Nigerians Lack Fire Safety Consciousness

The past few months in Plateau State recorded incidences of fire outbreaks during which possessions acquired over years of hard work and sacrifice perished. The frequency of fire outbreaks is usually higher during the dry and windy seasons of the year. As the dry seasons draws nearer, we approached the Plateau State Director of Fire Service, Michael Pam Dung at his office along the Bukuru express way to find out about their plans towards preventing fire accidents in the coming dry season.

Mr. Dung explained that a reasonable degree of prevention of fire outbreaks can be achieved if the fire service has its operations improved upon to a professional standard. This is usually achieved with a good manpower base that is properly trained and welled equipped. The public must also be adequately educated to understand that the fire service knows there is a fire outbreak only when it is informed through phone calls or other efficient means of communication. Majority of the public, he says are ignorant that fire fighting as undertaken by his organization is free. As a result they sometimes prefer to put out fires on their own using manual approaches with all its shortcomings.

One problem his organization has often faced is the problem of chaotic development of residential areas that has often led to the inability of his organization to put out fires as a result of the unavailability of in-roads.

Mr. Dung said that Nigeria is a country where emphasis has often been placed on security consciousness but not on safety consciousness. Safety consciousness however, ensures prevention. He noted that most fire accidents would have been avoided but the lack of a culture of safety consciousness has been responsible for our inability to prevent them leading to lost of lives and belongings. He said that the national fire code is underway and it is hoped that its final passage into law would ensure the enforcement of crucial fire regulations. When that happens he says he is sure the frequency of fire accidents will reduce.

The Plateau State Government according to Dung is now determined to overcome some of the difficulties of the Plateau State Fire Service. More persons have been recruited into the service. An ambulance has also been purchased to help them in their rescue operations for victims of fire accidents. As at the time of granting this interview, Dung said that some equipments have been ordered and are being expected at the end of the week.

Dung called on private organizations to take up the responsibility of sponsoring radio and television programs aimed at creating awareness, as doing so will go a long way towards ensuring they arrive fire accidents sites as quickly as possible. Such forums will also serve as channels for educating the public on fire safety consciousness and its significance.

On the optimal use of Hadejia-Jama’are-Kamadugu-Yobe River Basin

The River Dilimi with its catchment on the Jos Plateau stretches through five other states in the northern part of Nigeria where it is variously known as Hadejia, Jama’are, Kamadugu and Yobe River. These five other states include Jigawa, Kano, Yobe, Borno and Bauchi. The river thus supports economic and domestic activities among hundreds of thousands of Nigerians.
Growing challenges resulting from population explosions and the consequent desire for economic activities to support the increasing population has further played up the significance of the river in the various states. This is also coming at a time when the nation’s authorities have devolved powers for generating electricity to the state governments. Some states could thus be considering building water barrier dams across the basin with the intention of generating hydro-electric energy. When this happens, the communities downstream would be prevented from getting access to the water anymore. Already the decision of the Bauchi State Government to build a dam across the basin at Keffin Madaki has resulted in a showdown between the state and the other four, downstream.

The world is indeed a small place. A Plateau man travelling upwards to the northern part of the country may fail to realize that the high velocity and explosive Hadejia River he sees at Kano and Jigawa is the slow and gentle river Dilimi he apparently left behind in Jos. It would be the reason why the river had become his refuse dump resulting in the people suffering all manner of water borne infections downstream as a result of his abuse of the river. At this time of dire need of additional megawatts of electricity, he may also be tempted to build a dam and broaden the irrigation opportunities of his brethren. These considerations informed the hosting of a capacity building workshop for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) which was held at CRUDAN office at Sabon Barki in Jos-south Plateau State.

According to Sam Ishaya, the focal contact person for the Hadejia-Jama’are-Kamadugu-Yobe River Basin project for Plateau State, the aim of the capacity building for the CSOs is for them to in turn train communities with stakes in the river to play strategic and key roles in determining how the water resource is governed and where development project will be carried out, in a more transparent, environmentally friendly, cost effective and efficient manner. Already, there are the Fida, Chalawa and Hadejia dams along the basin. The sensitization will among other things teach approaches by which the demerits of these dams can be minimized as much as possible in addition to ensuring that additional dams are not built. The workshop thus has dam impacts within the basin, policy frameworks of the world commission on dams and water and energy policy advocacy as topics to be addressed during the workshop.

The Delimma of Jassawas of Jos

At the casualty unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, Abdulrazak a Yoruba did not look like the victim of the Jos crisis of November 28, 2008. Following the unusually high number of casualty cases, hospital bed spaces could not meet the demand. Thus the beds were reserved only for the critical cases. Abdulrazk and his younger sibling looked like visitors as they sat on top of the wards’ cupboard for patient’s paraphernalia. The two reside in the Hausa quarters of Rikkos in Jos-North. On the morning following the elections, some Hausa youths launched an attack on a Miango Quarters of Rikkos killing the men and throwing the remaining members of the families out of their houses. The houses were then set ablaze. The Yorubas who happened to live with the Hausas by virtue of Islamic brotherhood could not sleep. They were certain the Miango boys would launch a revenge attack. The Miango boys came some twenty-four hours later. They were according to Abdulrazak, little boys who drew their valor form the heavy weapons with which they were armed. All pleas fell on deaf ears. they later discovered themselves at the casualty unit of JUTH. JUTH, Plateau Hospital, ECWA Evangel Hospital and other auxiliary medical centers became a rendezvous of the living and the death from the different suburbs of the city were ferocious attacks followed the local polls of December 27.

In the terminal years of General Ibrahim Babangida, who ruled Nigerian between 1985 and 1993, Jos-North was created out of Jos Local Government Area (LGA) leaving the remainder as Jos-South. The northern portion happened to be the pearl and pride of the whole of Plateau State, which also included Nassarawa state at the time. The Berom were the predominant indigenous tribe of Jos LGA. The division of the Jos now left only a handful and helpless remnant of the Berom tribe in Jos-North. The other indigenes of Jos-North were the Jarawas and the Anagutas. When all ethnic groups of Nigeria residing in Jos-North are taken into account however, the Hausas who now started calling themselves the Jasawas (Josites) make up the largest ethnic group.

History of Crisis

The first Hausa man to be appointed the Administrator of Jos-North is Samaila Mohammed now representing Jos-North and Bassa LGAs at the House of Representatives in Abuja. He held the postion between 1990 and 1992. In 1994 Col. Mohammed Mana Governor of the state appointed late Aminu Mato as the Administrator of the LGA. It resulted in the first Jos ethno-religious crisis.

On September 2001 Governor Joshua Dariye tried to appoint a Hausa man as the state’s coordinator of the National Poverty Alleviation Programme (NAPEP). There were protests by indigenous tribes leading to the reversal of the decision by the Governor. Six days later fighting broke out between the Hausas and the indigenes. It was one of the worst crises ever witnessed in the history of not just Plateau State but the whole nation. Thousands of people died and any progress made in ethnic and religious relations were shattered.

The 2001 crisis in the city of Jos lasted for just three days. The result of the fight however created ripple effects that traveled across the state. The crisis lingered in the form of occasional attacks between the Moslems and the Christians in the different localities across the state. In May, it blew up so severely in the town of Yelwa in Shendam LGA in the south of the state.

Who is an Indigene in Jos-North?

The Yelwa crisis compelled the President, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo to declare a state of emergency in Plateau State. An Administrator appointed by the President replaced the democratically elected Governor of the state Chief Joshua Dariye. During the period of emergency, a peace conference was held and attended by all ethnic groups of Nigeria that are well represented in the state. There were also delegates from social groups, NGOs and trade unions. At the end of the conference, it was agreed that the only indigenous tribes of Jos-North LGA are the Berom, Jarawas and the Anagutas. With the exception of the Hausas, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Labour Congress and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (an Islamic NGO), all participants endorsed this resolution of the conference.

The Jasawas and the Federal Character

Appointments to fill vacancies in federal ministries, parastatals, and agencies, military and paramilitary organizations are based on the principles of the Federal Character Commission. The Commission allocates job quotas to the thirty-six states of Nigeran and Abuja. The state quotas are in turn shared among the local governments of the state. As long as the Jasawas are not recognized as indigenes of Jos-North, i they don’t stand the chance of getting appointed into these federal organizations. What the indigenes of Jos-North fear is an obvious fact that should the Hausas become citizens they would dominate the quotas available to Jos-North.

How the Hausas Win Elections in Jos-North

It is needless to stress that politics in Nigeria as a whole follow religious and ethnic paths. Of the twenty electoral wards of Jos-North, seven are strongholds of the Jasawas. The remaining thirteen are strongholds of the Christians. Whenever the Jasawas are able to strike a deal with a tribe that is well represented in Jos-North it helpls them to win elections, The Irigwe people make up the second largest ethnic group in Jos-North. In 1996 the Jasawas had a power sharing deal with the Irigwes. It yielded a beautiful dividend as the Jasawas won the set up a government in the LGA. After the 2001 crisis all indigenous tribes became jittery of any political deal with the Jasawas.

Bitrus Kaze’s Scholarship Award Enters Second Year

Legislators in Nigeria have learnt to come to terms with the misunderstanding of the nature of their roles in the administration of the country by many of the folks they represent. A legislature’s responsibility is to make relevant legislation that will help in administering the constituency he represents. The people however don’t understand the difference between the roles of the legislators and the executive. They also expect the legislators to carry out projects. Since the legislators would not want to fall victims of ballot denial as a result of the ignorance of the people, they have resorted to satisfying some of these needs of the people they represent. There are also those who just feel the need to assist, considering the dire need for such assistance in the communities they represent. Such persons go to the extent of using their personal incomes to attend to such needs. The ignorance of the constituents has given rise to constituency allowance usually given officially to legislators to help them attend to these needs.

Honorable Bitrus Kaze is a Member Representing Jos South and East constituencies at the House of Representatives in Abuja. In order to live up to the unconstitutional demand of the people he represents, he last year started a scholarship programme for needy students of his constituency. The Personal Assistant of Honorable Kaze, Pam Dalyop, explained that in 2008, the first year of the programme, a total of 240 students studying at various institutions of higher learning benefitted from the programme. This year, an additional 60 students have been added to raise the total to 300. He says the scholarship is part of the broad effort towards community development as one way of achieving community development is to have an enlightened population that can work and cater for themselves and their extended family circles as is the tradition in Africa.

Dalyop praised his boss whom he referred to as “a law maker with a purpose” who wouldn’t want to make public his activities for the people as he believes his works will speak for him. All he wants from the people is their maximum support to enable him carry on with the responsibility to his people excellently.

A first year medical student of the University of Jos, Kim Dalyop Danboyi who came out of the constituency office with his hands loaded with one thousand naira bills said the initiative is of immense significance as long as students use the money for the purpose for which it is meant. He said he is not going to use his money to buy an expensive mobile phone or a set of fashionable jeans trousers like most students do. He has had a book, Biological Sciences, in mind and intends to use 65% of this allowance to buy that book. The money he says can also be used for the payment of tuition fees, particularly by students in the Polytechnic whose tuitions are highly subsidized. The medical student used himself as a proof to the fact that Kaze’s scholarship is real and admonished students to ensure that the money is put into proper use to help them in their studies.

A Squadron Leader Upholds Family Military Tradition

The Air force girls Comprehensive School again passed out their students during the 7th Speech and Price Giving Day held on June 17. As usual, it was a colorful ceremony with parents coming from across the country to celebrate with their graduating children. One of the parents who came all the way from Lagos was retired Squadron Leader Yusufu Garba Mamman.

One considers self very important when young but considers his children more important once he begins to have them. It was the mood of Squadron Mamman as he gave all attention to his daughter, Maryam who was passing out form Air Force Comprehensive School Jos. The man says his father was a soldier and this compelled him to grow up in the barrack. Eventually he himself joined the military till he retired. Military has thus become a family tradition and explains why Maryam went to Air Force Primary School and eventually Air Force Secondary School together with her siblings. Coincidentally, the school has maintained a remarkably high standard since it was founded in 1987. Thus his decision to educate his children in the school makes a lot of sense.

Despite the obvious financial rigidity of Mr. Mamman he says he is not sending his daughter abroad for University education just like most affluent Nigerians now do. His reason is that she is too young to be sent to a foreign country where she will be her own guardian. He prefers her to be close to him. When reminded that the Nigerian education sector particularly at the tertiary level has been the subject of endless crisis for long and that as we were talking the Academic Staff Union of Universities are on strike, Mr. Mamman expressed his strong conviction that the situation will be resolved for the benefit of all parties and Nigerians at large.

Nigeria and Obama’s Visit to Ghana

Nigeria’s democracy suffers from epilepsy and would not function properly. It ensures that only the incumbent wins an election. Members of the opposition parties have thus been defecting to the ruling party. Nigeria is practically now a one-party state.

Foreigners from outside Africa often say that Nigeria is the most conspicuous African nation. By extension, its sins are also conspicuous and Americans have also seen them. The administration of Barack Obama has not hidden its displeasure with the path of events in Nigeria. Thus it chose not to come to Nigeria despite Nigeria’s leading role in Sub-Saharan Africa. it means that Nigeria is still an outsider in the circle of nations, a status it suffered during the military era. It also means that Nigeria during and after the military era has remained the same.

While Obama’s refusal to come to Nigeria is a source of pain to Nigerian leaders, it is a source of joy to the ordinary man. Professor Jubril Aminu who is presently a Senator and who served as a Minister of Education and Petroleum Resources at different times during the military era condemns Obama’s action. According to him, “Obama should have come to Nigeria and scold us here. It would have made more sense.” Again he says, “I don’t have anything against Ghana, but Obama shouldn’t have been specific by pronouncing Nigerian democracy as sinister as one of his aides told us when we visited the White House.” These comments seem to express the mind of a man that has chosen to remain stiff-necked. On the other hand, an ordinary Nigerian commented mockingly on VOA Hausa on the morning of the second day of Obama’s visit to Ghana saying, “Aso Rock has a history of electric power failure and Obama would not compromise his security. He could be shot in the dark.” Too harsh one would say, but the Nigeria situation is capable of provoking such vitriolic comments.

In case the Nigeria leadership cannot troubleshoot, the hitch has now been diagnosed for them. There are more than six billion pair of eyes now staring at it to see whether it cherishes material possession or its integrity.

Reasoning together in the 21st century

No man is an island, goes the saying. The knowledge and experience of a single man isn’t enough to help him move on to ensure progress in what ever he chooses to do. The different groups that make up Nigeria, whether religious or ethnic are units that must reason with the others if progress must be achieved in Nigeria.

The Peace, Justice and Reconciliation Movement (JPRM) is a non-governmental organization based in Jos Plateau State. Together with the Christian Council of Nigeria, it organized a peace submits titled “Come let us Reason together.” The submit was hosted at the Jossy Royal Hotel Jos and was attended by the renowned Dan Masanin Kano, Alhaji Maitama Sule who gave a speech. There was also a message from former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon. Also in attendance were the Plateau State Governor, Jonah David Jang and his Kano State counterpart, Ibrahim Shekarau who was the major attraction of the submit for the paper he delivered title, “reasoning together in Nigeria in the twenty first century.”

 

Istifanus Habila heads the JPRM. He said that the summit is an annual event that has been held for the past five years. He says the choice of Ibrahim Shekarau to deliver the paper is a result of the fact that the Kano Governor has become noted for talking about the need for peace across the country and that explains why he was invited to deliver the paper. See the full paper:

A Paper presented by His Excellency, The Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau at a National Inter-Faith Conference Organized by Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Movement (JPRM) in Collaboration with Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) at Jossy Royal Hotel, Bukuru Road, Jos, Plateau State

Jimada Thaani 15, 1430

June 8, 2009

Courtesies,

All praise and gratitude are due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May the blessings of Allah be upon our exalted Prophet, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, his companions, the members of his family and all those who tread their path till the Day of Judgment.

Allah (SWT) says, in the Holy Qur’an, Chapter 45, verse 13, and I quote,

And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is

in the heaven and on earth. Behold, in that are signs

indeed for those who reason.

In Chapter 16, verse 69, He also says, and I quote again,

Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth) and follow the ways of the Lord made smooth. There ensues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours wherein is healing for men. Verily in this is a sign for those who give in to reason.

Similarly, in Genesis 18, verses 25 to 26, the Holy Bible says, and I quote,

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the

righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should

be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge

of all the earth do right?

And the Lord said, if I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

In Isaiah 1, verse 18, the Holy Bible again says,

Come now, and let us reason together, said the Lord: though

your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow though

they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

The choice of title for today’s paper, ladies and gentlemen, could not have been more appropriate if we look at the mixture of people that constitute the audience in this hall. The timing too is not only apt but of extreme importance and relevance to our present circumstances as a Nation of diverse religious beliefs; and one going through difficult and trying moments.

I have taken latitude without the permission of the organizers to slightly vary the theme to read: Reasoning Together in Nigeria, as We Journey into the 21t Century, hoping that the slight variation will prove beneficial. I remember, I gave a talk on this premise at a lecture organized by the Bridge Builders Association of Nigeria sometime in 2005 in Kano. I therefore hope that Mr. Chairman would allow me to echo that paper as I find its content still relevant to our socio-religious set up.

Before I venture into it Mr. Chairman, permit me to commend the organizers of this Forum for their good judgment of selecting General Yakubu Gowon to give the key note address. A gallant and accomplished soldier, a renowned disciplinarian, an honest leader: I had good reason, back in December 2004, when, in a paper I presented at a Northern Peace Conference. I extolled the virtues of this former Nigerian Head of State, when I said, and I quote,

By placing the example of General Yakubu Gowon last,

I am by no means underestimating the contributions of this

priestly General. He was (and still is) judged to have refused

the temptation of amassing wealth for himself and his family at

the expense of the Nigerians he led during the period of oil boom.

The keynote address, as presented by Reverend Victor Musa, the General’s able representative, is food for thought for all those who care to listen, assimilate and act wisely. The import of the Chairman’s address is very clear, and the message quite unambiguous. God, we learnt, exercised His discretion, with a reason, to create us Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists and many more belonging to other beliefs, and many others not believing in anything at all. He puts us all together under one universe, under one watch with endless difference in likes and dislikes. In these are lessons for those who reason before acting or refusing to act. His Excellency, General Dr. Yakubu Gowon (GCFR) is very well known for his fatherly advise and rich exhortations at all times because of his additional advantage as a political philosopher, a peace envoy, a clergy of refute, a social diplomat and most importantly as someone who is cautious of what he says, what he eats, what he hears and what he gets involved in.

The welcome address by the President of the Christian Council of Nigeria, His Grace, and Most Rev. Dr. Rogers Uwadi is both a testimony and further assurance that men and women of God still hold the joker to posture peace, with lots of attendant benefits. Ladies and gentlemen, I appreciate the maturity and courage contained in the welcome address.

Flowing from written and oral records, I did not expect anything less from our revered Danmasanin Kano, an elder statesman and manager of human affairs who is always willing to belong to environments where peace, harmony and progress are the subject matters. He is always handy and ready to share his vast knowledge, expertise and wisdom when it matters most. That is why his name is always associated with activities that seek to salvage man from his own antics, his shortcomings and his many inadequacies. I pray that God the Almighty will continue to bless the Danmasani with good health, peace of mind and serenity at all times.

Special thanks must therefore go to these our respected elder statesmen for setting the tune and tone of today’s conference, whose outcome I believe will be of immense benefit to peace building, cohesion, mutual understanding and respect for humanity.

Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, you may have noticed that I started my talk with quotations from the Qur’an and the Bible. Indeed, my prompt willingness and acceptance to speak to you this morning on the chosen theme are rooted in, predicated on and based upon both imports and exports of these quotations. In these quotations lies an express and implied meaning, narrow and wide implications of reasoning. And on deeper reflections, one can also find treasures of assurances and guarantee for peace and tranquility of the body, mind, heart, soul, psyche and conscience.

We must all agree without doubt or hesitation, that both locally and globally, these are not normal times. They are times of extreme exasperation, fears, anxiety and stress for majority of human beings, with multiplier effects and accompanying multiple challenges. These are times when sentiments, deliberate distortions and wishful thinking have substituted reasoning and wisdom, not out of ignorance but all owing to greed, selfishness and myopic view of the world around us, rooted in materialistic expressions and attachments. These are times when reasoning is being consciously, willingly and deliberately wished away, with utter disregard of the wider negative implications of doing so. These are times when assumptions, presumptions, prejudices and distant judgments of individuals, institutions and programmes are viewed, assessed, evaluated and measured using certain parameters and yardsticks alien, new and unknown to the institution and philosophy behind reasoning.

These are times when inordinate ambition for primitive accumulation of wealth and unschooled greed has refused to bow and submit to the in-built benefits of reasoning. These are times when reasoning must be the guiding light and principle in interacting with people as individuals and as a group; in managing them and their resources; in formulating policies and executing programs targeted deliberately to empower them, so that there will be peace, progress, growth, development, cohesion, spirit of brotherhood, tranquility and harmony.

Reasoning must be the linchpin in reacting to issues, events and circumstances, such that wherever and whenever I refer to reasoning, I am indeed referring to that reasoning which conforms and is consistent with divine revelation, which, in turn, is the only authoritative and reliable source and guide towards ethical morality, decency, common sense etc. Only divine revelation can distinguish between what is Godly and that which is satanic, just as it is only by adhering to God’s revelations that men and women of all extractions can grow and develop to greater heights. Only a marriage to revelation can guarantee salvation here, and hereafter, as we are all aspiring for salvation through various mediums.

The virtue of reasoning together began long before any of us was formed to be a living being. Reasoning has also proved to be most effective even in the days and lives of our Scripture patriarchs, rulers and judges of history. Looking through history, there is hardly any invention that has taken place without the inventor drawing from the mind, opinions and thoughts of other persons.

Reasoning within the contents and context of revelation ought to and must be the flavour and recipe for all of our daily lives and living if we are sincerely, genuinely and honestly committed to building a peaceful society, based on realities on the ground as determined by human and material resources within the permission of the environmental conditions, predicated on equity, justice and fairness whereby all and sundry, will be free and secured at all times and in all moments, as we pursue our legitimate chosen endeavours without fear of the unknown.

Some of us may wonder if my concept of reasoning is not aimed at precluding the works of outstanding philosophers and thinkers of old, who based substantial part of their writings on reasoning. I must say that the philosophical works of that group that I came across proved to be a treasure of ancient antiquity and immense validity, particularly for their own time and partly for other times, not minding the fact that most of their works were based on reasoning tainted with elements of knowledge and coated with foam of individual world view informed by the writer’s peculiar circumstances.

But I do not put them aside altogether, as in my life, I read quite a number of philosophical works based on reasoning which greatly helped in further shaping my person, in addition to moulding me and preparing me the more, enough to participate in building social bridges as I journey to the world beyond.

One can very quickly remember the works of Thomas P. (177 – 1809) whose philosophical works such as the Age of Reason, the Rights of Man, Common Sense, Agrarian Justice, etc. were all based on reasoning, just like the anxiety aroused by the great juristic works of Lord Dening, purely based on reason and logic. In the same class with Thomas Payne and Lord Dening, are the great works of Aristotle which are still referred to by many today.

Saint A. Magnus’s (C. 120 – 1280) philosophical works were based on reason tainted with revelation and ethical morality as can be deduced from his main works such as Deliverance from Error, Confessions of St. Augustine, The City of God, etc. Perhaps it is so because after his conversion to Christianity he rose to the rank of a Bishop and holder of Dominican Chairs of Theology, just as he was also popularly referred to as the Universal Doctor.

The biblical accounts of Jesus Christ, the Son of Mary (PBUH) and his entire ministry were purely based on ministering with reason within the wall of revelation which must have greatly influenced the renowned Tele-evangelist, the Charismatic Reverend Jimmy S. who wrote and based many of his writings on reasoning accompanied and consistent with revelation. His works such as Alcoholism, Incest, Sodomy, Racism, etc. have become instruments that shaped the opinions and transformed the lives of many readers.

Arab philosophers such as Al-Kindi (C. 801-870), one of the first translators of Aristotle’s works in Arabic, and Al-Ghazali (1058-1111) popularly called Abu-Hamid Muhammad Ibn Muhammad also belonged to the class of those whose great philosophical works were also based on reasoning rooted in revelation.

It is only in general reasoning that the human mind can be made to submit to truth, see and avoid mistakes and pitfalls of life. A mind subjected to reasoning can suppress lust, avoid greed, and respect the feelings and rights of others. Only reason makes reasonable minds to remain within the limit set by God Almighty Himself: limits which are targeted to protect lives, properties, honour, prestige, progeny and mental state of men and women. Taken further, a man without reason is little different from an animal.

Through popular opinion arrived at reasoning together, leaders at all levels will find the wisdom to empower the led so that they can become proud and willing members of the society who can surrender and sacrifice whatever they have for that society. Love can thrive and spread like wildfire. A leader will be empowered to place the needs of the people he is leading first before his own and that of his relations. Such group effort translates to mutual love and respect which enable all citizens to guard the ideals of our nationhood.

Only reasoning predicated on revelation allows people to react to, or comment on issues purely on tangible, reliable, sufficient, relevant and dependable information. Of course, such type of reason allows people to put all their trust in God Almighty, recognizing that He alone ultimately determines everything here and hereafter.

I am certain that the type of reasoning you had in mind as you framed the theme for this Lecture Forum, is the same or similar to the few virtues I have just expounded. I believe so, particularly having heard your aims and objectives as a faith based non-governmental organization. I assure you that as long as you remain within your objectives for that long you will not derail. May you not derail.

Nobody needs to be reminded that there exists a pyramid, ocean, or desert of ‘unreasonability’ in reason that is not rooted in or driven from revelation. This error in reasoning comes from unilateral, fanatical and arrogant disposition. It is such type of reason that makes people to willingly elect to ignore the laws of the Almighty, thereby going ahead to commit suicide, set one’s properties on fire, expose oneself to the dangers of alcoholism, gambling, fornication, adultery, incest, false and broken promises and other forms of immoralities and absurdities.

It is the same negative platform found in people who assume a kind of sole ownership of collective resources with a propensity and passion as if there was no yesterday behind us or there will be no tomorrow ahead, or indeed there will be no judgment day. It is the manifestation of bad and unpopular reasoning that prepares human being to seek to promote falsehood, raise objections and exasperation mostly on non-issues and settled issues at times when all hands are supposed to be on deck on a journey towards building and nurturing a God-fearing, solid and virile society.

Mr. Chairman, I have digressed so elaborately on my thoughts at the risk of boring you, just to underscore my interest in the phrase, ‘Reasoning together’. I go further to assure you and all members of the Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Movement and the Christian Council of Nigeria, the conveners of today’s lecture that my Administration in Kano State aspires to deploy reason, rooted in ethical morality and guided by revelation in dealing with all people of all standing. I have long come to appreciate that building bridges against our differences is the only way to our cherished justice, equity and unity. This is to me good morality.

As we remind ourselves and resolve to submit to the institution of guided reasoning, through the light of revelation, we must all be honest to accept that there must be among ourselves those who, out of reason elect to keep late hours and at other times have sleepless nights so that others can sleep with all their eyes closed. There must be those who will deliberately expose themselves to the chilly cold of harmattan so that many others will remain warm, just as they must expose themselves to the scorching heat of the sun for others to feel cool. There must be those who, in spite of their advantageous position and social status will, out of reason, avoid visiting the sin of the fathers upon the children, that of the children upon their parents, that of a creed upon its followers, or that of a culture upon its claimants.

There must be among us those who will extend the hand of friendship and brotherhood at all times and moments. There has to be among us those who out of reason will reconcile warring factions and those at loggerheads. And I must add that we must all resolve to continue being reconciliators. It is only by so doing that the peace we have garnered can stand the test of time.

In closing, let me remind us that on that day when we are finally before the Throne of our Creator, there will be no credentials or item of appeal other than our righteousness, tabled for scrutiny. We will be held accountable and responsible as leaders and subjects, as rich and poor persons; for what we did and what we failed to do; as Muslims and as Christians; as property owners and as property caretakers; for everything and anything. Let us Reason Together to correct our ways and have good credentials.

I thank you for the invitation, and I, once again commend the courage and initiatives of the conveners. I appreciate the composure of all those who are present. But most importantly, we must all jointly thank the Almighty God for giving us the courage, will-power, audacity and foresight to think about Reasoning Together as the only way to rescue ourselves from our current social predicament.

Thank you for listening and God bless.