In
a speech at Bring Back Our Girls first annual lecture event, represented by his
daughter, princess Shaheeda, last Friday, HRH Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II
presented hard facts with brutal force. If previously unplanned, it seemed there
was conscious effort this time to embarrass his critics, especially the elite
class. He must be smiling after that lecture. The targets had been hit hard. By
given more figures, he brutally punished them. Disturbing figures were reeled
out which exposed the complicity, collective neglect and inaction of the
region’s leadership.
In
the first place Emir Sanusi must have been disappointed by stakeholders of the
region, who obviously did not turn out to be cooperative to his reform mission
in a possible background stakeholders meeting. He must have been angered by the
amount of backlash his first speeches generated. Seemingly, he was surprised,
even amused, by the rejection of his proposal by the masses, the very class he
seeks to protect. Fact is truth backfires. People tend to reject truth when they
perceived seeming tendency of denigration. Consequent to that he intended to
shame the region and its leadership by going public with figures of the social
ills of the region. But it is obvious
the targets are not the masses. The targets are religious, political and
business leaders, but particularly the former groups who wield enormous
influence.
Emir
Sanusi’s argument is on point, which many believe and are ready to support. We frequently
run into conflicts at home over what we consider abnormal practices in family issues
that are inconsistent with modern sensibilities. For instance, how can you
marry four wives when you don’t have means to cater them? But the fault with Emir
Sanusi’s line is the method, particularly his condescending tone and sheer arrogance.
In Emir Sanusi's speech words walk looking over their shoulders, deriving
pleasure at the successful hitting of the target and waiting joyfully for
response for more and more data to be reeled out. It seems Emir Sanusi is more
happy at this than fixing the issues. No one could tell.
Instead
of using the right channels, he took to public platform and engaged in exchange
of verbal bitterness with his subjects. The administrative structure of the
Emirate provides an effective way of making policies and implementation. The
Palace- through Hakimi, Dagaci and Mai-Unguwa - in collaboration with state and
local actors can formulate policies and enforce them regarding issues he is
trying to address like it is used in Polio Immunization program which thus far
has recorded spectacular success.
To
be conservative is not a bad thing. I will like to see newspapers, think-tanks
and strategic organizations funded and operated by Conservative elements to
defend their interests. Societies exist on the basis of opposition and
conflicts. Name-calling for holding
certain views is certainly ineffective in winning public discourse. Instead of
winning over hearts to his side, Emir Sanusi hardened more and more people and
turned away fence-sitters.
Hard
figures are real, however, fact exists in mind. While education serves as
critical impetus for improved life quality, large number of adolescent women in
marriage cannot be seen as social ills for a culture that sees chastity as
virtue. Yet, we are not denying fact that no development for society where children
are giving birth to children. The point is that marriage in itself should not
be seen as problem.
Challenge
must be mounted at some questions raised. For instance, what Sanusi and co., mean
when they say 80% of women in the north couldn't read and write? Because to
read and write means different things to different people. Do they mean reading
and writing only in English language? Or do they mean general ability in the
landscape of literate culture? We ask this so as to avoid confusing English, mere
language, as knowledge and civilization. If reading and writing in English
language only means knowledge, then a little decolonization is important here.
If
English is defined as totality of culture and advancement, then what about people
who read and write in other languages? What about other communities and
nationalities the world over that thrive on their own language and define their
life by their inherited values?
Hausa
is the most massively written indigenous language and the most widely read language
on continental Black Africa and beyond. Every single day sees the publication
of books; the bulk of the authors are females. The swathes of readership are
young and middle-aged women. Hundreds of thousands made reading these books their
second nature. They read simply for the fun of it. They read in the kitchen, in
Adai-daita Sahu; they utilize every single opportunity that comes their way to
read these novels. Given this beautifully gigantic number, may we not beat our
chest and proclaim that no other regions have the bulk of female readers than
ours?
What
is worrying and what the northern Conservative blocks and not-so Conservative
are resisting is an attempt in whatever form to denigrate them. Which they
perceived in Emir Sanusi's manner. Random
men everywhere may have the habit of beating their wives, which is not limited
only to the north, but the way Emir Sanusi made his case, scolding and
paternalistic, in warning traditional rulers to stop beating their wives, you
may assume beating women is the only thing every man is doing in the region.
Debates
are not won on Channels TV and applauding social media audience. Persuasiveness
as a leader is the simple, most effective way in changing people's mind. Going
this way, Emir Sanusi is not like to succeed. It will be a big loss to miss the
fruit of the reforms he intends to bring.
