LATEST UPDATE: 2015: Leadership of Nigeria not sole property of the North –Kana Mani, Anglican Bishop
Archbishop of Maiduguri Diocese of Anglican Church, Bishop Emeritus, Emmanuel Kana Mani, has warned politicians and leaders in the northern part of Nigeria against utterances that could cause chaos in the 2015 polls. He particularly cautioned the state actors to treat softly in their quest for power shift to the north.
In this interview with Sunday Sun in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, Kana maintained that the north has had its fair share of the power game having ruled the country for years after independence. “I am a northerner from the present day Kebbi State. But it appears to me that some of our people still see the leadership of this nation as a sole property of the North. The earlier these people change their mind, the better for all of us as a nation, the septuagenarian cleric stated. Excerpt:
In recent time, it appears you’ve been very quiet about the state of the nation. Are you tired, or it is due to the challenges of your position as a priest?
No. How can I be tired of my country? The situation is not as bad as that. Things may not be moving in the speed one expects but we are also moving as a nation. There are concerns about 2015, no doubt, and every Nigerians should be concerned about what is happening now especially the buildup of tension in the land. My hope is that God will bring sanity back into the system. INEC is trying, but there is a need for improvement. The National Assembly has exhibited some level of maturity unlike what it used to be in the past where the chambers were turned to a boxing arena. The legislators now think about the survival of Nigeria and our democracy despite their political differences. This is how it should be.
The Judiciary is also helping to strengthen our democratic experience. Political parties in Nigeria are also making efforts in ensuring their parties have clear goals about the nation. But sadly, there are also some political parties that are playing politics with bitterness rather than concentrating on issues that border on the development of this nation. Biblically, it is said that leaders are made, selected and enthroned by the almighty God and we’ve seen that in Romans 13 saying there is nobody on the throne without God’s approval. If anybody forces himself on the throne, that person won’t enjoy it. The leadership will be enmeshed in trouble. Our project is Nigeria. We should, therefore, be seen to be working towards the building of the nation. Let me also commend some statesmen and elders from different parts of the country who have been cautioning our leaders and advising Nigerians to be peaceful and see our current challenges as a phase. But, of course, there are equally some elders whose utterances have been very disturbing, inciting as if they are speaking for the section of the country they belong to.
Their utterances which may have emanated from their personal, tribal or political sentiments are not helping this country. In fact, such statements are only dividing the nation the more. Such people should be wary of what they say because many of them will no longer be around for too long. We have to say things that will make other generations of Nigeria believe in this country and work together for the survival and development of the nation.
Who are these elders you’re talking about?
You don’t expect me to be mentioning names here. Nigerians know those who have been talking in ways that make people angry the more. Elders ought to be people of wisdom who have seen everything about life, who are no longer afraid of death, who are not easily moved or carried away by any sentiment or personal gains because they’re already counting their days. But when people speak in a manner that questions their old age, something is wrong somewhere. I am not also happy about some comments from some of our people in the north. I am a northerner, but it appears some of our people see the leadership of this nation as a sole property of the North. They believe nobody has the right to lead this country except he or she is from the north. The earlier these set of people change their mind, the better for all of us as a nation.
However, the good thing is that some of our elders like Malam Maitama Sule, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, Gen Yakubu Gowon, Gen Abubakar Abdulsalami, the former Head of State, and many more, have been speaking on the need to build a peaceful nation. God is interested in the project called Nigeria. 2015 will come and go; so, People should stop entertaining fears. Some are even trying to relocate from where they live at present to their home states. There is no need for this. In any case, how do you know that the place you’re going is safer than where you’re coming? People should not fear because even God Himself encourages us not to fear. He said in the bible that His ears are not blocked. If we fought civil war for three years and thereafter had a full reconciliation, I believe there is God’s hand in our country. Believe me, even the insurgency will go one day. We have been able to overcome the Ebola virus challenge to the surprise of even the western world or developed nations. We should commend the government and, of course, all Nigerians for achieving this feat.
But there are still other challenges like Boko Haram and corruption which government has to tackle.
Yes. But we should understand that most of these problems have been with us for long. These are challenges that will not go overnight. They need commitment from all of us. The military troops alone can’t fight Boko Haram except you and I help them with information. What I’m just trying to say is that Nigerians can jointly tackle all these problems. The present government is trying but it has not done enough. Even some parts of Abuja have poor electricity supply as evident in the complaints of residents of the city. However, there are equally some other progress the Federal Government has recorded. For instance, there is improvement in the state of our roads. There is also the angle of economy, though it may not have trickled down to the ordinary Nigerians. And, of course, we have not started enjoying the benefits of some of these programmes. But then we need to support government’s genuine programmes to move the nation forward.
There is something that makes me feel uncomfortable. Why should those in government execute projects and claim credit? They will say my government or I have done so and so forgetting that it is not their monies they used in executing the projects but the public resources that belong to you and me. They should rather thank the electorate for giving them the mandate that led to the execution of the project. It is not a gesture to the people but what they desire. They voted the leaders into office to deliver nothing more. There shouldn’t be any self-glorification about it. Again, I want to appeal to my people in the north to give peace a chance and do not necessarily create tension with the 2015 election.
You’ve been talking about the north, but some politicians in the region alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan entered into an agreement with them to go for single tenure only. Don’t they have the right to complain?
I won’t talk about the power rotation thing because this should be left for the politicians. To me, whoever is the best candidate at a particular time should be voted for. If you look at governance in this nation, apart from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Nnamdi Azikwe who was even a ceremonial president because the power was with Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, how many presidents has the north produced compared to the south? It has been the north, north and north.
Are you saying the north should forget presidency in 2015?
I am not saying the north should forget the presidency or should not produce the presidency in 2015. I am only reacting to the comments and what looks like agitations from the region and I am saying there is a need for our people to tread softly because the nation is for everybody. I would rather ask people to consider competence in chosing their leaders than where the person comes from.
What’s your take on the increasing attacks on Borno and Adamawa in spite of the Federal Government/Boko Haram ceasefire deal?
The ceasefire is a welcome development provided it is sincere, honest and something implementable. If it is not sincere or not done properly, it may bring more harm than solution. With God, nothing is impossible. We cannot continue to fight for life. Maitatsine was here in the 80s and with God, it became history. There are people who fought war for 50 years and they eventually overcame it. I believe ours will not be different. There will be light at the end of the tunnel soon. I have been in Borno before the commencement of the insurgency and I have not gone anywhere since it started. There are times it would appear as if the city will completely succumb to Boko Haram, hope will appear lost, but we have always come out stronger. I also believe we will come out stronger as a nation at the end of the day
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Archbishop of Maiduguri Diocese of Anglican Church, Bishop Emeritus, Emmanuel Kana Mani, has warned politicians and leaders in the northern part of Nigeria against utterances that could cause chaos in the 2015 polls. He particularly cautioned the state actors to treat softly in their quest for power shift to the north.
In this interview with Sunday Sun in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, Kana maintained that the north has had its fair share of the power game having ruled the country for years after independence. “I am a northerner from the present day Kebbi State. But it appears to me that some of our people still see the leadership of this nation as a sole property of the North. The earlier these people change their mind, the better for all of us as a nation, the septuagenarian cleric stated. Excerpt:
In recent time, it appears you’ve been very quiet about the state of the nation. Are you tired, or it is due to the challenges of your position as a priest?
No. How can I be tired of my country? The situation is not as bad as that. Things may not be moving in the speed one expects but we are also moving as a nation. There are concerns about 2015, no doubt, and every Nigerians should be concerned about what is happening now especially the buildup of tension in the land. My hope is that God will bring sanity back into the system. INEC is trying, but there is a need for improvement. The National Assembly has exhibited some level of maturity unlike what it used to be in the past where the chambers were turned to a boxing arena. The legislators now think about the survival of Nigeria and our democracy despite their political differences. This is how it should be.
The Judiciary is also helping to strengthen our democratic experience. Political parties in Nigeria are also making efforts in ensuring their parties have clear goals about the nation. But sadly, there are also some political parties that are playing politics with bitterness rather than concentrating on issues that border on the development of this nation. Biblically, it is said that leaders are made, selected and enthroned by the almighty God and we’ve seen that in Romans 13 saying there is nobody on the throne without God’s approval. If anybody forces himself on the throne, that person won’t enjoy it. The leadership will be enmeshed in trouble. Our project is Nigeria. We should, therefore, be seen to be working towards the building of the nation. Let me also commend some statesmen and elders from different parts of the country who have been cautioning our leaders and advising Nigerians to be peaceful and see our current challenges as a phase. But, of course, there are equally some elders whose utterances have been very disturbing, inciting as if they are speaking for the section of the country they belong to.
Their utterances which may have emanated from their personal, tribal or political sentiments are not helping this country. In fact, such statements are only dividing the nation the more. Such people should be wary of what they say because many of them will no longer be around for too long. We have to say things that will make other generations of Nigeria believe in this country and work together for the survival and development of the nation.
Who are these elders you’re talking about?
You don’t expect me to be mentioning names here. Nigerians know those who have been talking in ways that make people angry the more. Elders ought to be people of wisdom who have seen everything about life, who are no longer afraid of death, who are not easily moved or carried away by any sentiment or personal gains because they’re already counting their days. But when people speak in a manner that questions their old age, something is wrong somewhere. I am not also happy about some comments from some of our people in the north. I am a northerner, but it appears some of our people see the leadership of this nation as a sole property of the North. They believe nobody has the right to lead this country except he or she is from the north. The earlier these set of people change their mind, the better for all of us as a nation.
However, the good thing is that some of our elders like Malam Maitama Sule, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, Gen Yakubu Gowon, Gen Abubakar Abdulsalami, the former Head of State, and many more, have been speaking on the need to build a peaceful nation. God is interested in the project called Nigeria. 2015 will come and go; so, People should stop entertaining fears. Some are even trying to relocate from where they live at present to their home states. There is no need for this. In any case, how do you know that the place you’re going is safer than where you’re coming? People should not fear because even God Himself encourages us not to fear. He said in the bible that His ears are not blocked. If we fought civil war for three years and thereafter had a full reconciliation, I believe there is God’s hand in our country. Believe me, even the insurgency will go one day. We have been able to overcome the Ebola virus challenge to the surprise of even the western world or developed nations. We should commend the government and, of course, all Nigerians for achieving this feat.
But there are still other challenges like Boko Haram and corruption which government has to tackle.
Yes. But we should understand that most of these problems have been with us for long. These are challenges that will not go overnight. They need commitment from all of us. The military troops alone can’t fight Boko Haram except you and I help them with information. What I’m just trying to say is that Nigerians can jointly tackle all these problems. The present government is trying but it has not done enough. Even some parts of Abuja have poor electricity supply as evident in the complaints of residents of the city. However, there are equally some other progress the Federal Government has recorded. For instance, there is improvement in the state of our roads. There is also the angle of economy, though it may not have trickled down to the ordinary Nigerians. And, of course, we have not started enjoying the benefits of some of these programmes. But then we need to support government’s genuine programmes to move the nation forward.
There is something that makes me feel uncomfortable. Why should those in government execute projects and claim credit? They will say my government or I have done so and so forgetting that it is not their monies they used in executing the projects but the public resources that belong to you and me. They should rather thank the electorate for giving them the mandate that led to the execution of the project. It is not a gesture to the people but what they desire. They voted the leaders into office to deliver nothing more. There shouldn’t be any self-glorification about it. Again, I want to appeal to my people in the north to give peace a chance and do not necessarily create tension with the 2015 election.
You’ve been talking about the north, but some politicians in the region alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan entered into an agreement with them to go for single tenure only. Don’t they have the right to complain?
I won’t talk about the power rotation thing because this should be left for the politicians. To me, whoever is the best candidate at a particular time should be voted for. If you look at governance in this nation, apart from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Nnamdi Azikwe who was even a ceremonial president because the power was with Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, how many presidents has the north produced compared to the south? It has been the north, north and north.
Are you saying the north should forget presidency in 2015?
I am not saying the north should forget the presidency or should not produce the presidency in 2015. I am only reacting to the comments and what looks like agitations from the region and I am saying there is a need for our people to tread softly because the nation is for everybody. I would rather ask people to consider competence in chosing their leaders than where the person comes from.
What’s your take on the increasing attacks on Borno and Adamawa in spite of the Federal Government/Boko Haram ceasefire deal?
The ceasefire is a welcome development provided it is sincere, honest and something implementable. If it is not sincere or not done properly, it may bring more harm than solution. With God, nothing is impossible. We cannot continue to fight for life. Maitatsine was here in the 80s and with God, it became history. There are people who fought war for 50 years and they eventually overcame it. I believe ours will not be different. There will be light at the end of the tunnel soon. I have been in Borno before the commencement of the insurgency and I have not gone anywhere since it started. There are times it would appear as if the city will completely succumb to Boko Haram, hope will appear lost, but we have always come out stronger. I also believe we will come out stronger as a nation at the end of the day
Thanks for Reading The LATEST UPDATE: 2015: Leadership of Nigeria not sole property of the North –Kana Mani, Anglican Bishop
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