Why Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) can’t be Nigeria’s President!

By Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi

“When the people are scared of
the Government there’s tyranny;
But when the Government is scared
of the people there’s freedom”
Anonymous

Nigerian Guardian Newspapers of Sunday 24th February, 2013 in its front page pitched Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) as one amongst possible contenders who wants President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s job come 2015.

This piece therefore does not in any way debunk the possibility or better still likelihood of Governor Aliyu’s emergence as President of Nigeria come 2015 as his Party’s Headquarters had not in any way told us that they aren’t selling him the Presidential Form nor had Nigeria’s dexterous electorates and political group(s) inform us that they too aren’t supporting the Governor neither also had Prof. Jega and his INEC disqualified Governor Aliyu nay delisted his Party with few ones earlier deregistered a few months earlier as the writer shall not under any circumstance whatsoever accept being misinterpreted and quoted out of context; consequently shall not hesitate proceeding to a(ny) law court for redress in event of possible breach.

Suffice also that this piece is born solely of drive for free expression and never a gimmick intended whatsoever to attract attention of People, Government and particularly Governor of Niger State; Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) or hitherto sponsored by a(ny) person(s) or group(s) as might be cynically conceived by some quarters; thence caters for unwarranted situation wherein elements of state aggression becomes also unduly attracted; considering especially how well this familiarity might make my person an unusual guest in its interrogation chamber(s).

This piece in earnest therefore examines the prospects and idiosyncrasy of Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) if eventually voted into office as President of Nigeria come 2015 from a relatively trifling perspective – his personality as lover of writers’, promoter of literature and advocate of contemporary literary inclusion for all.

Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) during 2nd Annual Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (MBA) National Literary Colloquium which held in Minna on 11th December, 2012 at Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre gave generously the whooping sum of N 10 Million Naira to Association of Nigerian Authors’ (ANA) through its President Prof. Remi Raji for Introduction of Nigerian Writers Series (NWS) (Sunday Trust Newspapers; Sunday, December 16, 2012 [page 31]; Programme of Event Gazette [page 11, item 13]) a seemingly rare gesture in Nigeria’s present socio-political atmosphere; taking a clue from ‘Jesus of Owerri’ – Governor Rochas Okoroacher one might be tempted also to crown Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) Nigeria’s all-time ‘Genius of Philanthropy’ considering the impact such huge amount of money will bear on revitalizing the operations of this Association (ANA) and fortifying this Series as well.

But problem(s) with gestures of this nature just like I had earlier highlighted in my piece titled ‘ANA Nigeria Plc: The Incorporation of Sycophancy’ published by Sunday Trust Newspapers of Sunday 16th December, 2012 [Page 34] are these:

(a) Credibility of this Fund’s Handlers: The Governor prior to presentation of the Cheque ought to seriously scrutinize the credibility of people within this Authors’ Association (ANA) that is/are to oversee the utilization of this money for this proposed Nigerian Writers Series (NWS) Project as it became clearer from experience that the Association (ANA) especially its treasury arm are composed mainly of individuals known for instituting treasury crises as past donations that this association received are today either unaccounted for or dubiously siphoned greedily into private pockets; a true testament to this fact is this; the Association (ANA) for the last 10 years (2002-2012) had not in any way or under any circumstance made condition(s) of its account and health of its treasury open for public scrutiny, audit and examination either via a print (newspaper) or electronic (website) medium.

(b) Possible Prospects of Poor Treasury Administration: Another critical fact Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) should have considered before dishing out this money to this Association (ANA) is this; are there evidence(s) on ground complimenting the Association (ANA) for a job-well-done in utility of previous donations received; does the membership structure(s) of this Association (ANA) include person(s) that are well-versed in excellent treasury administration by which I mean persons that are duly certified by professional treasury watchdogs like ICAN et al nay this Association (ANA) literarily does employ the services of both audit-quacks and account-crooks to oversee seemingly huge funds of this amount!

(c) Comparing ANA’s Plagiarized (NWS) Model with Prof. Chinua Achebe’s Original (AWS) Model: this Project ‘Nigeria Writers Series’ (NWS) wherein the Association (ANA) presented to Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) as new and well-thought-out literary model was nothing other a plagiarized and domesticated version of Prof. Chinua Achebe’s own original model ‘African Writers Series’ (AWS) as record never had it anywhere and anytime that the professor prior to establishing and editing the original model ‘African Writers Series’ (AWS) collected huge sums of money from either Military-Administrators or Eastern-Government considering how well connected and influential he was; to do such at that time; what then would warrant this Association (ANA) taking clue from Prof. Chinua Achebe’s illustration go soliciting hard-earned taxpayers’ monies for a seemingly dubious series that aspires to operate at a National (Nigeria) level as against that of Prof. Chinua Achebe that encompasses a continent-wide (Africa) coverage which might even end up in greedy private pockets?

This foregoing little tale and illustration above showed somewhat that in favorable event wherein Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) eventually emerge President of this great country Nigeria come 2015; the ensuing likelihood shall entail scenarios where unscrupulous elements around him say Association of Nigerian Authors’ (ANA) in 5th Annual Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (MBA) National Literary Colloquium present yet another dubious and seemingly plagiarized model ‘World Writers’ Series’ (WWS) and have the Governor donate the entirety of year 2016 National Budget which I believe might have sky-rocketed to double-digit(s) trillions of Nigeria’s Hard-earned Crisp Naira Notes thence plunging the Nation into absolute bankruptcy!

“If a minister just twists my
arm I'll just stand there and
have it twisted, but it'll be a
long time before it falls off.”
Sir Denis Rooke

EARSHOT

Today 11th March, 2013 clocks exactly 3 calendar months (90 days) that Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) handed a whooping N 10 Million Naira to Association of Nigerian Authors’ (ANA); The Association (ANA) since then for a period over ninety days had neither told us through a(ny) press statement(s) or communiqué(s) the progress this money had made in its hands; this undue silence about whereabouts of hard-earned taxpayers’ money by the Association (ANA) by all standards suspiciously translates to nothing other than expression of guilt and intuition that some shoddy dealings might have occurred as the Association in record-time had come to be established for notoriety of greedily diverting donations of this kind into pockets of its kingpins.

I therefore with all due respect dutifully implore People, Government and particularly Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna), to dissociate his collaboration and cooperation with the Association (ANA) if after due consultations by relevant state monitoring/advisory mechanism(s) a productive account nay report is not tendered about the position of the money (N 10 Million Naira) for this 3 calendar months (90 days) period under review being 11th December, 2012 – 11th March, 2013.

Lastly, let me use this opportunity once more to state categorically clear that; I under no circumstance whatsoever begrudge a(ny) Nigerlite emerging President of this great country Nigeria and shall be one of (if not) the happiest person to hear such a wonderful report on Network News as I’ve lived, grow and still growing on the sweet soil, wonderful air, tastiest salt and magnificent waters of Niger State all my life.

Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi is of Federal University of Technology, Minna and can be reached via tajudeen4ac@yahoo.com