hajia

WHY DO THEY TAKE TRADITIONAL TITLES?

I have always wondered why some Nigerians love to have traditional titles conferred on them. And it bothers me that some of these people started life normally and with even some aversion to traditional rulers but somehow found themselves trooping into palaces looking for favours. I find it difficult to fathom what happened in a space of ten to 15 years to change a person from a comrade to a so-called member of the royalty. So-called royalty because such people do not have a portfolio in the palace. Neither do they have a land or people to lord it over. And the title gets confiscated as soon as they fell out of favour. For example who would have thought that Lamis Shehu Dikko would one day hobnob with traditional rulers and emulate them by wrapping his head up in a turban? What a sight he makes? Dr Yusuf Bala Usman must be turning in his grave at this stark volte-face.

Well it is no big secret that these titles are bought and the amount can add up to a huge pile of money. Money, as someone might say, that could build a small factory and provide jobs for several people. So the question is whether it is rational for one to throw away his hard earned money to purchase a title that has no potential of bringing back a single kobo.

One can understand the motive for people like Iro Maikano, Usman Bello Kankara, Ahmadu Diddire Ahmadu and even Kohur Umme in gunning for similar traditional titles. All these four have a clear cut portfolio and domain to administer that is recognised by the traditional authorities. They play some roles in their respective constituencies viz: Jikamshi, Sabuwa, Mai’Adua, and the Emir’s palace proper. This, however, is not the case for these title holders we are talking about here.

In trying to understand the motives of these breed of Nigerians who have a relish for traditional titles I organised a discussion group that comprised professionals and sundry people from KT. We tried to agree on a typical profile for such people. Here is a summary of the profile.

The average age of such people is in the 35 to 55 bracket.

They have made lots and lots of money and in most cases not through a dint of their hard work.

They are mostly civil servants and others in the private sector who rose through favouritism.

As a result of all the above they nurse a complex and need protection and recognition. Protection in case their cover is blown and the actual source of their wealth is revealed. Or perhaps they are involved in some illicit past time like smuggling. In these and similar instances a traditional title may come in handy. Both recognition and respect in their immediate society are presumed to be conferred by the title. And God knows they need these more than any other group of people.

Now to test the veracity of the above profile we came up with a list of names of those who bought traditional titles. We also raised a list of those who could buy a traditional title but for one reason or the other refused.

List A: A small sample of those who bought traditional titles.

Lema Jibril, Ahmadu Karkarku, Tukur Mani, Sani Lugard, Ibrahim Ida, Umaru Musa Yaradua, Sani Buhari, Lamis Shehu Dikko, Ummaru Murnai, Dr Aminu Shuaibu Tama, Dr Mu’uta Na’iya, Abu Danmalam Karofi, Bala Saulawa, Hamisu Gambo, Aminu Bello Masari, Kabir Ahmed Kofa,

List B: A small sample of those who refused to buy any traditional title.

Abidu Yazid, Bala Kuki Snr., Iro Safana, Nura Na-Kano, Fatahu Abdullahi, Bilya Sanda, Muntari Lawai, Lawai Batagarwa, MD Yusuf, Dr Armiyau, Kanti Bello, Abba Jaye, Samaila Isa, and the old KT money bags AAF, ABY, and AUU.

Merely going through the two lists reveals one important fact: both contain the good, the bad and the ugly. But even then, list B carries the day as it has more of the good and serious people.

In fact I want to develop these lists and then take them round for people to select the one which contains more reasonable, level headed and honest individuals. The result will stun the whole of KT.

Anyway I might also just turn this into a full blown research and ask KT youths to look at the two lists and decide for themselves where they want to belong in future.

Any bright ideas on this are welcome

# posted by hajia @ 11:38 am