Turai's daughters and Nigerian bachelors
By Salisu Suleiman, ssuleiman@gmail.com

First, it was Aisha, daughter of former President Ibrahim Babangida, who was married off to Governor Shinkafi of Zamfara State as his second wife. Next was Zainab, daughter of President Yar'Adua, who was married off to Governor Dakingari of Kebbi State, also as second wife. Most recently, it was Nafisa, another daughter of the current President, who was married off to Governor Yuguda of Bauchi State. Third wife.





http://odili.net/news/source/2009/may/21/707.html


Ordinarily, it would be easy to laugh off eligible Nigerian bachelors as not having the 'liver' (and lever) to woo these delectable young brides before surrendering to 'recycled old cargoes' like Dakingari, Shinkafi and Yuguda. (Never mind that they are 'recycled' in gold). The truth of the matter, however, is that these three instances are symptomatic of a deep sociological dislocation borne of social and economic iniquities.

The elite in Northern Nigeria have created an artificial social circle made up of a narrow clique of extremely wealthy people. These people owe their wealth primarily to having held one public office or another. They own no factories, farms or any visible businesses. They contribute nothing to alleviate the abject poverty stifling the region's vast 'unwashed masses'.

The catch, however, is that the social class they have created is essentially artificial and lacks the attributes needed for dynamism and growth. It can therefore only breed inwards. Because they have basically refused to educate the masses of people in the region, social mobility is, at best, turgid. Integration is difficult. And since the elite represent only a tiny proportion of the region's people, they have fewer and fewer marriage partners to choose from. This, in part, explains why some of [size=14pt]the most desirable brides in Nigeria have ended up second and third wives[/size]. They have to remain in the circle.

Polygamy is part and parcel of our culture. Its merits and demerits are not the focus of this piece. It can be argued that none of the marriages described was forced or contrived. But one is forced to ask: where are the dashing well-groomed and well educated bachelors and young men who would normally be expected to woo these brides? In what setting did these governors meet their brides and at what cost to the public were these marriage knots tied? Indeed, what is happening to family and social life, especially in the North?

In the Southern states, access to education has significantly leveraged class barriers and given people from working class backgrounds the opportunity to actualize their potential and move up the social ladder. Conversely, the elite in the North have denied access to education and other opportunities to the vast majority of people in the region. They prefer to siphon monies meant for public schools to educate their children in the best schools in the UK, US and more recently, Malaysia, Cyprus, Ghana and South Africa. Mass ignorance means that they cannot be challenged.

This policy has created a cream of super-rich elite on the one hand, and mountains of poor masses on the other. Like oil and water, they do not mix - not in schools, not in offices and not in any social environment where young people meet and develop useful relationships. In which circumstance would a half literate cobbler meet the London educated daughter of a governor, minister or permanent secretary, and what would they have in common? Or in reverse, under what circumstances would the US-educated, polo playing son of a senator or emir meet the illiterate daughter of a gateman when she is busy hawking *kunun zaki* to labourers? The social divide is better imagined.

The inevitable consequence has been the creation of two artificial social sets. Artificial because the wealth of the elite is almost always looted from the public treasury. Artificial because a fraction of that money would be enough to educate the poor and unleash their potentials. The irony is that the elite benefited from the honesty, dedication and foresight of others. The same schools and institutions that trained and nurtured them are the ones they have systematically destroyed without any iota of guilt.

The repercussions of this artificial social divide are far-reaching. The growing problems of illiteracy, poverty and unemployment among the masses are a challenge to political stability and cohesion. This in turn is a threat to the status-quo, and a sign that the elite class may soon implode. Already, the signs are visible: having created a band of narrow elite with little chance for social integration, is it any surprise that they are running into difficulties finding potential suitors for their pretty daughters? Is it any surprise that many of these ladies, unable to find acceptable suitors, have taken to drug abuse?

The solutions to these challenges do not require a celestial journey. It is within easy reach: educate the masses and unleash their innate potentials. Then perhaps, the son of the gateman that is viewed with disdain today may become the educated, well-groomed dashing knight in shining armour of tomorrow who may come to marry 'oga's daughter and rescue her from drug addiction. Even the shiniest and best cut diamonds were hewn from rough stones. That is the way of the world. [size=16pt]The artificial social cliques the elite in the north have created will implode if it continues its present course. There is anger in the land.[/size]

*Suleiman is a student at A.B.U., Zaria.

I believe this article is applicable to every section of the country. I love the last part quoted below:

The artificial social cliques the elite in the north have created will implode if it continues its present course. There is anger in the land.

Let them continue the nonsense. It is certain that arrangee marriage is no marriage and will naturally find its level within the shortest possible time.
I just pity those young guys and gurls forced into this kind of political marriages.

Let them continue the nonsense. It is certain that arrangee marriage is no marriage and will naturally find its level within the shortest possible time.
I just pity those young guys and gurls forced into this kind of political marriages.

The article is not talking about arrangee marriage rather it's decrying the union among the northern elites and how closed up it's becoming everyday unless you somehow find a way to break your poverty background. I think it's calling for a social structure where the wealth amassed by the select few go round and help inject some fresh wealth into the society because of the rising number of hooligans in the north pushed into the trade by adverse poverty. The poor are beginning to ask questions and very soon, they will explode and make life unbearable for the few rich among them. Is it not time for southern Nigeria to make such clarion calls to their polithievecians?

jinx

like i always say, those vampire and zombies will be wakin up to know who their enemies are, it not about burning churches,killing the igbos etc

the sultan,emirs ibb etc dnt care about common mallam, and these mallam should wake their fake arab wanabies ass to see what the future hold

me said they are askin these qustion at a bit late time

Who said Yar Adua is not doing anything? If you haven't noticed how he is speedily pimping her kid daughters to PDP governors without any break at all.
AC, APGA, PPA and Labour party governors must be jealous now!!!

The yaradua story is cinderella like. I wish them well anyway.

Can't you see the state of mind of our leaders?wives,at this time and age,they are still marrying in harems and the so-called rich and educated ones are giving out their daughters to married men,animals and the girls them too,stupid for agreeing.

Bunch of sycophants

wives,at this time and age,they still marrying in harems and the so-called rich and educated ones are giving out their daughters to married men,animals and the girls them too,stupid for agreeing

How else will they enjoy their stolen wealth?

They are just too immoral ad senseless to herd even goats.

Suleiman the writer had better watch his back.
His brothers don't take criticisms likely.
It's very sickening that Mariam Babangida, an Igbo woman married to a northerner would allow her daughter to be a second wife when she's not sharing IBB with any other women.These people are heartless even with their own children, all in the name of power and wealth.
How can you allow your own child marry a sweaty old man that hops from bed to bed in the name of marriage

so shaira police !!

no body to stone on this one eh

Nigerian leaders are just too immoral and senseless to herd even goats,how they get away with it,heaven knows.

Suleiman the writer had better watch his back.
His brothers don't take criticisms likely.
It's very sickening that Mariam Babangida, an Igbo woman married to a northerner would allow her daughter to be a second wife when she's not sharing IBB with any other women.These people are heartless even with their own children, all in the name of power and wealth.
How can you allow your own child marry a sweaty old man that hops from bed to bed in the name of marriage

Nothing dey happen to him. He has a whole village behind him.

Polygamy should be restricted to non public office holders in nigeria if they want to.The fact that it is islamic or traditional does not make it right in the 21st world where there is the need for selflessness,accountability and most of all,population control.

Guy, no go there oh. If it's the accepted norm in the north, what do you think you can do about it?

redsun:

Polygamy should be restricted to non public office holders in nigeria if they want to.The fact that it is islamic or traditional does not make it right in the 21st world where there is the need for selflessness,accountability and most of all,population control.

what's wrong with polygamy when you have women like Nike Oshinowo joining the fun?

If you can afford to have an hoochie harem, then go ahead. Just be prepared for the upcoming inheritance battle. hello Abioloa

Not as public servants,using the people's resources to finance their large harems.

Serving the people is a calling,it shouldn't be for wayward people.Moreover,who is oshinowo?

We should have descent criteria for aspiring leaders.

Our ancestors were polygamous because they needed large families for farming and settlement of disputes,as well as ways of dealing with high infant and child birth mortalities of their time.

This is a nuclear age and exploding population that the earth can't cope with unless all those dickheads rethink.Always living in the past.

My grand father had almost 30 wives in his prime,i never knew him,but he warmed his children never to be polygamous

Our ancestors were polygamous because they needed large families for farming and settlement of disputes,as well as ways of dealing with high infant and child birth mortalities of their time.

Truetalk. Polygamy is useless to the society now apart from replicating poverty.

My grand father had almost 30 wives in his prime,i never knew him,but he warmed his children never to be polygamous

He must have seen nwii.