I had a telephone conversation with an elder statesman some weeks ago.  He was reflecting on the state of affairs in the North and was almost crying when he came to the current situation in Nigeria generally and the northern states in particular.  For most of the period, I was just listening.  I did not want to interfere with his chains of thought and, out of respect for elders, I am not supposed to make it look like a dialogue or discussion.  That phone call has been agitating my mind since then.

 There is no doubt that the situation is very bad.  All the values that were held dear are no more.  The society is stagnant and static.  The highest rate of poverty is found here.  The highest rate of illiteracy in both Western and Eastern senses is now here.  The highest number of the destitute and beggars are all here.  The greatest number of the unemployed is here.  Malnutrition, disease and general societal decay are with us and are everyday reality of our life.

The northern states have 72 per cent of the total land mass of Nigeria.  So what? Is this land put to any proper use?  And land is the greatest resource for any people.  The conflict in the Middle East is about land.  Maldives, an island nation near India, is being submerged by water as a result of the effects of global warming.  Their prime minister is looking for where to buy land to relocate his people.  And for millions of years land is no more being created.  It is very finite and will continue to appreciate in value.

The northern states collectively have more population than the rest of the country.  And so what? What is the use of a large population that is largely a burden and not an asset?  A population that is not educated, is unskilled, is malnourished, is diseased and is full of the destitute is clearly a liability to any society.  That is why, at the slightest opportunity, they can easily be mobilized for so-called ethno-religious violence that consumes lives and destroys many ambitions.  There is a direct correlation between literacy and productivity and most of the people in the North are simply unemployable because they lack requisite qualifications and necessary skills.  

But the greatest tragedy is that there are rulers but no leaders in the society.  You may be a governor but no one recognizes you as a leader.  The traditional institution has been bastardized, lacking most of its respect and losing its organic links with the people.  Now anyone who has acquired wealth by whatever means is bestowed with titles so much so that titles are now worthless.

The religious institution is not doing better.  Very few Christian clergy or Islamic scholars have remained above board.  Most of them have become government mouthpieces.  The oppressors would steal money from the treasury and give to religious leaders who now preach to people to accept fate and not  react to injustice.  Others steal and build small mosques in their homes as if giving to the spiritual realm their share of the loot. Others give donations to churches as if they can deceive God. 

Intellectual pursuit is no more.  How many books were written by this generation for the next?  Writing, even in local languages, has ceased, talk less of scientific and technological research and development.  Since Abubakar Imam of blessed memory, do we have any more authors even in Hausa language?  What legacy are we leaving for the next generation?  In short, in this era of globalization, what value have we added to universal knowledge?  Or do we continue to quote Sheikh Danfodio's books and his contemporaries? No. No. No. 

Even socially, there is decay and general decadence.  The current youth, except in a few homes, are growing into creatures that are neither African nor European.  The girls cannot cook our local dishes and the boys do not know our local folktales or rich plays.  They cannot speak the local dialect fluently and they do not know the culture or history of their people.  We are generally growing into a caricature of our former selves.

Politically, the sophistication and sagacity we were known for is no more.  We have squandered almost five decades of our chances with nothing to show for it.  And God has already promised that if a people perpetrate injustice when they assume position of responsibility, He will take away the power from them and give to the least deserving, to ride over them.  Collectively and individually, we have to ask God for forgiveness. We must have done terrible things to come to our current situation.  And God is most forgiving and the most merciful.  Let us reflect inwards and be humbled by our circumstance.  May God save us.