WHO WILL LEAD NORTHERN RENNAISSANCE?

Presidential Visit to Niger State

By UBONG DAVID

I read an article on a newspaper titled "The truth El-Rufai and Ribadu should tell the North" and I think there is need for a Northern Rennaissance champion by a new breed of Northern intellectuals.

Years back during Obasanjo regime, two men that captured my fancy were El-Rufai and Nuhu Ribadu. I can't forget in a hurry the role play by El-Rufai in repositioning FCT to its original Master Plan. In the process, many high buildings were demolished. While many were crying that El-Rufai was acting a script written by Obasanjo's perceived enemies, I differed from the allegation and stood on the side of El-Rufai because in my candid opinion, he was doing the needful. Yes, he was doing the right thing which was necessary at the time.

Digging deeply into the background of El-Rufai, I think he is one of the best brain Northern Nigeria has produced as his life story should inspire many youth from the North to pursue education with passion against the call by Boko Haram sect that western education is sin. El-Rufai's early upbringing by his uncle after he lost his father should encourage Northern youth to embrace education and indeed the entire Nigerian youth. But, El-Rufai penchant hatred for President Goodluck Jonathan has given me a rethink and I have since refused to follow his post and tweet on social media. Not because I hate him but for his persistent misinformation and misguided statements and remarks against PDP administration that brought him to limelight.

Another Northerner that I love with passion is Nuhu Ribadu, the former EFCC boss. Ribadu is one of the best czar that this country has ever produced and I like his courage during his days as EFCC boss. I can recalled how he was demoted by President Musa Yar' Adua on frame-up allegation which was vehemently condemned by some section of the country while others especially the corrupt politicians were rejoicing because Nuhu cut them to sizes during his days as EFCC boss. We also have Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the immediate CBN boss. These are all new breed of Northern leaders who should champion the Northern Rennaisance but they are singing a discordant tune.

Northerners are very intelligent and creative driven people. We have the likes of Jelani Aliyu of GM Motors, the Caine Prize Winner, Gombe-born Helon Habila, Zainabu Jallo, a creative writer and recently the pioneer president of Commonwealth Youth Council, Ahmed Adamu. These are all intelligent brains in the North who should lead the region and champion a genuine cause against the few who are misrepresenting the North with hate messages against other region and individuals which pitch the North as enemy of other region. There is need for a collective voice from a new breed Northern Nigeria to fault the position of Boko Haram as fighting for the interest of the North and Muslim who are on the majority.

The new breed of Northerners must as a matter of priority embark on a mission to counsel some of their elders and orientate majority of their youth who has been misled by the very few among them who do not believe that the country belong to all of us. The new breed of Northern Nigeria must convene a Conference of Northern intellectuals to brainstorm on the way forward for Northern Rennaisance. They must visit their governors, political leaders, traditional leaders, religious leaders (pastors and imams), opinion leaders, etc and persuade them to join other sections of the country in building a new Nigeria and rebuild the North East which has been totally destroyed by the Boko Haram sect.

The new breed of Northern Nigeria must put all machineries in motion to ensure that the area go back to farm so as to bring back the groundnut pyramid which the North were known for. This will not only create job opportunities for the teeming unemploy youth but will also boost the economic fortune of the area against total dependent on oil. The new breed of Northerners must champion the cause for Free and Compulsory Education Policy in the North to absorb the millions of children who are parading the street begging for alms.

There is need for a paradigm shift in the North and only a new breed of Northern intellectuals can champion it.

UBONG DAVID is a youth advocate, blogger and public commentator.