When the saga of the alleged blockage of the account of Alhaji Dauda Kahutu, better known as Rarara, by Facebook, came to my attention, I was not quickly drawn into the drama. Drama I call it because it was started by his colleagues in the Kanywood industry, many of whom appear not to be happy with his ‘runaway success overnight’.
But when an intellectual, a university professor, waded into the matter with the explanation of what the famous political singer meant, I felt encouraged to chip in my little take on the matter.
Rarara had sung his praise song in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership and his seemingly tireless efforts to turn Nigeria’s economy around, saying that hunger, which some people are citing for the impending nationwide protest, will soon be a thing of the past.
He further implied that the decision of the Supreme Court to give back financial autonomy to local governments across the country would mean that more development would reach the grassroots. The court case was initiated and seen through by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi.
However, some of the Kanywood denizens misunderstood the meaning of many of his lyrics to mean that he was pleased with the ‘hunger’ that was allegedly ravaging the country. I said ‘allegedly’ because some of the campaigners of the ‘nationwide strike’ always cited ‘hunger’ as their answer to why they are in support of the strike. But most of them look anything but hungry. They look so well-fed in their appearance to complain of hunger. In physical appearance, they looked so overweight and pampered that they belong to the class of the elite rather than the poor masses who may claim to have nothing to eat now or the next day.
But Professor Ahmad Magaji of the Hausa Culture of Bayero University went to the trouble of explaining, line by line, what he believed Rarara meant in the said song. According to him, the singer is not celebrating over the calamity of hunger that has visited many of his compatriots but hailing the landmark ruling of the Supreme Court in returning the running of their finances to the local governments without the undue intervention of the state governments.
Satisfied with that intellectual approach and explanation, yours sincerely decided to also wade into the matter behind Alhaji Dauda Kahutu, even though there is little in common between him and me. Or, to be blunt, no love is lost between the two of us. But the truth must always be supported when the realization of its veracity finally dawns, no matter how late it may be.
And it also occurred to me that Rarara was not alone in applauding the Supreme Court’s decision to give back financial independence to the local government authorities, being closer to the people and their most pressing needs and what they do not immediately want. The local governments often operate at different levels with state governments when it comes to where or how their money is used.
The local governments’ leaders, not being saints themselves all the time, should know that the monthly grant to their local governments is not meant for them to use as and when they so please, but for the purpose of developing the grassroots, if they must be reminded.
Some of us can remember when at the end of every month, ranking officials and their ‘boys’ used to ‘win’ the pools. The officials included the chairmen, treasurers, and cashiers, the latter two in particular. All three were then involved in removing money from or taking it to the bank. The bulk of the money came from the Federation Account and some amount from internally generated sources, such as the market day revenue from taxes and the sales of tickets, among other things.
With the benefit of hindsight, we now come to understand that the officials indeed ‘won’ the pools in anticipation, or receipt, of the monthly grant. It was, however, not the English football variety, but the one belonging to the Commonwealth.
Again, most of the officials, especially the chairmen, lived all, or most of the time, in the state capitals or other urban centers within or near their state. In some cases, the local government chairmen’s immediate family lived in the capital of their respective states.
In yet other cases, it is understood that some of the chairmen lived all their time in their state capitals, Abuja, or Lagos and did not bother to go to where they were supposed to govern. Allegedly, they were met wherever they resided by the treasurer, the cashier, and any other person who was to be ‘given their share’ in the local governments’ monthly ‘booty’.
At that time, the local government cashiers preferred to remain in their seat rather than be promoted to the position of Assistant Treasurer since it was a seat that did not bring any riches to the occupier. But the cashier was often one of the richest people in the local government because of his access to the money belonging to the Commonwealth. It afforded him the opportunity to buy whatever was offered for sale in the area and even the environs.
It is, therefore, not for nothing that some people were apprehensive about the Supreme Court judgment on the financial freedom of the local governments. But being the final authority in the adjudication of judicial cases, the decision of the court MUST, therefore, not only be respected but obeyed by all, since Nigeria is a land where nothing is impossible. The word appears not to be in the country’s vocabulary.
We sincerely appeal to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Meta, the owners of Facebook, and any other organization that may have closed the account of Rarara to open them without further delay, please.
Although there is supposed to be no love lost between Rarara and myself, as is often mentioned by yours sincerely, all of us may do well to remember that strength is not in revenge but in forgiveness. It is said that the strongest person among the people is he who forgives when he has the power/chance to revenge. Besides, all of us are looking for forgiveness from God, the creator of all things animate and inanimate. May Allah forgive ALL our shortcomings and grant us His mercy, grace, and love in the hereafter.
Malumfashi wrote from Katsina.
