By: Ja’afar Baffah
Over the weekend, Zamfara state hosted the entire Muslim world as the Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass (R.A) Maulud took centre stage. Over 3 million Muslims from nations of west Africa and beyond converged in Gusau to draw from the glory of the auspicious occasion, an annual international event to commemorate the contribution of Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass (R.A) to the faith. It was indeed a period of prayers, supplications and piety.
The theme of this year’s conference is; “Al-Sheik Ibrahim Inyass, an Antidote to Insecurity for Peaceful Coexistence”. A fitting theme, especially because it torchlights the very security struggles that have become the narrative in Zamfara state for over a decade, of course until the emergence of Governor Bello Mohammed, Matawallen Maradun.
As usual, doomsayers and political bandits predicted all kinds of doom prior to the event. Many of them for instance, claimed that a fragile state such as Zamfara should not be playing host to that many people. They reasoned, rather churlishly that, putting together people in numbers that climb as high as 3 million could be a recipe for disaster, something they claimed the state does not need. But while it is true that Zamfara state which has seen a great deal of senseless deaths and loss of properties worth billions does not need anymore trouble, one thing it sure needs is a spectacle to showcase the bold strides of the current leadership in Gusau.
And so it was that Governor Bello Mohammed, Matawallen Maradun did not only show that serious security gains have been made, he made sure the event was peaceful and free of any untoward occurrence, of course, to the chagrin of doubters who have now been forced to swallow their bitter bile.
Whereas all the discussion prior to the event focused on negative outcomes, painting an imaginary picture of fear hanging over the horizon of Zamfara like a dark cloud, Governor Bello concentrated on pumping the atmosphere with enough confidence and assurance, blazing through their dark clouds like a sudden appearance of sunlight in an otherwise raining day. And indeed, he came out on top. For the neutrals, the peaceful and rancour free event in Gusau was a welcomed sight, especially in a Zamfara state that has enjoyed many years of peace and productivity, but that was deliberately made to go through over a decade of pain, tears and blood.
As it turned out, the greatest worry in Zamfara today should correctly be of political bandits who use every little opportunity to undermine the purposeful leadership of Governor Matawalle. It is very sad indeed that while indigenes of other states are banding together to help their states prosper, a privileged few bad eggs of Zamfara parentage have made it a duty to do the opposite.
As I write this, many of these children of perdition are still struggling to understand or explain how the candour and serenity that reigned supreme during the event was ever achieved. In essence, as participants of the Maulud are returning home after an engaging spiritual outing, some unscrupulous elements who have made it their business to de-market Zamfara as fragile are unhappily mopping. They would have preferred that something had gone wrong so they could mount their rostrum of political correctness just to gloat and say their evil I-told-you-so.
Thankfully, the people of Gusau having played host to such a mammoth crowd, accentuated in many places by happy processions and mini prayers can now also tell anyone who cared to listen that Zamfara has finally been rescued from the clutches of the evil ones who for years had held the entire state to ransom.
They people could boldly tell anyone who care to listen that Governor Muhammad Bello Matawalle has been nothing short of a God send for the state. He has not only walked the talk, his proactive and frank leadership since taking over, has been simply phenomenal and no doubt helped to steady the state that was hitherto akin to a sinking ship taken in water from too many gaping haul breaches.
Not that there was any doubt about his capacity, but it was simply magnificent that he could achieve this despite all the evil shenanigans of the few who thought they owned Zamfara state. My loftiest grounds for joy is that the people now know that this sheriff is fully in-charge. The people have been witnessed to the fact that peace is possible.
I mean, nobody could have ever believed that Zamfara could hold an event of the Maulud’s magnitude for days without recording a single security incident. Not even a shot fired in anger, all to the consternation of naysayers. As Obama once said, ‘it is either your are with America or you are with the terrorists’. There are no middle grounds in this very disturbing business of insecurity for whose currency is blood and death. And I believe this to be the reason why the people had sought to root out anyone within the house who is enjoying all of its privileges yet, romancing with the enemy.
It will do Zamfara people a whole lot of good to stand their ground as evil political merchants return to make audacious attempts to woo them with empty talk and a baggage of failure. The Igbo people had a saying after the civil war which means ‘never again’ when loosely translated into English. Having laboured this hard and long to finally reconnect with peace, once a commodity of abundance, that was made elusive by evil people, the people of Zamfara should be able to look these charlatans in the eye and tell them NEVER AGAIN!
Baffah writes from Gusau
