POLITICS TODAY

By Yakubu Ahmed-BK

There is a way I relate with those in power… with a very long spoon. I try as much as possible to keep my distance. Two years ago, I broke the rule, for the sake of humanity.

Within the period, I came across two health issue cases of a 17 year old Maryam Shuaib and a 30 year old Abu Shehu. I met both of them at different times while driving around Birnin Kebbi. Maryam was battling a lump on her face which had covered one of her nostrils and was baying for her eyes. Abu too was struggling to shrug off a busted growth on his head.

They all needed urgent help to live. And no one seemed to care. It was Maryam that I met first at the Haliru Abdu area of the Metropolis and when I asked her if she will avail herself to treatment, she was amenable to it. We needed assistance and somehow I got across to Ibrahim Bagudu, the Governor’s younger brother. Everyone I spoke to admitted that Ibrahim is the power broker of Kebbi politics who has shown an inkling for philanthropy.

He asked for the details and after a few days, he asked us to wheel the girl into the hospital. We did and he provided all the resources through many lab texts leading to surgery. The girl has fully recovered now and she has since quit begging.

Abu Shehu’s case too, was similar. I bumped into him on the streets of Birnin Kebbi begging. He had a busted growth on the head and he also needed quick help. I sounded him out and he was affirmative. I approached Ibrahim Bagudu and he responded like the first. Abu, who has battled the lump all his life, went under the knife, had a successful surgery and recovered fully.

A fortnight ago again, a junior civil servant faced what looked like an act of victimization from a privileged, arrogant, fetish and self centered senior officer in one of the departments. The junior officer, with a large family of dependants to look after went on his knees begging the senior officer to temper justice with mercy. The Director refused and the hapless junior officer launched an “appeal spree, walking from one big man to the other asking them to intervene to save him from imminent health complications that will surely arose from his predicament.

All the big people, including title holders and top civil servants he approached chipped in words for him, but the naughty Director insisted on suspending the man. Somehow, I got to know about it and I felt the urge to get involved. I approached Ibrahim Bagudu again. He asked for the details which I obliged him. He asked for a few days to run his own checks and two days after, he got convinced that it was indeed a case of victimization. The suspended junior officer was promptly recalled.

Is it not impressive that the three requests I had cause to put to him, on behalf of helpless and hapless people were all promptly granted?

Ahmed-BK, a veteran journalist, wrote from Kebbi State