WAITING FOR ‘YES!’

WAITING FOR ‘YES!’

a poem from Diffa, Niger Republic

By Abdulkadir Badsha Mukhtar

21 June 2013

Far away from home, families and friends

With new friends like families in a lonely land

Of harsh sun and dusty sand in a single and only alternative hotel

After an escape from an official confusion

And saved from a nearly undiplomatic solution

Holding a series of official and unofficial meetings

Because of individual and collective silent of fears and hopes

We keep on waiting for Yes, which is far away

Yes we are waiting for Yes

A yes that will protect our nation’s integrity

A yes that will give us protection and pride

A yes that will make our sealed mouths smiles

A yes that will open the doors of hopes

And peace of minds

For us to enter a lonely and silent road

To our dear and loving country with pride

We are really waiting for you executive Yes!

Please come we are waiting for you to lead our way

From far away Diffa, Niger to our dear home Nigeria.

  

Zamfara lead poisoning: Digging grave in search of gold

Zamfara lead poisoning: Digging grave in search of gold

Abdulkadir Badsha Mukhtar published in Weekly Trust Saturday, 28 July 2012 05:00

Despite the danger posed by lead poisoning to the people of Zamfara State, due to the activities of informal miners, stakeholders say both the federal and state governments are not responding appropriately to the disaster

In 2010, officials of the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on their annual polio vaccination visit to some rural communities in Zamfara State ended up discovering the presence of lead poisoning. It was later established that the pandemic was caused by the unregulated activities of unskilled miners, working to extract gold by pulverising rocks.

The affected communities are  Bagega, Abare, Dareta, Duza, Sunke, Tungar Daji, Tungar Guru, and Yargalma, mostly in Anka and Bugundu local government areas.

According to the Zamfara State Ministry of Health, over 450 children had died from the lead poisoning   which broke out in the state, while MSF said “More than 2,000 are being treated for acute lead poisoning. Some of the children treated had been infected again. The exact number of adults affected has not been ascertained, however, it has led to higher rates of miscarriages among female adults.”

At the peak of the poisoning, 79 children died within three weeks in Dareta alone.

In the beginning

According to local residents interviewed by MSF, artisanal mining in Zamfara State dates back to 20 years since the discovery of gold deposits near Dareta in Anka Local Government Area. The opportunities later attracted people from neighboring states of Niger, Katsina, Sokoto and even neighboring Niger Republic.

Indigenes of these communities claim, however, that there were no known incidents of lead poisoning from these activities, until Chinese prospectors started to buy gold nuggets from artisanal miners.

To increase their turnover rates, the Chinese buyers had given some of the artisanal miners grinding machines, which most miners started to use within their homes to meet up with demands. Unable to afford the machines, others resorted to using their domestic grain grinding machines to grind the ore, to extract the gold dust which attracted a higher commercial value.

Weekly Trust has learnt the growing business has attracted other national from neighbouring countries to the state. Yet   the communities, where the gold is deposited in commercial quantity, are dying in silence, while some are getting richer. The levels  of lead laden dust within their homes rose exponentially to toxic levels and soon, children in these communities started to fall ill with lead poisoning symptoms which the local health center initially mistook to be cholera.

Finding grave in search of gold

“There’s a gold rush that has been expanding at an ever increasing rate since 2007 and it’s really picking up now,” said Ivan Gayton, who is head of mission for MSF Nigeria

Gayton. Gold prices had nearly doubled since 2008 and climbed to almost 70 per cent since 2010.

However, today, the Global Rights, a non-governmental organisation, said, the problems associated with mining in Zamfara go beyond the lead poisoning pandemic. It said other issues such as the physical safety of miners, environmental and social impacts were yet to be confronted. “In October 2011, four miners were trapped in a collapsed mine at Dareta for days before they died. Neither the Federal nor the state governments responded to the incident. Incidents like these will continue unabated except if both the federal and state governments step up measures to contain mining related disasters.

“It is the duty of government to respect, protect and fulfill human rights. Where government fails to enforce or protect the rights of its citizens when they are being violated by private persons or entities, then government itself has itself breached the rights of citizens through its passive acquiescence of criminal actions.”

The Global Rights added that the top soil in seven communities have been remediated, and some of them have already become re-contaminated, as the remediation had occurred in village centers and lead contaminated earth on their outskirts had found their way into the decontaminated areas. Again, some houses have been affected as lead tainted bricks were used to build homes.

‘Gold deposit a blessing’

According to both the state and Federal Governments, “informal mining” is more of road to graves for those considered as informal miners because of lack of professionalism, but the “informal miners” had a contrary view, because, for them, it as a magic way out of poverty and an opener to their wealth.

Haruna Rasheed, a miner and a student at polytechnic in Zamfara state, told Global Right that “I can only thank God for the gold he has blessed our community with. At least people like me get a chance to make a living and have a better life.”

He said he earns more than what a fresh graduate on level 8 Step 2 gets every month. “Graduates receive N20,000 at the state while I make N30,000 monthly,” he said.

He argued that “everything happens according to the will of God! We cannot stop eating, because our work is dangerous. We cannot steal and we must not starve. The soil is arid [and] yields very little crops. I have to go to school. Education is not free … it is this gold God has blessed our community with…”

‘FG not supporting us’

The MSF said both the Federal and state governments through state agencies had failed to respond appropriately and adequately to the Zamfara disaster. However, Zamfara State Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Muktar Lugga, said at a workshop organized by the Global Rights, in Gusau, Zamfara State that they received limited support from the Federal Government.

“Zamfara State never got any money from the Federal Government since this disaster happened. We have heard that money has been approved in principle for many months, but that it is being held back due to bureaucracy in Abuja,” Lugga said.

He, however, said the state was determined to completely eliminate the dangers associated with informal mining in the state. Lugga said in spite of promises by the Federal Government to “intervene with funds and other support since the outbreak of the disaster, nothing has happened for over two years.”

Earlier at another forum in Abuja, Minister of Health Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu warned residents of Zamfara State against another lead poisoning in the area, explaining that the battle against lead poisoning in Zamfara State was not yet over.

The minister, speaking through the Director of Public Health in the Ministry, Dr. Mansur Kabiru, at an International Conference on Lead Poisoning in Abuja, said “for us to sustain the gains we have made, we need to strengthen coordination among stakeholders so that the collective national interventions can be cost effective.”

N800m needed for cleanup

Gayton said Zamfara desperately needed a comprehensive approach to environmental remediation, medical treatment, and safer mining, adding that “if that are not in place six months from now, I’m going to start crying negligence.”

In May this year, almost two years after calling for a drastic action to save the lives of many, MSF decried lack of action by the Federal Government to tackle the lead poisoning epidemic in Zamfara State. The ministers of mines, environment and health failed to show up at a two-day conference on the lead poisoning in the state organised by MSF.

“This conference that we just spent a lot of money holding, they expressed their support for it, but none of the decision makers actually turned up,” Ivan Gayton, the head of MSF Nigeria, told Reuters. “So the opportunity to announce concrete action was to some extent really missed.”

“It does concern us that perhaps they (Nigeria’s government) don’t realise the scale of the problem and are not engaging at the level we think they should be,” Gayton said.

An 800 million naira ($5.08 million) funding proposal from the environment ministry intended to finance safe mining programmes had never materialised, he said.

Can Nigeria Revive its Mining Sector in 2012?

BY ABDULKADIR BADSHA MUKHTAR, published by daily trust on 27 JANUARY 2012

OPINION

Throughout last year and even long before, Nigeria seems to completely rely on external support in order to revive and develop its dying mining and steel sector. The rhetoric was that foreign investors would come and help the country develop the sector.

Some Nigerian officials had to travel several times to some countries in search of foreign investors. Some of those trips were even sponsored by the World Bank.

The World Bank in 2004, through its "Sustainable Management of Mining Resources Project" released $120 million grant to Nigeria to fund the activities of artisanal and small scale miners.

Last year, the Minister of Mines and Steel, Arch Musa Muhammad Sada asked the World Bank for additional $80 million for the same purpose.

Some investors from China, UK and Australia have shown interest in the sector and have paid visits at various times to the minister last year.

What attracted them mostly was the "tax holiday" offered them by the government. By the tax holiday, they are free to extract mineral resources and export same in large quantity without paying Nigeria a penny as tax for some years.

However, many people think that the Nigerian government lacks the commitment and political will to develop the sector.

There are fears therefore that apart from the tax holiday that investors are to enjoy, foreign investors may also come with their conditions which may be injurious to the revival of the sector.

It is on record that in March 2009, under what the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development titled "Taxation Breaking the Course" some African countries suffered in the hands of foreign investors who came in the name of bringing in their expertise to develop the sector but ended up looting the sector.

The report stated that "African citizens have been all too aware that while the good times were rolling for the global mining industry, they saw no increase in mining tax revenue to governments or spending on their basic development needs."

Some African countries have commissioned studies on mining taxation and transparency to save mining tax revenue.

After carrying out the investigations, reports from Ghana, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo revealed that "African governments have not been able to optimize the mining tax revenue due to them before the 2003 to 2008 price boom; neither have they been able to capture the anticipated windfalls during the price boom."

The report gave two main reasons which include that (i) Mining companies operating in Africa are granted too many tax subsidies and concessions; and (ii) There is high incidence of tax avoidance by mining companies conditioned by such measures as secret mining contracts; corporate mergers and acquisitions; and various 'creative' accounting mechanisms."

These two factors, according to the report, coupled with inadequate institutional capacity to ensure tax compliance contributes in large measure to diminish the tax revenue due to African governments.

The report further stated that mining companies claim that they need to be compensated for the unique risks they face, such as price booms and bust, through special tax exemptions and concessions are fallacious.

But these tax subsidies, together with tax avoidance and alleged tax evasion practices by mining companies have robbed African treasuries of millions of dollars tax revenue from the mining industry.

The then Chairman House Committee on Steel, Representative Aminu Shehu Shagari once said in an interview that he "wept" when he saw what was invested in Ajaokuta.

Shagari accused foreign governments of sabotaging Nigerian government.

He said: "Western powers do not want Ajaokuta to work. Ironically, Nigeria is still wooing the same people to come and invest their capital in the same sector they do not want Nigeria to have.

"I also moved a motion on the floor of the House that Ajaokuta was being massively looted and we were spending money for nothing, paying billions of naira to people doing nothing as salaries and allowances.

"Interim management committee has always said they needed N400 million as take off; that they can re-open the plants and generate at least N10 billion annually. You don't give them that money and keep paying billions to the staff for sitting idle. What sort of system are we running?"

It is very clear that no foreigner would want to help in developing the mining and steel sector for Nigeria. Nigerians and government must help the indigenous miners to make this work.

The first ten days of Zul-hajj

This article has been published in Daily Trust, Friday 28, 2011 

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By Abdulkadir Badsha Mukhtar

Today according to majority of Muslims across the world is the beginning of the first ten important days of Zul-hajj the last month of an Islamic calendar, also the stepping stone for the preparations for hajj rites, as it is forbidding from today for an intending pilgrim to for example barb his hear or cut his finger-nails, until after the hajj.

Because of its important Allah (SWA) has taken oath with nights of these days in surat al Fajr “Wal Fajr. Walayalil Ashr” “And by the ten nights” Q89:2. It has been confirmed in Sahih Al-Bukhari that Ibn Abba said these ten nights refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

He, Ibn Abbas was reported as saying that the Prophet said, “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days.” meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. They (the companions) said, "Not even fighting Jihad in the way of Allah”  and the prophet replied that “Not even Jihad in the way of Allah; except for a man who goes out (for Jihad) with his self and his wealth, and he does not return with any of that.” (Al-Bukhaaree, Abu Daawood and others. The exact wording is that of Abu Daawood)

In another Hadith from Ibn Umar stated that the Prophet Muhammad (Blessings of Allah and Peace be upon him) give directives that Muslims should increase in good deeds particularly in these last ten days.

The Prophet said: "There aren't any days greater, nor any days in which deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah; the Most High, than these ten days (of Zul-Hijjah). So, increase in them the saying of Tahleel (La Ilaaha illa Allah), and Takbeer (Allah Akbar) and Tahmeed (al-Hamdu li-llah)" [Musnad Imaam Ahmad]

In his publication, titled “Superior Days for Righteous Deeds: The Superiority and Virtue of the first ten days of the Month of Zul-hijjah and the deeds legislated in these days”, Shaykh Abdullah Ibn Abdur-Rahman al-Jibreen tried to come up with ten proposals as “The Types of Deeds in These Ten Days”.

First: The performance of Haj and Umrah, and these are the best of deeds that may be done. And what indicates their superiority are a number of Ahaadith, one of which is the saying of the Prophet (PBUH).

Performance of Umrah is an expiration of the sins committed between it and the previous Umrah, and the reward of the Hajj which is accepted by Allah, the Most High, is nothing but Paradise. (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

Second: Fasting during these days - as many of them as may be easy (for one to fast); especially the Day of Arafah. There is no doubt that the act of fasting is one of the best deeds, and it is from what Allah, the Most High, has chosen for himself, as in the Hadith Qudsee: Fasting is for Me, and it is I who give reward for it. Verily, someone gives up his sexual passion, his food and his drink for My sake..." (Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, Maalik, at-Tirmidhee, Nasaa'ee and Ibn Maajah)

From Abu Qatadah that the Prophet said: Fasting the Day of Arafah will be credited with Allah by forgiving one's sins of the previous year and the following year. (Muslim)

Third: At-Takbeer (Allah Akbar) and adh-Dhikr (the remembrance of Allah through different words of praise and glorification) in these (ten) days, Allah said "And mention the name of Allah on the appointed days"(12:28). This has been explained (by some) to mean the ten days (of Zul-Hijjah).

One of these Azkar is “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Laa Ilaaha illa 'llah Wa 'llahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Wa li'llahi al-hamd.”

Fourth: At-Tawbah (repentance) and abstaining from disobedience and all types of sins, since forgiven and mercy are the results of deeds. Disobedience is the cause of being far away (from Allah, the Most High) and repulsion, while obedience is the cause of being near (to Allah, Most High) and His love.

Fifth: Doing plenty of voluntary (nafl) righteous deeds of worship like Prayer, Charity, Jihaad, reading the Qur'an, Commanding what is Good and Forbidding what is Evil, and other such deeds. These are amongst the deeds that are multiplied in these days.

Sixth: It is legislated in these days to make at-Takbeer al-Mutlaq at all times of night and day until the time of the Eid Prayer. Also, at-Takbeer al-Muqayyad is legislated, and it is done after the (five) obligatory prayers that are performed in congregation. This begins from Dawn (Fajr) on the Day of Arafah (the 9th of Zul-Hijjah) for those not performing Haj, and from Noon (Zhur) on the Day of Sacrifice (10th of Zul-Hijjah) for those performing Haj (pilgrims); and it continues until Asr prayer on the last day of the days of Tash-reeq (13th of Zul-Hijjah).

Seventh: The slaughtering of a sacrificial animal (Adhiyah) is also legislated for the Day of Sacrifice (10th) and the Days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th and 13th). This is the Sunnah of our father Ibraaheem - when Allah, the Most High, redeemed Ibraaheem's son by the great sacrifice (of an animal in his place).

Eighth: Offering animal as Udhyia It has been narrated from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet said: If you see the Hilal (new moon) of Zul-Hijjah, and any one of you wants to make a sacrifice, then he should not cut (anything) from his hair and his nails. (Muslim and others).

Ninth: It is incumbent for the Muslim (who is not performing Hajj) to make every effort to perform the Eid Prayer wherever it is performed, and to be present for the Khutbah and benefit.

For those who are not performing Hajj, they should at their respective country perform “Fasting” at this day of Arafat, which is the ninth day of Zul-Hijjah.  

Tenth: After what has been mentioned, it is fitting that every Muslim, male and female, take advantage of these days by obeying Allah, the Most High, remembering Him, thanking Him, fulfilling all the obligatory duties, and staying far away from the prohibited things. He must take full advantage of this season, and the open display of Allah's gifts, to attain the pleasure of his Lord.

In some Hadith, which one of them was reported by Sayyadatina Aisha Radiyallahu anha reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said  "There is no day in which Allah sets free more souls from the fire of hell than on the day of Arafah. And on that day Allah draws near to the earth and by way of exhibiting His Pride remarks to the angels, 'What is the desire of these (servants of mine)?" (Muslim) 

Night of 'Eedul Adh'hã 

It is reported that all the nights of both 'Eed are described in the Hadeeth as amongst the great and sacred nights in the Muslim calendar. To remain awake on the nights of 'Eed and perform 'Ibaadah is a source of great virtue and reward.

Aboo Umarah radiyallahu anhu related that 'A'ishah radiyallahu anhaa reports that Rasoolullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, "Whosoever stays awake and performs 'Ibadah (worship) on the nights of the two 'Eed, with hope for abundant reward (from Allah), his heart will not die on the day (i.e. Qiyãmah) when all hearts will be dead."

Mu'az Ibne Jabal radiyallahu anhu relates that Rasoolullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, "Jannat is wajib (incumbent) for those who stay awake with the intention of making 'Ibadah on the following nights: 8th, 9th and 10th of Zul Hijjah, the night of 'Eedul Fitr and the night of the 15th of Sha'bãn." (Targheeb)

Do we treat our neighbours according to Islamic injunction?

Written by Abdulkadir Badsha Mukhtar

This article was published in Daily Trust, Friday, 21 October 2011 05:00

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“Am I treating my neighbour according to the dictates of Islam?” This is one among many questions a Muslim should be asking himself monthly, quarterly, if not on a daily basis. This is in consideration of what Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught his Sahaba (companion) on how to live with one another, especially with neighbours.

Some Islamic scholars categorize neighbours into three. The first one is a neighbour whom you share three things with him; he is your brother, a Muslim and a neighbour. The second one is a Muslim and a neighbour while the other one is just your neighbour, who is neither a Muslim nor a family relation.

While dealing with these three categories of people, a Muslim must treat them according  to the Islamic teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who directed the Sahaba to always be nice to their neighbours.

As narrated by Abu Huraishrah: The Prophet said, “By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!” the Sahaba asked “Who is that, O Allah’s Apostle?” The Prophet said, “That person whose neighbour does not feel safe from his evil.”

It is important here to note that in all the hadiths mentioned, the Prophet stated neighbour in brooder perspective, this by interpretation could mean any person,  be it a Muslim or otherwise.

We should notice this warning by Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). He repeated himself thrice, stating that a person has a deep lack of faith if his neighbour fears evil from the person. In other words, one must not be evil or bad to his neighbour, and his neighbour should have no fear of any harm coming to him. Basically, having a healthy relationship and treating neighbours properly is an aspect of faith in Islam.

In another Hadith, the Prophet repeated that “O Muslim ladies! A neighbour should not look down upon the present of her [his] neighbours even it were the hooves of a sheep.”

Going by this Hadith, a Muslim should always extend gestures and gifts even if that gift is not something of great value. This will lead to better relationship and friendship, it will not hurt the feelings of the neighbour who gives the gifts, and it will also lead to humility and modesty.

If we can follow these teachings, the world would be a much better, peaceful and friendly place! The Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) was most certainly merciful to mankind as these teachings prove.

Is Lere another Madinah of our time?

This was published in Daily Trust Newspaper of Friday 14 October 2011

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I never told anyone, friends or relatives except my wife and a friend that I was scheduled to travel to Jos, Plateau State - that was last August. My reason was simply; it becomes a little complicated these days to tell beloved once “you, as a stranger to Plateau State” that you are passing through, not to talk telling them that your mission was to spend nights in Jos, just because of the unfortunate unending crises in the state.  

I had feelings that I was going to danger zone. With this mix of feelings, one was hope that I could get an exclusive story from the victims of the crises and second was the fear of uncertainties; I realized that I needed endless and uninterrupted prayers from all angles lefts, rights, up, down and centre. I then started sending prayer request text messages to many friends and relatives, that “I need your prayers; I am on my way to Jos.”

As if I was testing how important or otherwise I was before my friends and families, that text messages instantly generated series of verbal and text messages responses. Some of those I could remember were advising me to watch my back saying “please be extremely, very careful” one of them even shouted “Why?”But after I explained to him why I was going he said if he was me he will never go, then he prayed reluctantly.

My uncle, Yakubu Baba, replied reads “OK, Allah ya kiyaye [May God protect you]. Be very cautious and alert. Avoid trouble areas … and stay at a well secured Hotel no matter how expensive it is. Remember your life is more important than the Money. When will you come back?” he asked, before I replied to him we heard breaking news that “we will not spend night in Jos, we will finish and proceed to Bauchi” so when I replied him, the sense of relief was visible in his last five words text “OK! Hakan ma ya fi. [that will be better]”

With all these uncertainties, I never know the trip would be worth it and my phobia would be compensating with a simple visit to Lere town in Tafawa Balewa Local Government, Bauchi State, where some of the displaced persons in the neighboring States resettled and how they were received by the Emir of Lere.

When we entered the first entrance of the Emir of Lere’s palace, I saw no sign of wealth, which convinced me it was an Emir’s palace. But despite the non visibility of wealth the palace has moral capacity and capability of accommodating not only its own people but even displaced persons who were searching for a new place to settle and probably call home.

The palace at first glance was a little far away from other palaces of its kind; this in term of visibility and traditional security guards that will attract the eyes. It looks just like an ordinary old Hausa family house.

Small chairs were casually and independently arranged, I think they were up to twenty. “How was small Chairs at the Emir’s palace, was it for children, are we not in a classroom?” But I decided to ignore my journalistic curiosity in my mind because of a little knowledge I had on how Fadawa respond to many situations with stick not with Carrot,   and this question may fall not to their liking. So it could be one that will invite the stick, as such, I decided to let it go and not take a risk.

With all these I notice the signs of peace visibly all over the faces of people living there, both the settlers and the real indigenous of the area though I could not identified first from the latter.

Struggling with unanswered question we passed through the compound “tsakargida”, which linked up the first entrance into the main palace and another question flashed in my mind “where was the Emir? So we have to wait for him to come, but for how long?” not knowing he was sitting few miters away from me.

However, from one corner of the palace an elderly man was busy directing but his action was more like advising people on where to stay. Gently and politely he was saying while pointing at some places in the palace “Please, allow women to come in, please move closer so that they could have place to sit-down.” He retired back and sat down on a concrete structure-like; which is called in Hausa Dakali constructed with brown tiles and a small carpet was placed on to covered some part of the concrete.

Still to me it was preparations for the Emir’s arrival that must be in royal closes and covered his head with turban and there must be Zagi or Dogari (escort) by his side. Without waiting for the Emir, as I was thinking someone a respective man stood up and welcomed the Federal Government delegations led by the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani Sidi, who were there to assess the conditions of displaced persons in the town.

Oh! The Emir was not around but he had a good representative, but I think even the reprehensive needed to cover his head have turban, still I did not asked.

The speaker proceeded with introducing the same person without turban, the same person who was showing people where to sit-down as Alhaji Aliyu Bawa and the Emir of Lere town on the age of the Concrete made sittings. I was a little bit shocked, not knowing that another surprise was on its way from the Emir’s actions on how he received displaced persons in his area.

What surprised everyone at that time was how the Emir received the displaced people who trooped in to his town from neighbouring states following the crises. 

He technically, did not wait for Bauchi State or Tabawa Balewa Local Government’s interventions in creating camp, or build Houses for those people. He went ahead and browed what people of Madinah did when they warmly received Prophet Muhammad 1432years ago, when the prophet migrated from Mecca to them.

The Emir of Lere summoned the elders in the town and they share those people and accommodated them in their homes and he also invited some of them to live with him in his House as explained by the permanent secretary Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Muhammad Garba and confirmed by the settlers’ leader Ibrahim Mubi saying “assigned those people among his people to hosted them in their Houses and he hosted some of them inside his own house.” This solved the problem of accommodations for the displaced persons.

On how those displaced persons will own a living to live a normal live and forget the past the Emir immediately give each one a plot of land for farming.

The Emir does not give out the land neither as leases nor does he asked or expects any compensation from government, as he knows where the reward will come not really even from those people he helped but from almighty Allah.

This quickly reminded with what I also sow on the traditional roofing at the first entrance before the Emir’s main palace, there were nest all over the roofing, which to me translate that even Birds were accommodated at Emir’s palace. 

The Emir of Lere’s action is a reminder to all Muslims and even non Muslim who read about how Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was received when he Migrated “Hijrah” from Mecca to Median. Madinah people at that time accepted him and his Sahabah (companions) and give the Sahab plot of lands for farming and accommodated them in their respective various Homes like what happened to those people who find themselves in Lere town.

Beyond my wildest dream, when the Emir speaks just asked for upgrading some schools and hospital in the area.

His intention was not to ask government, personally, I expected that he will make a huge request, which NEMA could only make promise; he rather said “We are now one family, you can hardly differentiate between us and our guest. I think this year they will even stand on their toes because they are into farming and what we harvested this year could be exported to the Southern part of this country.”

“The little problem we have is we need government to upgrade our schools and hospitals, because we do not want a situation whereby our patients have to travel all the way to Jos for medical attentions, considering the security challenges in the state now.” He requested.

To my knowledge I can say NEMA DG, Muhammad Sani Sidi was short of words as when it was his turn to make his address he just stated his reasons for the visit and called for those people to live in peace that “it was God who chooses that you will live together”.

However, as a lay-man in terms of government agency’s spending, I can jump to the conclusion that by mire of looking into the NEMA’s entourage during the visit its budge for that two-days trip to both Plateau and Bauchi States if could be given to Lere Town I think it will make a great impact in their hospital and even schools. Just lay-man speaking.    

The challenge now is before the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the crises which forces those people out of their places of birth. Though it failed to do in the last 10 years, despite receiving and probably reading the Executive Summaries of the crises, as such, all the reports needs an Executive Actions as it was not made be kept in an Executive Archives’ shelves for an Executive References.

Abdulkadir Badsha Mukhtar

Ramadan!!!

As Muslim this is the month we move a little closer to God, we stop eating and drinking and having marital relation with our wives in day times. This poem is an inspirational as Ramadan is going I wrote it in 2009. I think still it can make sense. I talk to him poetically as a friend who become my flesh and blood. expecting your comments and corrections. 

RAMADAN

You taught me

The good things of life

You're the real friend

 Wanted not to lose

You're the only one

Who pushes me closer

To my Almighty God

You're the friend indeed

And the friend I need

We're too close

But you're on your way

Why can't you wait?

And not leave me alone

You're part and

Certainly I want not to lose you

You're on your way

And I'm on my way

Why can't you stay?

With me all in my life

I appreciate your staying

With me all day

I must thank almighty

Who blessed me

With you as a real friend

Please don’t go

Far away

From me

I need you always

Rightly on my side.

Copyright ©2001 Badsha Mukhtar

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2^nd Dec., 2001

20^th Ramdan,1422

8:08pm