By Adidi, Dokpesi Timothy

I recently saw a video that went viral were an interview was anchored by Mrs. Maupe Ogun of Channels Television. I really did not know why the video of the interview was sent to be on WhatsApp by persons I don’t even know.

In so many platforms I saw same video and even on various WhatsApp groups I belong to. Nonetheless, I took my time to listen to the ‘dialogue and exchange’ that took place between Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (The Executive Governor of Kaduna State) and the anchor of the program Mrs. Maupe Ogun. I was indeed very skeptical about the nature of the video; not because such an interview cannot take place; but considering a country called Nigeria were anything can happen with the level of technological development. The intelligence of our people can even practically stage manage a video were you can be making love with a lady you have never met. At some point, when as an individual who have been staged managed making love with an unknown lady is been circulated all over, you will almost convince yourself that you actually did it; as such, you become almost guilty and at the mercy of your detractors.

There is a need to raise questions about the video before the issues will be addressed in this article. It will be very difficult for me to take a position on the interview but from what I saw it is evidently clear that such interview was conducted in the studio of Channels TV and that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai indeed granted the said interview, again it leaves me with so many questions not just in my mind; but in the fact that I might not be privy to some information in government house to make me believe either the questions Mrs. Maupe Ogun raised or the answers provided by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Firstly, I never watched that interview granted on Channels Television live but this article will not hesitate to dissect the issues; I therefore, want to play safe should that interview be stage managed then my question becomes very irrelevant.

Social media is social media; and social media been what it is gives one the ample opportunity to speak and explain one’s position. No doubt, it will be difficult to exonerate Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as he agrees with Mrs. Maupe Ogun (The Anchor or Interviewer) that the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union is a ‘group of bigot’. This indeed was a big kernel to chew and swallow; butWhydid Mrs. Maupe Ogun asked such question and why did Mallam Nasir El-Rufai have to agree with her? I did not want to presume at that point who a ‘bigot’ is. I immediately went into searching for the meaning of the word ‘bigot’ to be sure of what I already know. A bigot is a person who is intolerant towards those holding different opinions. This is exactly what Mallam Nasir El-Rufai concurred to in that straight question directed to him from Mrs. Maupe Ogun. Did Mrs. Maupe Ogun ask the right question? Did Mallam Nasir El-Rufai answer the question correctly? Should Mallam Nasir El-Rufai have answered in the positive? Why and within what context Mrs. Maupe Ogun did ask such questions? How did Mallam Nasir El-Rufai come to such conclusions that the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union is a group of bigot? Should a group of people become intolerant, then, there is a need for the Governor of Kaduna State Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to do more of socio-political engagements.

Socio-political engagement is very apt in making people become tolerant. I think in this regard no amount of engagement is enough on the part of the Governor of Kaduna State. Socio-political engagements are a process and such processes have no timeline. It is the duty of the Governor to ensure that every stakeholder is involved in this process. Democracy as a form of government is evolving and this involvement does not negate the fact that members of SOKAPU should play their own role. Democracy is not place limitations in the process of ensuring and allowing the voices of the people to be heard; but rather it is a direct involvement of the people in checkmating the excesses of government. In as much as we operate a representative democracy (indirect democracy); this form of democracy is limited in ensuring communication, socio-political engagement, dialogue, accountability, deliberation, participation etc. In fact, studies in democratic engagements have gone beyond Karl Popper’s deliberative democracy to a much more Active Participatory Engagement (APE). The representatives are too limited in terms of speaking the minds of the people they represent; and again, trust deficit is another factor that makes representative democracy weak.

The acceptance speech of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was more captivating and inviting than the interview granted. I would encourage every Nigerian and the Kaduna State people to revisit the acceptance speech. In the speech he Mallam Nasir El-Rufai made it very clear to the people of Kaduna State when he said in Paragraph 1: “My fellow citizens, you have spoken. You have spoken with a loud voice and voted for the continuity of our reforms. You have voted for equal opportunity. You have voted for genuine development and growth. You have rejected parochialism. Never again can the few entitled elite pursue their narrow interests using sentiments, masquerading under the disguise of fighting for our people”.

The SOKAPU I believe are part of this people. They represent a voice of a people living in Kaduna State; and from the acceptance speech of the Governor he seems to understand this dynamics of democratic engagement. Then, what happened at that interview? Did Mallam Nasir El-Rufai forget this part of his acceptance speech? Let me also make reference to Paragraph 8 of his speech when he said: “In this moment of victory, we acknowledge and respect the preferences of our fellow citizens who did not vote us. We would listen to their concerns, but we invite them to join hands with us so that we can build a better Kaduna State”. In paragraph 9 he said again: “We are committed to uniting the state around common values anchored on equal citizenship, law and order, and protection of constitutional rights”. Reading this speech, one can really say Mallam Nasir El-Rufai understands the dynamics of democracy; but again what went wrong on that fateful day when he called SOKAPU a group of bigots in that exclusive interview?

The Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was just possibly human and could not control his emotions; and again from my own analysis of the interview he never expected such direct questions and was very much afraid of the phrase ‘Catch 22’ a paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules or limitations. This is I think most politicians and leaders should always manage their emotions.The reading of his acceptance speech and the interview granted explains the divide in the Divine and Human side of the Governor. The acceptance speech of the Governor should be given deep considerations over the outburst of emotions and by this very fact hold him more with his acceptance speech which is more rational than the outburst of emotions. When people act base on emotions we should try to understand with them and sometimes not take them seriously. This again is where emotional Intelligence is very vital in the leadership enterprise.

Let me bring the Kajuru slaughter and massacre in Kaduna State as one of the biggest challenge Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s governments must give serious consideration if the security and welfare of the people is fundamental to his office. The Governor has no reason to give excuses base on his level of exposure as one people look up to as a social engineer. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai knows what to do and can help stop the ongoing installment genocide taking place. The Governor took an oath of office to protect lives and properties and this is the criteria to which political and electoral judgments ordinary citizens put into consideration first if our votes are ever taken seriously. The Kajuru slaughter and massacre is a big challenge that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai should fix without looking at the years of its existence. The purpose of leadership is to impact positive change and this also should reflect onthe situation in Kajuru and Its environs. The 37years of the crisis began in a day and it can be resolved within a day. As such, a desired commitment and sincere purposefulness of government is appropriate in this regard.

The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union no doubt has come to stay. The better Mallam Nasir El-Rufai accommodates this group of people as a democratic force the value it will add to his government. Nonetheless, SOKAPU should as a group of people be a uniting force within their house and galvanize their own social and political activities. The democratic realities on ground to a large extent pose a challenge before SOKAPU members. SOKAPU as we know is not a political party but a union that exist as a registered legal entity. Although, they are not restrain from political activities, but they should also be aware that not every member of SOKAPU belongs to All Progressive Congress and not all are members of the People’s Democratic Party. The existence of SOKAPU does accommodate a unifying political force and as such poses a challenge in galvanizing itself. Nevertheless, there should be one common destiny and purposefulness that members of SOKAPU can make a fundamental basis for their own unification. This again, provides a policy framework and a fore front to which they can always come to the drawing board to evaluate their identity.

In the midst of all this, the Unity of Kaduna State is of utmost importance to us all as a people. If there is injustice in Kaduna South; then there is injustice everywhere in Kaduna State. The injustices perpetrated in Kaduna North are also that which affects the whole Kaduna State. This government must and should be a uniting force by accommodating and continuously making every effort to be a bridge builder as it imbibes the principle of the cosmopolitanization and urbanization policy framework for the growth and integral development of the State.

Long Live Mallam Nasir El-Rufai,

Long The Southern Kaduna People’s Union,

Long Live the People of Kaduna State,

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

ADIDI, Dokpesi Timothy

08138605055