Why 'only a Sokoto man is good enough to rule Nigeria'.

Usman Dan Fodio

The above quote is courtesy of the governorship candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria in Sokoto State in the 1983 Elections in Nigeria. To sympathize with his position look no further than the Jihad of Usman Dan Fodio.

Usman Dan Fodio was a Gobir man. Looking at the Bayajidda Legend, Gobir was one of the cities ruled by a child of Bayajidda born of the free woman and therefore a legitimate child.

India is known for her caste system. Igbo land is weaning itself of its own caste system but Nigerians are largely unaware of that of Northern Nigeria or are living in denial.

It is sad indeed that this is happening. In 1979 Shehu Shagari was not the best the North had to present to represent the National Party of Nigeria but his being from Sokoto was unassailable. If the account of Newswatch is to be believed, after PMB came to power in 1983, the then Sultan of Sokoto summoned the Military Head of State to come explain why he kicked a Sokoto man from office. As the account went, PMB sent Magoro an army General to explain to the Sultan. But believe it or not, the Sultan sent Magoro back, saying that even with his failing sight, he still knew that the one called Buhari did not have facial marks like Magoro. Buhari, he wanted to come.

Please do not be surprised. The power of Usman Dan Fodio was rooted in religion and criticism of false and adulterated Islamic practices of the old Hausa States and their leaders.

If you are a Muslim and Muslims are in the majority in the North, you dare not go against the Sultan of Sokoto, a Caliphate founded by Usman Dan Fodio away from his home town of Gobir.

Those who saw GEJ kneel before Pastor Adeboye as Nigerian President should not be surprised if Adeboye or the religious leader GEJ kowtows to, similarly summons him.

What really surprises me is that in spite of Usman Dan Fodio's disdain for corruption, his modern day followers observe that largely in the breach while mouthing his teachings and beliefs.

But so too do christians. We in Nigeria like to pick and choose as it soothes our fancy. This is very sad. Usman Dan Fodio preached against men and women mixing together but believed in female education. How well this is practised is hard to see.

If a northern Political Party stands and manoeuvres itself into picking a Presidential Candidate of Sokoto Origin, you know why - an appeal to religious sentiments and not a desire for excellence in governance.