WHAT REALLY IS THE BIG PICTURE?

Cyberspace experienced many commentaries and analyses when news broke that the Emir of Kano was going to have or had in fact taken a fourth wife. The problem in this case was not really about His Royal Highness Lamido Sanusi, 54 getting married to another wife but the attempt by many to comprehend the significance of the number eighteen (18).

For some commentators, the fact that the Emir was taking a young bride equated being a pedophile. To them an eighteen year old female is only but a child, immature and at risk of Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF). #Childnotbride trended on twitter but one tweet in particular had me giggling; someone put up a picture of Bruce Jenner’s daughter Kylie clad in only a bikini with the “childnotbride” hashtag so people could imagine what  eighteen year old girls could potentially look like (this is not to conclude that all girls develop at the same rate). Some others did not really have a problem with the age but with the difference between the ages of the groom and the bride which is 36years.

The reason why I  decided to write this article is to address those who attempted to link the relative educational deficiency and female illiteracy to the action of the Emir. A few people voiced their displeasure that a highly educated and cerebral mind could indulge in what they perceived to be primitive cultural practices and also speculated that this move by the former Central Bank governor would only serve to embolden average Northern men to indulge in child marriages and even rape. They were disappointed that a well-respected monarch had failed in his duty as a standard bearer for the entire North of Nigeria.

The level of historical, geographical and cultural illiteracy constantly exhibited by Nigerians on public platforms is truly heartbreaking. Away from the issue of the young lady’s age; how is it possible to focus so much attention on that and yet ignore the important fact that she is the daughter of the Lamido of Adamawa? It is sad that a lot of Nigerians do not have a clue or possess little information about the history of the Emirates in Northern Nigeria and how closely tied they are through marriage. This may be part of the reason why many Nigerians do not understand the concept of Nigeria; the feudal system which the British adopted and how we ought to use the knowledge of this irreversible beginning to forge a united nation.

Some individuals have speculated that the issues of child marriage, polygamy and female suppression are characteristic of the entire Northern Nigeria. It is possible that such issues as these are more prevalent in Northern Nigeria but one cannot help but highlight other parts of Nigeria that experience similar conditions. It is myopic to scream and shout that a 54years old man has taken an 18years old bride when young girls and ladies from other parts of Nigeria are practically sold into slavery and the sex industry both home and abroad. I once overheard the conversation of two young ladies (they were not Northerners) who sat in the seats directly before mine on a flight from Madrid to Lagos in late 2012. They talked about their escapades and those of others known to them in parts of Spain and Italy; one important part was how to gain citizenship of those nations by successfully having babies for Caucasians. Many potential housemaids are regularly transported to Nigerian cities from all over the country with more than a few suffering rape, molestations or varying degrees of maltreatment without justice. In the same country where children are married off, some others get murdered for being tagged witches. Many young ones hawk wares across southern Nigeria; how different are they really from the Almajiris who roam certain parts of Northern Nigeria?

Is the North of Nigeria really that averse to educating the girl-child? Available statistical data may or may not accurately describe the situation of female education in the North but anyone with a little experience of Northern Nigeria will know that females attending school is not total abomination as some seem to suggest. The middle-belt states obviously have it better although children are still being taught under trees in parts of Benue and long kilometers across difficult terrain have to be conquered daily by young ones in parts of Plateau. I have had the good pleasure of visiting a few higher institutions in Northern Nigeria such as the Benue state University, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi and Gombe state University amongst others. These schools especially those in Bauchi and Gombe definitely had females attending lectures and walking freely within the premises of their respective campuses. If they truly abhorred girl-child education, then there would not have been cases of kidnapped female students from the Federal Government College Buni Yadi, Yobe state and the Government school in Chibok.

I interacted with a colleague on Facebook with respect to the Emir’s marriage and constantly asked him to focus on the bigger picture instead of Sanusi. What really should be the bigger picture here? Does the girl-child in Southern Nigeria have a better chance at achieving greatness through education than her Northern counterpart assuming the factor of terrorism is excluded? What is the quality of education available to Nigerian children across all rivers and forests? Are they inspired or stimulated enough to aspire for something beyond the basic/ minimum standard of education available in Nigeria and many parts of the African continent? Do we really have a quality minimum standard of education in our nation? Is there a difference between the “lure” to become the nth wife of a monarch e.g. the Alaafin of Oyo and that of a university undergraduate becoming the mistress of a professor, cheating bank executive or a thieving  politician? 

A good number of schools in Northern Nigeria do not have enough well trained teachers; National Youth Service Corps members help to provide the much needed cover at secondary schools and even at some colleges of education. These are some of the issues we need to focus on instead of trying to legislate on the matrimonial practices of an Emir. I agree that the Emir of Kano is too educated not to be a role model but we must remember how vast Northern Nigeria is and understand the waning influence of monarchs in Nigeria. Although some Northern Emirs still retain some power to influence their territories, I think it may be inaccurate to suggest that such first class Emirs are able to make proclamations that would have effect far beyond their respective caliphates.  Is it Emir Sanusi who should be held responsible for any shortage of qualified teachers and facilities in Kano? Is he also responsible for drawing up and executing the budget of Kano state? Is it the Emir or Sultan who provides scholarships for Northern students sent to higher institutions in the Arab Emirates, Sudan, Egypt or America?

The average middle-class and educationally inclined Nigerian couple will most likely guide their daughter through primary school and then through secondary school till she graduates just before or after her 16^th birthday. In present day Nigeria, such a girl could get enrolled into a private University to study a four year course and by her 18^th birthday, she could jolly well be prepared for her final year. I was on a mission to Badagry earlier this year and met young girls from Nigeria and Benin still in secondary school at 18 or 19 so an Adamawa princess who is done with secondary school at 18 should not be treated as an unusual case.

Northern Nigeria is deficient on many levels and the monarchs, religious leaders and political elite all have to take the blame. Some past leaders have done better than others but the cumulative effect is still widely unfelt. There is no excuse whatsoever for  the poor state of education and development in Northern Nigeria. Any trace of discrimination against the female gender must be extinguished and more parents encouraged and compelled as the case may be to enroll their female children in school. There is no doubt that a well educated female population could aid the recovery of this hitherto denigrated region of Nigeria. The equivalent of secondary school education in the days of our fathers earned them jobs and opportunities at that time. Higher degrees are not meant for all and sundry; some folks should joyfully learn vocations and prosper therein but those who opt to earn only a minimum secondary school certification should still emerge as high quality individuals.

The Emir of Kano did not marry anyone universally accepted to be underage and from all indications she was not bought or dragged into the palace. I understand perfectly the union between traditional empires via marriage contracts and I think the Emir should be left alone to exercise his rights and privileges. If he had forcefully taken the teenage daughter of his driver or cook as a fourth wife then I would have joined in the process of eviscerating him but I chose to focus on the big picture.

HRH Emir Lamido Sanusi and the former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. dailymail.com.ng