to economically empower the almajiris or face the wrath of their violence.

I would therefore ask readers to ignore the article of Abubakar Jika. It runs very similar to the farce that occurred at Ibadan recently, as was reported in the Post Express [Obasanjo’s favorite paper] of 18/9/00 that: The Hausa community based in Ibadan have proclaimed Obasanjo the Messiah; ‘He is a choice of God. He is the Messiah. God actually sent him.’ DanKofa the Wazirin of Ibadan said, as he addressed a rally. All that was absent, was for him to break into: Ini Ibadan ni obi wa si o; Baba wa pelu won onile. I think we are treading on blasphemous ground here. Why do I bring this up? Because, there is a tendency for people to mouth platitudes when they are being insincere. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t the word Messiah reserved for prophets like Isa [PBUH] and Muhammad [MBUH] the seal of the prophets and the final guidance?

You see what happens when the Habe/Fulbes start eating amala.

Orok Edem

October 2000