Najaatu Muhammad

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It is campaign season in Nigeria. The political atmosphere is charged in an interesting way such that those who are politically apathetic are suddenly developing interest in politics–at least at conversational level. Political parties are seen trying to convince the electorate what they should expect from them and why they should vote for their respective parties. It is not unusual to see political parties engaging in campaigns of calumny depicting their opponents in bad images and drawing the most grotesque caricatures of them. This is not peculiar to Nigeria or Nigerian politicians; it is one of those elements of democracy which encourages freedom of speech and expression.

Some weeks ago, Gudaji Kazaure was the one making waves. He put the CBN Governor, Emefiele, in the eye of the storm. This week it is Najaatu Muhammad. She is hogging the limelight in a rather unprecedented way. She has become the cynosure of all eyes, even mine. Everyone wants to hear from her. Media houses are falling on top of each other to interview her. She is exposing what we already know about the All Progressives Party (APC); also known as All Promises Cancelled. The Party, at this critical moment, becomes very uncomfortable with her garrulity and had to appeal to her, according to her, to cease fire. She acquiesced but was later provoked by being called a mole. However, she needs to fire on for she may end up telling us what we don’t know about the party and the regime which atrocities are only known to God. We know what we know of the atrocities but God knows it all.

Najaatu Muhammad is a household name in Nigerian politics(especially in the north). Born into a political family, married to a radical political scientist, taught by radical historians in the then ABU Zaria, I don’t expect her to be less radical. She is one of the few voices, if not the only voice, who has been very critical of this regime as an insider being an appointee of the regime. She has criticized this government and the president several times(especially on the challenge of insecurity) since his first tenure when it was a taboo and suicidal to criticize Buhari. I think that could be because she brought him (Buhari) into politics as she proudly alleged. But that aside, she is known for her gut and temerity. Speaking truth to power is, to her, a hobby. This is the forsaken task of the clerics which they only perform when one of their own is not at the helm. This cuts across clerics in the religious divide in Nigeria. Of course, they are few exceptions.

In a resignation letter as the Director of Civil Society in the Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling APC addressed to the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, she stated that recentdevelopments in the political and democratic space have made it impossible for her to continue participating in party politics.

In what follows, she made some damning and damaging remarks about the presidential flagbarer of her party (APC). Oh, l am sorry! Her former party. This led to her resignation from the party. According to her, among other things that she mentioned, Tinubu has nothing to offer the North, mentally deranged, physically unfit, everything about him is based on lie, could not hold a teacup which could be due to Alzheimer‘s disease. She continued “Asiwaju that I sat with for two hours, he slept most of the time.” I think he was not informed of her presence. Honestly speaking, I find nothing new in what she said. What I find surprising is why she is just saying it. Knowing all these, why did she accept to be Tinubu’s campaign director? That Tinubu is “this and that“ is in the public knowledge; an insider like her cannot claim or feign ignorance.

That aside, Najaatu, after tendering her resignation letter as campaign director also resigned from Police Service Commission as a commissioner. A position she help since 2018. In a rash mannerand within a twinkling of an eye, she declared her support for Atiku Abubakar the presidential flagbarer of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We should not forget that PDP started the journey that set Nigeria on a trajectory of hopelessness. APC only came on board to complete the journey.

To be fair to her, she sees no future for Nigeria even in PDP as well. She considers Atiku a lesser evil from among other evils. In her words “What I’m saying is, if I have to choose between the devil and the deep sea, I’ll go for the deep sea, I will support Atiku, because over and above everything else, I follow my conscience. I’m not doing it for myself, I’m doing it for God and for my country,” But must she campaign for Atiku to spite APC and Tinubu? That is not of interest to me anyway. My concern is her admission, just like many other Nigerians, that we are facing a situation where we have to go for a lesser evil come 25th of February 2023. Without dilly-dallying, many have concluded they will not vote. I am still struggling to decide whether to vote, though not APC.

As it is, is the voice of Najaatu enough to bring down APC? It seems the party is heading to its collapse. President Buhari has said it clearly that “Nigerians should for whoever they like from whichever party“. If that is not anti-party what is? After all, he is about to complete his eight years. Who comes after him is not his business. His business is to retire anywhere close to Niger Republicwhere he will be safe enough. Similarly, Tinubu alleges that Naira “repainting” and fuel scarcity are deliberate attempts to scuttle his victory and that he will take power from them. From whom? I am confused.

You? I pity you. kill yourself defending Tinubu, Atiku or Obi. Fight everyone who does not support but criticizes your presidentialcandidate. While you think your candidate is the Messiah who exclusively has the solutions to Nigerian problems, we see voting any of the candidates as choosing a lesser evil if we decide to vote.As far as I am concerned, whoever emerges at the end of the poll should be pitied. If he intends to clear the mess, may God help him. If he had come to chop too, we (the masses) will only need to re-hand over ourselves to God for His Mercy. That is, of course, what has been sustaining us. Meanwhile, Najaatu Muhammad! Do not cease fire. Please, fire on. At least we will know our candidates better.