OPEN LETTER TO NORTHEN NIGERIA GOVERNORS:
Dear Excellencies,
I will first like to congratulate you all on emerging the winners of the 2015 governorship election which was widely praised as violence free even though we did have little challenges but hopefully, we will evolve beyond having to worry about expecting violence each time election approaches.
My main aim of writing this letter is not to congratulate any of you but rather share a very disturbing reality constantly being ignored and in some cases promoted in your region.
I am a Nigerian first, before my tribe or region and it is with this respect that I believe it is my right to point out the flaws and suffering any Nigerian goes through no matter which region he or she hails from- Whenever
I travel abroad, I am referred to as "a Nigerian" and this tag remains with me as far as the country remains one, when abroad, No one knows my region or tribe and no one cares.
Your Excellencies, I don't know if you have noticed but among different regions in Nigeria, the northern part have a disturbing amount of beggers- Not just adult beggers but Child beggers. This should be disturbing and an "eye soar" for every well meaning Nigeria.
This children constantly roaming the streets are supposed to be the Youths and leaders of tomorrow- that same tomorrow that is yet to come; that fraudulent tomorrow which we are constantly lie to about and that tomorrow which many of us kept waiting for but finally gave up because our politicians have vowed or rather they enjoy watching the country in ruins and her people suffer.
How then can this children have the determination, hope or even dream of becoming a proud Nigerians and leaders of tomorrow when the very people who took oath in various offices to make their life better have totally ignored them and pretend as if they do not exist.
There are beggers everywhere but my main concern is the "Almajiri system"- For those of us who know and have studied a bit of history will agree that the "Almajiri system" was meant to be a dignified and respectful effort to raise the best youths the country have ever seen.
"Almajiri" system was a well respected system, which a lot of parents in the past love to send their children to- it was the muslims form of discipline just like those the budhist also go through- a discipline which aimed at teaching children self restraints, morals and taming their inner immoral yawning- This no doubt would be praised by everyone, but the current "Almajiri's" is a totally different, fraudulent, opposite and disgraceful version of what "Almajiri" used to represent and should represent.
In the past, a leader would be proud to pronounce that he passed through the "Almajiri system" but the system has now been reduced to nothing more than Children flooding the road and begging. This innocent Children are in most cases influenced by bad people who end up using them to cause mayhem in the society, they end up not gaining the knowledge and discipline they went to seek.
Begging no doubt is now being encourage by many in the Northern part of Nigeria, people believe it has become the easiest way to make money.
The Northern government need to have a co-ordinated approach to end this public disgrace being displayed.
You need a lot of energy to be a begger who trekks around the state from morning till night, so you will agree with me that this isn't about being lazy but rather about feeling that this is your best chance of surviving.
If begging was outlawed just like in some part of Kano, no doubt, this children and their parents will be forced to find an alternative to make a living.
I remember in early 2014 when I was in kaduna, an elderly man used hawk yam in the streets of kaduna and each time I see him, tears comes to my eyes and I wished there was something I could do, atleast I believe that at such age, he should actually be resting and being pampered by his Children or grandChildren.
Every week, we bought yam from the man instead of going to market- After sometimes, we stopped seeing the man.
I became worried, but to my greatest surprise, few weeks later, I saw the man begging- Walking from street to streets, I was dumbfounded and sad, my mum who main buys the yam from the man approached the man hoping to understand why he ended up begging and the man couldn't give us any reason, he felt embarrassed- My mum told him that if his "capital" for the business was tampered with, she will give him money to start a new but to our greatest surprise, the man did not come for the money- He felt that begging was more profitable for him and maybe less stressful.
From the above story one can not help but realize that such only happens in a society that doesn't see begging as a taboo or embarrassment, it had become a job for many.
I can also remember when I saw some almajiri boys playing :"Olamide" music with their china phone. Obviously at that time, their phone was more expensive than mine since I had a torch light phone with me- again I was disturbed at how well, such begging behaivior is encourage.
Your excellencies, this are your children, your mother, your father and most especially those you swore an oath before God and man to protect and in protecting them, one sometimes have to take drastic measure for the greater good.
Northern Nigeria is blessed with many things, this children and beggers would be useful in making the region and Nigerian at large , a great country and envy of her neighbors- Having much population is not a curse but rather a blessing when utilized; China is a case study- Government should help in creating an alternative for this innocent children before this gets "out of hand", I had once written the ex-Kaduna state governor(Ramalan Yero)when I was in kaduna and i gave several suggestion which I can personally help in stopping this without the state spending money but I was never called- I wouldn't be surprised if my letter was never even read but I hope that if we truly yawn for change, we must start within ourselves and immediate environment and the various parliementarians representing certain regions must also get involved, the textile industries which used to employ millions can also be "kick started".
When we decide to tell ourselves the truth as a nation and concerned human, only then can we truly move our country and world to a better and safer stage for all because we cannot truly move forward when we keep lying to ourselves and hiding from discussing issues that really matters
Once again, Congratulations, hoping your tenure brings much needed change in the life of ordinary Nigerians.
Yours' Faithfully,
Eedris Ngene
Dear Excellencies,
I will first like to congratulate you all on emerging the winners of the 2015 governorship election which was widely praised as violence free even though we did have little challenges but hopefully, we will evolve beyond having to worry about expecting violence each time election approaches.
My main aim of writing this letter is not to congratulate any of you but rather share a very disturbing reality constantly being ignored and in some cases promoted in your region.
I am a Nigerian first, before my tribe or region and it is with this respect that I believe it is my right to point out the flaws and suffering any Nigerian goes through no matter which region he or she hails from- Whenever
I travel abroad, I am referred to as "a Nigerian" and this tag remains with me as far as the country remains one, when abroad, No one knows my region or tribe and no one cares.
Your Excellencies, I don't know if you have noticed but among different regions in Nigeria, the northern part have a disturbing amount of beggers- Not just adult beggers but Child beggers. This should be disturbing and an "eye soar" for every well meaning Nigeria.
This children constantly roaming the streets are supposed to be the Youths and leaders of tomorrow- that same tomorrow that is yet to come; that fraudulent tomorrow which we are constantly lie to about and that tomorrow which many of us kept waiting for but finally gave up because our politicians have vowed or rather they enjoy watching the country in ruins and her people suffer.
How then can this children have the determination, hope or even dream of becoming a proud Nigerians and leaders of tomorrow when the very people who took oath in various offices to make their life better have totally ignored them and pretend as if they do not exist.
There are beggers everywhere but my main concern is the "Almajiri system"- For those of us who know and have studied a bit of history will agree that the "Almajiri system" was meant to be a dignified and respectful effort to raise the best youths the country have ever seen.
"Almajiri" system was a well respected system, which a lot of parents in the past love to send their children to- it was the muslims form of discipline just like those the budhist also go through- a discipline which aimed at teaching children self restraints, morals and taming their inner immoral yawning- This no doubt would be praised by everyone, but the current "Almajiri's" is a totally different, fraudulent, opposite and disgraceful version of what "Almajiri" used to represent and should represent.
In the past, a leader would be proud to pronounce that he passed through the "Almajiri system" but the system has now been reduced to nothing more than Children flooding the road and begging. This innocent Children are in most cases influenced by bad people who end up using them to cause mayhem in the society, they end up not gaining the knowledge and discipline they went to seek.
Begging no doubt is now being encourage by many in the Northern part of Nigeria, people believe it has become the easiest way to make money.
The Northern government need to have a co-ordinated approach to end this public disgrace being displayed.
You need a lot of energy to be a begger who trekks around the state from morning till night, so you will agree with me that this isn't about being lazy but rather about feeling that this is your best chance of surviving.
If begging was outlawed just like in some part of Kano, no doubt, this children and their parents will be forced to find an alternative to make a living.
I remember in early 2014 when I was in kaduna, an elderly man used hawk yam in the streets of kaduna and each time I see him, tears comes to my eyes and I wished there was something I could do, atleast I believe that at such age, he should actually be resting and being pampered by his Children or grandChildren.
Every week, we bought yam from the man instead of going to market- After sometimes, we stopped seeing the man.
I became worried, but to my greatest surprise, few weeks later, I saw the man begging- Walking from street to streets, I was dumbfounded and sad, my mum who main buys the yam from the man approached the man hoping to understand why he ended up begging and the man couldn't give us any reason, he felt embarrassed- My mum told him that if his "capital" for the business was tampered with, she will give him money to start a new but to our greatest surprise, the man did not come for the money- He felt that begging was more profitable for him and maybe less stressful.
From the above story one can not help but realize that such only happens in a society that doesn't see begging as a taboo or embarrassment, it had become a job for many.
I can also remember when I saw some almajiri boys playing :"Olamide" music with their china phone. Obviously at that time, their phone was more expensive than mine since I had a torch light phone with me- again I was disturbed at how well, such begging behaivior is encourage.
Your excellencies, this are your children, your mother, your father and most especially those you swore an oath before God and man to protect and in protecting them, one sometimes have to take drastic measure for the greater good.
Northern Nigeria is blessed with many things, this children and beggers would be useful in making the region and Nigerian at large , a great country and envy of her neighbors- Having much population is not a curse but rather a blessing when utilized; China is a case study- Government should help in creating an alternative for this innocent children before this gets "out of hand", I had once written the ex-Kaduna state governor(Ramalan Yero)when I was in kaduna and i gave several suggestion which I can personally help in stopping this without the state spending money but I was never called- I wouldn't be surprised if my letter was never even read but I hope that if we truly yawn for change, we must start within ourselves and immediate environment and the various parliementarians representing certain regions must also get involved, the textile industries which used to employ millions can also be "kick started".
When we decide to tell ourselves the truth as a nation and concerned human, only then can we truly move our country and world to a better and safer stage for all because we cannot truly move forward when we keep lying to ourselves and hiding from discussing issues that really matters
Once again, Congratulations, hoping your tenure brings much needed change in the life of ordinary Nigerians.
Yours' Faithfully,
Eedris Ngene
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