Dark Cloud Causes Security Scare in Kaduna

A crowd at the scene

A little scare rocked the calm boat yesterday, 24th May, 2011 in Kaduna. around 6.15pm when a thick black smoke enveloped the sky around Ibrahim Taiwo road. In a jiffy, a police and a millitary van as well as a couple of Operation Yaki bikes had arrived at the spot to ascertain the remote and obvious cause, like politicians like to say. A very curious crowd was gathering in no time and the sound of a fire engine followed shortly. 

We later found out that  "Sidi" also known as "Mai Gona" who farms close to the scene of the incident and had the habit of clearing the refuse on that road and burning it had done that again only that this time some numbers of old tires were used and that had increased the intensity of the fire. The firefighters did their job quickly and left. The cloud of smoke caused some confusion as I heard one of the millitary guys on his radio confirming what had just happened to another unit. As expected, a handful of people who had seen the smoke from a distance thought something was amiss and had started accessing it from the security perspective.

The Fire Service Truck

 Sidi was later taken away in the military van to the Gabasawa Police Station on Taiwo road while some of his family members were seen sobbing in fear of what could happen to him in the station and thereafter. Sidi just needs a slap on the wrist and some lessons on environmental issues. I hope they won't make a scape goat of him. This should also call KEPA to work and alert. If there was no refuse, Sidi would have had nothing to burn. It's a good thing that the security apparatus and the fire service acted in good time.

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Sunset for Nigerian Feminist – Hajiya Laila Dogonyaro, OON

Sadly, it was twilight for Hajiya Laila Dongonyaro on the 28th of April, 2011; a foremost women rights advocate and politician. Born 67 years ago, Hajiya Laila, the Garkuwar Garki of Jigawa State was a known vanguard of women political emancipation in regionally in northern Nigeria and Nationally. She died after a brief illness and years of protracted battle with diabetics and hypertension.

The recipient of several awards including the Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON in 2001 was largely involved in the activities of the Jam’iyar Matan Arewa (JMA), the first collective Northern women organisation which was founded in 1963 and was the President of the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) 1993 -1915. She will be fondly remembered by several who have benefitted from her proactive efforts at pushing for child education, women socio-economic and political development and her active engagement in politics. It was Hajia Laila who famously described the role of women in the politics of the first republic as that of a ‘flower vase’. She opined that she felt so because ’some women then were active participants in politics but with no franchise to vote and be vote for.’

In an interview last year with the Daily Trust Newspaper, she recounted how she and a few others including the late Simbiat Abiola worked together and ensured that women had a voice in politics. ‘After the elections, we went and a transition committee was set up and I think there were 12 to 13 committees. There were about four or five women at the meeting and none of us was included. There was Anne Obi, Mrs Kezia Agundu, Mrs. Adenike Ebun-Oyegbola was there, Alhaja Simbiat Abiola and I. I couldn’t bear it so I asked to be allowed to speak. I expressed my disappointment at the composition of the committees. I pointed out that barely a week ago, we had queued in the sun to vote you as president and we are now being forgotten seven days after the election. That was in 1979. Alhaji Shehu Shagari said I was right and he directed that women should be included in the committees. Although our names were put down but we were never invited to attend the committee meetings. That was how the struggle started.’

She attended only primary school (was also married off early at 12) and was an advocate for girl-child education. One of her last projects was a girl’s secondary school in Garki, Jigawa State which she slated to be opened in September.

Hajiya Dogonyaro is survived by four children Mohammed Ahmed (the Sarkin Yakin Garki), Mairo Hassan Hussein, Binta and Isa Dogonyaro. The First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan in a national broadcast acknowledged her huge contribution to the cause of womanhood and said ’she will be missed by several people.’  Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State through a press release recalled her initiating the Women Opinion Leadership Forum, “which became a training ground for younger women, who eventually found their feet in politics”, her pioneering contributions towards the development of the Women’s empowerment movement and championing  “greater involvement of women in politics and governance”.

May her soul rest in perfect peace.

This piece was first published here.

GoodBye Kaduna, Welcome Abuja and allied matters

Fueling before the journey ahead

There seems to be a mild but consistent outflux from Kaduna. I don’t have facts to back this up but I have heard of a number of families who have had cause to leave Kaduna premised on the recent crisis. This is where the need for a good social security system becomes underscored. It is apparent that the neighbouring Abuja would largely benefit from this movement in terms of the labour and capital flight that this would occasion. Investors are wary of the safety of their investment in this part. Okada riders are witnessing a reduction in wages since about 3 hours have been yanked off their earning hours. Suya merchants are worst hit. Kaduna boy has never bought one in the day time. I actually don’t know any who does. Prostitutes? Sorry, Commercial Sex Workers, CSW are not finding this curfew funny at all. I’m sure they would have changed strategies too!

The soldiers manning points during the curfew hours have also reportedly changed tactics; the punishment now is to have defaulters sweep the street as against mimicking the movement pattern of frogs. Good prospect for environmental sanitation if this continues. Care to verify this news? Simple. Stay out till some minutes past 9pm! Don’t forget to leave a detailed comment here after the experience.

Kaduna Election Tribunal Set for Work

Mr. Garba Kwajaffa, H.B Abdulrama and Olushola Ishola have been inaugurated as members of the 3-man panel that is meant to look into dissatisfaction following the April 28^th, 2011 governorship election in Kaduna. The election saw the incumbent Patrick Yakowa winning the state. The tribunal would sit for 180 days and a May 23 deadline has been given to parties willing to refute the result of the said election to submit their petition. Fairness should no doubt be the watchword of the panel. Kaduna boy would keep a close tab on the turn of events at the tribunal.

Courtesy – 234Next

Job opening in Kaduna

If you are considering a career in a school environment, then read on. The Kaduna branch of the Famak School located at  Abdulkadir Atiku Street, Off College Road, Near Legislative Quarters, Angwan Dosa needs competent staff for the following openings:

Administrative Positions

Marketing Officer Ref: MM

Receptionist Ref: RR

Teaching Positions:

Pre-school/ Early-years teacher Ref: EY

Key Stage One teachers Ref: KST1

Key Stage Two teachers Ref: KST2

Key Stage ICT teachers Ref: KSICT

Trainee Teachers Ref: TT

Note that applicants must be graduates of education-based disciplines or have a PGDE. They must also have post qualification experience and demonstrate teaching skills. Applicants who have experience in the British curriculum have an added advantage. Those without education-based qualifications could apply for the positions of trainee teachers. The reference should be stated in the application.

For email address to post the application, click here. This advert was published in the Guardian Newspaper of 17th May, 2011..

Kaduna Govt. to Pay Victims Bill

The Patrick Yakowa led government has promised medical bill reprieve for victims of the post presidential election crisis. The numero uno of the Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Ungwarimi, Dr Husain Yahya hinted at this as he spoke with News Agency of Nigeria. This, I believe is good thinking from the government. Governance, I have always advocated would have no meaning if the people cannot point to direct benefits from it. Dr Yahya informed his interviewers that government was ready to pay the bills in any hospital that had cause to treat such victims. Peradventure you know any that was affected and hospitalized; I feel this is news that should be brought to their attention. 

Ngozi Obiyor: An Unfinished Story

Death be not proud!

I suffered a mutual emotional trouncing with a buddy recently. The character in question was the whole script not just a part of it. We had lost a generation, so to say. You can’t miss her get-up-and-go attitude neither will you her passion for the theatre in a few minutes chat with her while she was on this side. Kaduna Boy had the privilege to watch her from a close distance and can testify to Aunty Ngozi’s strength. Kaduna’s theatre stage would sorely miss her. Read Ihidero Victor on her below.

Candle burning at both ends, reaches the thin point of abyssal solid state. Light dims. The thread is cut as the winds from Pandora’s Box hushed out the voice of an emerging falcon. Indeed. There are deaths and there are deaths. It is not turning into lioness that is difficult; it is getting to the tail. Her disappearance from this terra firma came as a gale to me. Her life was a candle to many who dared to be despite the harshness of this dark night, called Nigeria. Lighting candles in the lives of children was her preoccupation. Whether the child was ready to learn or not was none of her business. She was bent on forcing education into the marrows of children and youths in the society even when that would cause her her life. It did ‘nyways. Her memory perfectly seethes on my head like the bowler hat of Mr. President radiating all its grace and dignity that is womanhood. Anytime my phone rings in early hours of the morning, I would guess the Caller was Aunty. Anytime I received SMS in late hours of the day, I correctly deciphered who the sender was. She was humanely human. A reminder to humanity that womanhood has not lost touch with reality despite the craze of a postmodernist state. 

As she mutter to me on our last two meetings before she joined the extraterrestrial: an eagle has no business pecking with ducks on a dustbin, was a message she drove into my being. I have since imagined a picture of ducks and eagles competing for food. As hard as I try, her face resurfaces in subconscious. We saw two days before. She had gained admission for a PhD research course in Theatre and Performing Arts at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. She was laid up for the registration. It was natural for me to help with the registration. I did. At a point of the final submission of her papers for documentation. It occurred to me call. I did. The Phone rang. A voice came from the other hand. “She’s dead”, the raspy voice of a stranger bit my ears. I ended the call. I had called a wrong number. I gave another dial to the other phone, this time I heard a Joy’s passionate voice rubbing ears. I hailed her but she managed to mutter “Your aunty is no more.” My phone dropped! I called again. And my fear was confirmed. 

Like Moth to flame ...

Tear dropped from my eyes without my command and my heart raced to catch her spirit before it hovers to the abyss. But the legs of my heart failed me. She’s survived by progenies of intellectual heavyweight, academic storm-troopers and the creative intelligentsia of the theatres.