Political observers hardly expected President Muhammadu Buhari (abbreviated to PMB) to follow a right wing Conservative approach. Yes, as a previous military service man, in his younger days, PMB made name for himself as a revolutionary military head of state. But in current times political party under which PMB won presidential election in 2015, All Peoples Congress (APC), is meant to be a socialist party, (or in its own terminology a “progressives’ party).
So 2016 news in Nigeria that went virile on social media, that an old political power group rumoured to being a clique within Northern Conservative establishment, was not only back in power but more importantly at ideolog-ical differences with the progressives style of the actual party in government; is political news of local significance (and international significance as regards once again stability of government institutions and by extension focused fast track economic planning in Africa’s most populous nation).
Rumoured power group returned back into Nigerian political affairs had in 1980s been accorded a sensational name, by then Nigerian media houses, as Kaduna Mafia. Completely different from Italian Mafia of course, as then newspaper report knew better with political power and not crime being trade reported on.
Personalities never called themselves Kaduna Mafia, nor operated publicly as a group, it remained to date unconfirmed, and, this writer makes no confirmation other than reciting news reports and other side narrations. Presently linked to media coined Kaduna Mafia are names of Alhaji Mamman Daura, Alhaji Mahmud Tukur, Adamu Ciroma, and, a few others.
One current political climes report that went virile on social media included some military names like Major General Buhari and late Major General Shehu Yar’adua. This writer actually re calls in 1980s first time coming across name Kaduna Mafia in Nigerian news paper.
Named persons were not actually all Northern Nigerian. Names included South West Nigerian lawyer, a Yoruba, in the name of now late Chief Sobo Sowemimo (SAN). Who for brevity of writing conveniences is re-ferred to by chieftaincy title, the Jaguna. Coincidentally PMB’s Chief of Staff, Harvard graduate and very accomplished Abba Kyari, in his earlier days as a lawyer practiced in Jaguna’s law Firm of Fani-Kayode & Sowemimo. This writer vividly re calls Femi Fani-Kayode, son of one of the founders of the Firm, writing an article in early days of former civilian President Obasanjo’s government. In which article Femi Fani-Kayode wrote that there were four South West Nigerian men who were intricately close to far North and; who also amongst them had equally formed sincere friendships with members of older generation of Northern politicians. The South Western Nigerians as named were: late Chief MKO Abiola; late Chief Remi Fani-Kayode (QC, SAN); late Chief Sobo Sowemimo (SAN) and; Chief Akinjide (SAN).
Although Femi Fani-Kayode also suggested that counter part Northern politicians were in return not as deeply sincere in their own friendship, and, suggested they fatally believed too much in air of Northern superiority. That’s another story aside. Jaguna was indeed amicably very well known to Alhaji Mamman Daura, Adamu Ciroma and some other names being referred to as being part of the Kaduna Mafia. Jaguna’s association with North stretched back to 1970s not least with martyred General Muritala Mohammed who was undoubtedly by far the closest out of Jaguna’s association with far Northern Nigeria. Mrs. Mohammed jokingly used to re call how late Muritala Mohammed and Jaguna would be arguing so loudly that she would come downstairs very worried, only to find them just having heated comradeship exchanges on political views. Undoubtedly both Muritala Mohammed and Jaguna were young radical revolutionaries.
So radical that whilst tragically Muritala Mohammed was assassinated in international conspiracy in late 1970s. In the case of the Jaguna he continued to be open to successive governments up to the revolutionary military regime of Buhari in early 1980s. In the mid 1980s however when General Babangida (Rtd) assumed leadership of a new military regime. Jaguna though remaining a politicised personality stayed away from being a career politician, remaining loyal to more radical Muritala Mohammed and Buhari military regimes mindsets. Aforementioned relationships between some officers and some civilians aside, this writer doesn’t re call PMB being named as member of a Kaduna Mafia (as of when the media in the1980s broke out with a coverage story). Though back then in the time of heavy military politics, it had become customary for military persons in government to work with civilian associates.
Personalities in this article must have been in their early 30s or 40s in the 1980s, bursting with youthful aspirations and likely more radical in then days. Many years later this writer was requested by Jaguna in late 1990s to pass on a gift to Major General Buhari (Rtd). That is during time of late General Abacha’s military government when Buhari was Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). Gift was a biography on General de Gaulle. As presentation was made, Buhari responded “…he (the Jaguna) has remained consistent”. Both choice of book as a gift and comments by Buhari were intriguing. Jaguna amongst other subtle ways of sharing advice, was fond of choosing books to share and to impart ideas.
De Gaulle as a French military General turned civilian President, became an iconic 20th Century symbol of free France (vive la France) after sustained resistance movement against Nazi Germany. Buhari’s comment on receiving gift was easy enough to understand. Jaguna had always been linked to nothing less than hard and fast focused or revolutionary regimes (from Gowon’s military government in early 1970s, to military government of martyred General Muritala Mohammed, as well as later military regime of Buhari). Those that knew him best in those days trusted him so much that at few odd times in covert details his private car and other personal sacrifices were relied on, and, even in old age he said nostalgically “…regret I never saw a revolution change society for posterity”.
Life and times, especially in younger days, of some individuals speculatively grouped together as Kaduna Mafia, on a different take is therefore for some named persons rooted in revolutionary history of Nigeria. Some of the individuals as now elder persons, ventured into public statesmanship roles.
This writer re calls Alhaji Mahmud Tukur in 2006 or so writing an article during the heat of an unconstitutional third term presidential agenda in days of former President Obasanjo. Chief Obasanjo has since disassociated himself from that agenda. Whilst not speculating like then media reports that indeed likes of Alhaji Mahmud Tukur and others were or are still grouped as Kaduna Mafia. It is however the same Alhaji Mahmud Tukur that statesmanly wrote in news media and; called out names like Jaguna, Chief Tayo Akpata, and, others including himself to come out and contribute to ways to save the country from political turbulence it was facing.
Going back to the subject. Whatever views about political confidantes and associates alike wielding influence over present PMB. This is actually a re occurring theme in presidential systems. To what degree true or not, people will always talk. Former President Obasanjo was, in back room political anecdotes, said to have at some stage taken late Waziri Mohammed as a confidante advisor at large. Former President Goodluck was accused of giving too wide ears to his tribal elder Chief Edwin Clarke. In the US there was the close brotherly relationship of JF Kennedy and his brother Bobby. Which led some to complain that Bobby involved himself in more than his Attorney General portfolio and; so on. Whatever present composition of PMB’s kitchen cabinet and political confidantes alike.
Perhaps real legacy challenge for PMB and his kitchen cabinet during any re-maining years in seat of presidency, is seriously weighing candid advice of U.S. President Obama “Africa needs to deepen its political institutions” to entrench democracy. With forefront of matters in Nigeria presently including Niger Delta Avengers militancy uprising, in South South regions of Ni-geria. Uprising disrupted oil and gas sector, and, alongside low international crude oil pricing, con-tributed to severe economic recession. Also at time when past governments having not made best enduring use of previous decades of high international oil price, further contributed to crash of local currency. With money laundering and concerns of corruption at high levels of the judiciary in the mix. Loaded concerns to say the least presented PMB severe challenges. Views are mixed wheth-er or not PMB wasted valuable time of his tenure in way critical matters have been handled. If, as factored, past associates of PMB are kitchen cabinet statesmen. Past political experiences can be invaluable. Plans of PMB to bridge generation age concern, by including youthful bright minds to bridge his government, however, went adrift. JF Kennedy’s youthful presidency, is still talked about today because of the intellectuals he pulled around him, even if only going by inspiration for a bet-ter tomorrow they gave young America. A kindred inspiration PMB badly needs to give more of to a critical youthful populated Nigeria. Perhaps Obama, in his candid advice to long time African politi-cians, should have added “democratic institutions are not deepened without bringing up credible politicians”. PMB’s purposeful strides as a civilian president might very well carry with it strands of old revolutionary military guards and some of their civilian associates joint hopes to have changed Nigeria for good. Only question is shouldn’t any surviving para military style to change “for good” in these modern climes, equally fully align with clear focused policies of how to deepen democratic institutions and bring up more credible politicians. Not a difficult question to answer and real test to prosperity and indeed PMB’s consistencies.
– Sowemimo wrote in from Kaduna
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