Lili Gabari and his fellow travellers
By YUSUF YUNUS T/WADA
I DO seek protection of Allah (SWT) from the promptings of the cursed, stoneable Devil, and from the mischief of the slinking prompter, who whispers in the hearts of men from among jinn and men. In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, peace and blessing of Allah (SWT) be upon our exalted Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullahi.
I first knew Alhaji Lili Gabari in April, 1964, when I was teaching in Jahun Primary School. I remained in that school up to the end of December, 1965, when I was appointed a headmaster of Toranke school. During that time, Alhaji Lili was a licensed groundnuts buying agent (LBA) of the Northern Nigerian Marketing Board. He was buying groundnuts in Harbo town, a few kilometers north of Jahun.
He was a very staunch member of the defunct Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU). He was very popular in the district, especially in Harbo town where he was based. He was charismatic, gentle and a fine, eloquent speaker, who was always brave enough to speak his honest mind. He very sufficiently socialized himself in Harbo. I do sincerely believe that he had already made it his second home.
His ardent supporters were very badly persecuted, whose homes were set on fire and destroyed completely! Some of them were arrested and their hands were tied against their necks and brought to Jahun where there was a judge to judge them. Many fled the town. I sympathized with him and his teeming supporters very greatly. During the Second Republic, 1979 to 1983, he won election into the Kano state assembly. He was, I think, later appointed a Liaison Officer between the executive and the legislature. From 1964 to 1999, Lili was surely one of my political heroes in Kano. I always respected most, if not all, of his political ideas because he was sympathetic to the yearnings and aspirations of the common people. He was a revolutionary like his late leader, Malam Aminu Kano of blessed memory.
But from the year 1999 to date, I totally disagreed with some of his political thoughts and ideas in respect of what has been happening in this country. Furthermore, he is amongst the well-known politicians who have been seriously condemning, advocating and calling for the cancellation of educational qualification or requirement from amongst the pre-requisites for contesting elections in this country. They like square pegs to be thrust into round holes. To me, even secondary education is very inadequate to be regarded as a pre-condition for contesting a post of even a councilor. The requirement should be raised much higher than secondary education, democratic rights notwithstanding. Give a job to who can do it.
The significance of education from time immemorial cannot possibly be over-stressed. Education has always been extremely crucial and decisive in development. It has always been the life-line of development in every human society. We all need it to perform politically, economically, socially, spiritually, physically, morally, intellectually etc. very well indeed! Education was so very important that our exalted Prophet Muhammad was asked to read by the most senior Angel, Gabriel, “Read in the name of your Lord who created,” verse one, chapter 96, “Al-Alaq.” “The blood clots.” Prophet Muhammad (SAW) enjoined mankind to seek knowledge even if they had to travel to far away China for it; any type of good knowledge, because he did not specify. Did he? But here are some politicians, condemning and belittling the use of educational qualifications because of their inordinate political ambition.
They do not only condemn the use of education, but also the western educated elite, whom they persistently and derogatorily call, “‘yan boko.” Perhaps they do so for two principal reasons: Firstly, both the economic and political powers are in the hands of ‘yan boko, who ‘block’ the opportunities of others and made them jealous. Secondly, perhaps a few ‘yan boko proved to be greedy and dishonest in their undertakings and the people are sad about it. Perhaps there could possibly be some other cogent reasons for condemning them.
The illiterate politicians are like the blind people. They cannot lead others because they cannot see the road. Have you ever seen a blind man driving himself, let alone driving some other people? The English language is the principal lingua-franca in Nigeria. It is the language of both government business and commerce. Could you elect an illiterate politician to represent you in Abuja; even if he is the most popular, the most generous and the kindest person in the constituency? What will be hear or say in the Senate or in the House? Absolutely nothing! Even in the state houses of assembly, where vernacular is utilized, one still needs to be able to read and write in order to participate fully well in proffering, discussing and executing of motions. It is not late to start learning how to read and write. Old age should not stop anyone from reading and writing, so long as one is really keen. But if one is lazy and uninterested, one may not even attempt it. We like our society, our people, to be highly educated in this day and age in order to participate fully in the development and progress of our beloved country. So help us Allah (SWT), Amen.
YUSUF YUNUS T/WADA,
School of Education,
Kano state College of Education,
Kumbotso,
P.M.B. 3218,
Kano.