Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, is a rural town that would survive well even without an airport. This is because the state of Zamfara, is arguably one of the most backward in the country, and an airport would be an unnecessary luxury the state could do very well without, at least for the time being. An illegal one certainly portends a bad omen for an underdeveloped state, for that matter.
Many video clips show a small plane taking off, probably with a load of illegally mined mineral resources, from a dirt road at the site of the Zamfara illegal airport.
The scenario may easily be believed, given that the Zamfara State government recently made some hasty transfers in the office of the Accountant General of the state. This followed the vehement denial of the allegation made by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, that the state government is ‘funding’ some bandits, an online media company, and a very ‘talkative’ journalist. Both the allegations of the funding and the transfers were seen on a memo on the official letterhead of the government of Zamfara State, apparently released by a whistleblower.
The transfers in the office of the Accountant General of the state led to the opposition APC insisting that it “is vindicated” on the claims it made.
In a state where there are more pressing needs in important areas like education, potable water, healthcare, and many other essentials, an illegal airport reflects poorly on the seriousness of the government.
But the question that begs to ask is, who has the temerity to operate an illegal airport in any part of Zamfara State?
No illegal activity, let alone an illegal airport, can happen without the knowledge and possibly the active participation of the elite in the area. This is because it serves only the interests of a few thoughtless elites in the state, and maybe even fewer other Nigerian elites as well as illegal foreigners. It might also massage the hidden mighty egos of the local elites, and, not unlikely, their equally hidden bragging rights.
Zamfara State has long been said to be the hotbed of illegal mining activity in the northwestern part of the country, where the infamous, military-eliminated Halilu Subulu, the ‘Capo de Tutti Capi’ of the bandits, was said to control many lands and made a substantial part of his huge fortune of untold billions of naira. It was made possible with the alleged connivance of those in power at both federal and state levels. This perhaps explains why foreign illegal miners are rarely killed or abducted by the rampaging bandits operating in the area.
Ordinary citizens do not engage in illegal mining; they only get involved as mere labourers, trying to eke out a living for themselves and their families, usually the extended type in this part of the country. Only the bandits are so involved in the illegal undertaking, but even they operate with the financing or support, or both, of the people in positions of absolute authority. And, as often stated by students of political science, ‘power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ It is no different where the bandits operate.
The banditry in the north, particularly the northwest, is alleged to be ignited, fueled, and financed by the Western world, in connivance with powerful northerners and their accomplices from other sections of the country, because of the large deposits of precious stones found in the area. The three states of Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto are said to be the most endowed.
It is further alleged that the underground deposits of the precious stones are far greater than the oil deposits in the country. The three states are said to be rich in diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, topaz, opal, and the like. Hence the intense activities of the bandits in those states.
A couple of years ago, a bullion of gold worth a staggering eight (8) billion naira, alleged to belong to a former governor of the state, was said to have been intercepted, arrested, and taken control of in Ghana. What became of the gold or the matter as a whole, not many people can say with certainty. But anybody guesses that if nobody comes forward to claim the illegal gold bullion, the Ghanaian authorities would keep it for good, or be charitable enough to share it with their Nigerian counterpart, the country where the illegal stuff originated.
But it is a God-given wealth that is supposed to be utilized for everyone by the people ‘elected’ to represent their interests in the nation. But it does not happen that way in Nigeria. In this country, the leaders are only busy with and care for themselves. They only fight and fight dirty, when and where their interests are threatened. The ordinary Nigerian is always left to cater for himself and be at each other’s throats.
The latter often happens during election campaigns or the election proper, while those responsible for the do-or-die fights sit in their spacious, well-equipped parlours with the members of their immediate family, or offices, and wait for the ‘results.’ They hardly ever vote but decide who gets what and who goes home empty-handed.
What is being done with all that money is, as the saying goes, neither here nor there. It cannot be invested or taken to the bank, because the question of how the depositor ‘made’ such a huge amount of money will be asked. But a good guess is that most of it will be left behind after the inevitable death comes calling on the temporary owners. The inheritors or those it is bequeathed to will use it anyway and anyhow, while the original ‘accumulators’ are in their graves waiting to meet their Creator and explain how they came about ‘such fortunes’ when they were alive on planet Earth.
The murderous activities of the savages called bandits have made it possible for people in the northwestern part of Nigeria to go to ‘sleep’ with their two eyes wide open. This is indeed very unfortunate for a country that is supposed to be the envy of many nations.
Nigeria is envied by the Western world for its potential, which stems from its huge deposit of various in-demand mineral resources. For that reason alone, the West fervently wishes for the backwardness of the country. It is also envied by fellow African countries for its economic potential and military prowess, proven time and again in peacekeeping operations across the globe.
Unfortunately, the country is, to a large extent, being governed by incompetent leadership that appears only concerned with what it wants, not what the generality of the citizens wants. And despite the said abundance of mineral resources, the majority of Nigerians wallow in abject hunger, malnourishment, and extreme poverty because the leaders’ comfort is what concerns them, not the well-being of the people.
May we all return to Him so that Nigeria can get good leaders that will lead the citizens according to His divine directives, not as dictated by some interests from outside its borders.
Labaran wrote from Katsina.
