As things fall apart

Just recently, the emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sunusi II, proposed a document that could serve as a guide to us as a people; the document was aimed at regulating issues on marriage, domestic violence, divorce, and other socio-cultural issues which, for long, face an existential threat in northern  Nigeria.  Muhammadu  Sunusi  II is a scholar, social critic,  thinker, and cosmopolitan. Any people that are blessed with such a visionary leader will be happy to be guided by his wisdom.

To my surprise, Emir’s proposed document  was not only rejected but condemned to the extent that some northern critics attacked the emir’s personality. This simply denotes the fact that all is not well in the north. Before things began to fall apart, north used to have a sense of leadership; north used to speak with one voice; respect for elders was the order of the day. It isn’t a coincidence that the mentor-mentee relationship is disappearing in the north.

Before, young people with clearly-defined-goals look around and search for mentors. They will identify themselves with them, seek their advice, listen to them and some even make their mentors act as if they are their parents. Time has gone when every child in the community is corrected by every parent. Your kids belong to other parents and other parents kids belong to you. Time has gone when one important and respectful person is being identified in the community as a father to all members of that community.

He may not be rich, but his sense of humanity is immeasurable. With the current situation, how can we develop as a people?   How can we attract foreign investors? How can we respect elders from other communities when we frown at our elders?  Let me say that we can see now that since things have fallen apart, the north is “no longer at ease.”

Abubakar Isah Bakori, Kano State. [email protected]