Desert Reporters

HOW AREWA IS LOSING ITS BEST BRAINS

Whenever the name Arewa is mentioned, the first thing that comes to one's mind will be Sir Ahmadu Bello, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Murtala Muhammad etc...
These are what Americans will describe as "Patriots" and sons of Arewa. They do not acquire so much Educational qualifications as we may say, but history will not forget them as instrumental in shaping Nigeria's history.

In 1999. President Obasanjo from South Assembled one of the best brains from Arewa in Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. And according to El-Rufai's " Accidental Public Servant" Ribadu has been exceptional right from their school days though they were not that close. The incidence of Kongo Campus where Nuhu Ribadu returned the slap by an Armed robber who attempts to sn**ch his friends car.

The story of how El-Rufai challenged the then President-elect at the transition Committee level and how they were all brought on board to serve Obasanjo's Administration was mind blowing.

One became the Pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC ) While the other heads Bureau for Public Enterprise ( BPE )and later one of the best Ministers of FCT.

After Obasanjo, I have not seen another President who assembled Northern Best brains like President Buhari in the likes of Prof.Isa Ali Pantami from Madina, Saudi Arabia, Jelani Aliyu from General Motors of USA, Tukur Buratai from Multi-National Joint Task Force Djemena, Chad, Prof. Usman Yusuf also from United States.

What really happened to them all is, they were all Consumed by the System and the power that be.No matter how good you are, a rotten system will consume you. If it's corruption you're fighting, it will fight you back just like the Former NHIS Boss Prof. Usman Yusuf who Openly fights Corruption and the system while he's in Kuje Prison now.

The El-Rufai that we know and believe to be the future of the North is fighting for survival with his close Political ally in Ribadu.

while the North is loosing its best brains to political rivalry, infatuation of Power and lack of Political Ideologies.

Young Governors with future in the likes of Yahaya Bello have lost it through Corrupt propensity and Political Euphoria.

When you take a look at the Governors who served from 1999 till date you may agree with me that yes we're loosing out; as no one is still Functional Politically with Political Influence and affluence.

Unless and until we go back to the drawing board, design a Plan with Political Ideologies on what we want, how we want it and to whom we want or intends to achieve it; there will be no hope for the future of Arewa as many promising leaders have gone or are going down.

Insecurity will continue to consume us even with National Security Adviser, " Senior and Junior Ministers of Defense" on our side. The absence of Politcial will and lack of diversification to other economic realities will continue to take us backward.

We must wake up from our rather Deep and long slumber in competing with states like Lagos or Port Harcourt rather than concentrating on Mass Weddings, Wheelbarrow and Goat empowerment Programs.

We must come up with Programs that will empower the youths in Skills Acquisitions rather than turning them to Data Boys to attacks ourselves for Political Rivalry otherwise our numbers will be non-futuristic numbers except on Elections days.

Jibreel Muhammad Babangoshi
Wazirin Sarkin Pawan Karu
February 9th, 2025