Suffering in Bounty

By Abdulfattah Abdussalam

Umar Ibn Al-Khattab was the second Caliph. He assumed the leadership of the Muslim Ummah following the demise of Abubakar Sidiqq.

Umar was a war general, an astute politician, a tactician, an administrator, a pious and God fearing leader whose tenure as the Amir of the then rising Islamic community witnessed remarkable events. Often, and on many nights, he disguised, moving amongst ordinary citizens and listening to their comments and reactions to his style of administration and policies. On one occasion, in the course of engaging in discussion about his administration, he encountered a particular woman in a remote part of his domain. He was confounded when the woman rained torrents of abuse on his administration, and categorically lampooned for denying them the basic necessities of life like corn, barley, etc. That same evening, Umar refused his slave to assist him and carried a load of corn and barley to the woman. He kindled and knelt on his knees and blew into the fire for their cooking until they ate!

Drawing comparison between the time of Umar and the leaders of our time, the obvious fact is that governance has taken another dimension from what it ought to be. Allah (swt) says power is a trust that is entrusted on the ruler for the goodness of all. Leadership, as well as followership, would be accounted for in the hereafter.

Similarly, there is nothing worse than a ruler who plays false with his people and breaks his covenant with them.

In 1986, Nigerians were cajoled into accepting the Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAP) with its foreign exchange maladies. Then, we were told that the aftermath of the programme would be more jobs for Nigerians, high standard of living and goody goodies. The impact of SAP can be measured by comparing how much it cost to buy a new Peugeot car in 1986 to buying the same car in 2004. It is also on record that traveling to Mecca on pilgrimage then did not cost more than N3,000, including the basic travel allowances. The same trip in 2003 cost between 350,000 and 500,000!

Eighteen years after SAP, instead of having the promised government with human face, the economy now has a monster face.

It has become a vampire, a terminator that is poised at forcefully snuffing life out of our already difficult existence. It is maiming the hitherto strong and able bodied Nigerians while condemning many new born babies to be born without a spoon at all. Many Nigerians are vibrantly unemployed while many are gainfully retrenched. Yet the leaders feel totally unconcerned.

Sadly, the economic monster’s head is becoming more inflated. Instead of dwindling, it is perpetually hyper inflated. In a couple of months, the life of the Nigerian economy, oil and its products, would be priced out of the reach of the ‘ordinary’ Nigerian. Initially, lies were told in justifying the actions but when the lips started wetting blood, brazen bravados were employed. Irrespective of the long belly death row, the economy is almost always everlastingly poised to administer the death pill on Nigerians. But why do Nigerians deserve this treatment from the over bloated belly of their wicked leaders.

Nigeria is the sixth largest producer of oil in the world, yet the poorest. Ironically, we claim to be a Godly nation with a large number of churches, mosques, pastors, imams, mallams, bishops, overseers, and evangelists. At every turn, our leaders scamper to the Church or Mosque to seek the voice of God! But, Vox populli Vox dei, the voice of the people is the voice of God. The prophet says Allah’s Hand is with the Jama’ah.

Amidst plenty, Nigerians are suffering. If the economic advisers, technocrats and stake holders see nothing wrong in the economic policies of the present government, at least the Muslims amongst them should urgently seek ‘Allah’s forgiveness and, like Umar, go around, listen to the lamentations of the people and hearken to their call.

The Muslims amongst them should not assume he is Godly by his actions when many millions are dying of hunger, poverty and economic oppressions. Let the truth be told: this is not the Nigeria of our dreams. Whoever thinks he loves Nigeria more than the ‘ordinary’ Nigerians should visit Oshodi, Ajegunle, Sabongeri, Mileone, Dugbe, Gusau, Tundunurada and Onitsha to see Nigerians in physical pains. It is certainly a bad period for Nigerians. This is a land that is filled with gals and thorns. Pray for change; change of heart.

(From Shaitan in Chains)

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