The reawakening of ABU’s Political Science department

There is no gainsaying the fact that the Political Science and International Studies Department of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has raised the bar in the discourse of governance, democracy and national integration in Nigeria. Being a discipline in the Social Sciences, Political Science deals with the systematic analysis of all issues concerning the state. Politics is one of such aspects of the state that Political Science devotes attention and enormous energy on in its discourse. It is this scope that puts the discipline at the driver’s seat in providing focus and direction to those that lead the affairs of the state for growth, development and general improvement of citizens’ welfare.

The Political Science Department of the ABU has been known for decades to be at the forefront in sifting the chaff from the grain in the scientific analysis of the challenges that hinder Nigeria’s growth and development. Hence, the department has produced eminent scholars whose intellectual views made those at the helm of Nigeria to ponder on their actions and come back to track from where they were derailing. Often, because of these views, these patriotic scholars were tagged “rivals or enemies” of the state by those who want to govern Nigeria like personal estate. However, the major priority of our teachers is to salvage Nigeria from the jaws of predators and as political scientists it is incumbent on them to do so.

Although I was not on campus as a student when the first set of scholars held sway at the department, but we have witnessed the intellectual prowess of teachers like the late Professor Sabo Bako, Dr. Siddique Abubakar Mohammed, Professor Ayoade Dunmoye, Professor Paul Izah, Professor Nuhu Ayuba Abdullahi, Professor Ejembi Unobe, Professor Umar Kaoje, Malam Garba Aminu, the late Malam Sa’idu Adamu, the late Mr. Paul Muftwang, the late Dr. Peter Odofin, among many others. These scholars expressed their intellectual and scientific views on the best way to govern and move Nigeria forward without fear of the dire consequences.

Despite the audacity that scholars of Political Science are known for, ABU’s of late ceased to be in the limelight. However, the 50th anniversary and International Conference recently organised by the department with the theme; National Question, Security and Governance in Nigeria, seems to be in line with the cliché; a stitch in time saves nine. The event revived the past. It has served as a forum to brainstorm over pressing national challenges and the need to prescribe methodical solutions to those challenges. The event has once more brought the department to its former place of pride.

The crème de la crème that graced the event indeed showed that the ABU is the past, the present and the future, to borrow the words of the former governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema, during the opening ceremony of the occasion.

One of the presentations that attracted the most attention of the audience was that of the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase. In his paper, Strengthening and Evaluating National Security, Mr. Arase postulated that internal security could be best managed through three critical factors that include; people, technology and systems.

For him, it is not all kinds of people that can assist in ensuring internal security, but quality young human resources that are highly motivated and equipped. He explained that since Nigeria is part of the globalised world, it has to take advantage of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) to address the challenges of kidnapping, armed robbery, cyber crimes and above all insurgency. This, he said, can be done through the deployment of both hard and software in order to destruct elements that constitute threats.

Citing example of how colonialists used the traditional institutions to conquer many parts of Nigeria, Arase said if Nigeria wants to succeed in her fight against security challenges, she has to come up with measures that would make Nigerians to support the fight through the provision of the necessary intelligence. Although, according to him, no country in the world has ever completely eradicated security challenges, if Nigeria adopts what he called hearts and minds approach, which is addressing social, economic and political deprivation, the country can be guaranteed of safety that is of international standard.

One of the prominent traditional rulers that graced the occasion, the emir of Birnin Gwari, Malam Zubairu Jibril Mai Gwari, made case for community policing as part of the solution to current threats. He said community policing is not new to Nigeria and Nigerians, it has to therefore be given the attention it desires.

According to Dr. Aliyu Yahaya, who is the current head of the department, the ABU’s Political Science had witnessed rapid Africanisaton with the first generation of the department’s scholars and this led to the gradual expansion of the courses offered by the department.

Indeed, this event has once again re-emphasised the fact that ABU’s Political Science Department is the first among equals. “The indelible mark left by this anniversary will remain with us for decades. And on this, we can beat our chest and roll out the drums in celebration, and this is what we are doing.”

Sa’idu is of the Department of Political Science, Federal College of Education, Zaria.