By Aliyu Muhammad
I register my sincere and hearth felt sympathy to the families of the deceased persons who were victims of the incident that occurred in Lafiagi, the headquarters of Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State on the eve of the November 18 local government council elections. May the Almighty Allah forgive the deceased and grant them Aljanatul Firdaus. And may Allah give their respective families, Lafiagi community and Edu LGA the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. Also, to other victims that sustained various degrees of injuries who are presently receiving treatments, I pray Allah to grant them speedy recovery.
I was flabbergasted when I heard of the unfortunate incident that happened in Lafiagi. It keeps purging out questions in me that how did it happen? was it possible”? Looking at how Lafiagi as a community has been known for ages as peace loving exemplified among Nupe Kingdom. The rationales behind these puzzles keep reoccurring in my mind and I pondered without clear possible thought on what could change my people from peace lovers to violent agitators. In fact, Lafiagi community has always shine when it comes to management of resources, including human, materials, socials, cultural and political situations. This has earned the community respect among her peers within and outside Nupe Areas. The strategy has always been championed by elders and elites in the community. Reflecting the past through the present, it is difficult to trace any case of violence or barbaric act among Lafiagi people. Lafiagi has been a role model to other Nupe communities in the state because of the love and harmony between the people of the community. Lafiagi has always led by example just as the good works and programs which solidified love and helped to smoothen the harmonious relationship among the people were being emulated and imbibed by other Nupe and other communities in the state.
As an indigene and a proud son of Lafiagi, I have seen little and listened to lots more from elders on how Alhaji Shaaba Lafiagi passionately wept profusely anytime his community was relegated. He lives for Lafiagi which made it practically impossible for him to turn against the very people he is so much cherished, with all the good image and reputation, not only in Lafiagi but Kwara and Nigeria. He could not afford to take a step that will tarnish and relegate the name he has built over time, even before the writer was born.
Senator Shaaba that I know based on personal encounter and people’s testimony was never associated with violence. His ferry into politics changed the political landscape of the community from hitherto violent approach which characterized the second republic and third republic. He is calm and soft spoken, sincere and direct in approach, kind and considerate in giving, caring and love for his people and above all passionate about his people and community. His antecedents revealed this magnanimity and liberal mindedness towards his people. I believe the love of the people was very strong and firm in his heart which propels him to be ever ready to listen to the yearning of his people. A good and caring father will not want anything or anybody to harm his children, not to talk of such father harming his own children with his own hand. I see Senator Shaaba as a father to all because of the support he has rendered not only to the people of his home town but also people from other communities.
I am compelled to roll out some of his contributions to Lafiagi community which certainly worth more than the cost of fixing Sodo Culvert: these included initiation, facilitation and establishment of College of Education technical which has been the only technical college of education in North Central Zone of Nigeria; initiation and building of multi-million naira Egwa bridge which connect riverine communities. The construction of this bridge has contributed tremendously to the economy of Lafiagi community. Recently, the stoppage of constant threat of gully erosion at Gudu Ndawasa at Bindofu area of Lafiagi was a dream fulfilled by this man. He awarded the contract for this gully erosion site when he was the Governor of Kwara State, but the execution was truncated by his exit from office. I want us to flash back to the situation of that very spot of gully erosion before Lafigi came to our aid. The place has been completely washed off by erosion which has become un-passable for all. Another was the construction of Kuchita Street in Lafiagi with drainages on both sides. He committed large sum of money to Lafiagi water project, replaced all damaged pumps, pipes and other installations. He embarked on electrification projects for the new sites of residence across all corners of Lafiagi. Without necessarily mentioning names, we have Senators before him and what can we point out as their projects in our community. Still focusing on Lafiagi, he spread his projects across the entire constituency that he represents, the Kwara North.
Senator Shaaba was born a prince of Lafiagi which qualifies him as a critical stakeholder in the community aside his various contributions. It was unthinkable to believe that a man who was part and parcel of the decision makers in the community could ever wish or allow any calamity to befall his people. This man has helped and continue to help several youths in the community to secure jobs both at federal and state level, and he has carried out a lot of empowerment scheme not only in Lafiagi but in all communities across Kwara north.
During the investigation of this unfortunate incident, I came to conclusion that the devil was at work, but as a practicing Muslim, I would rather attribute it to the will of Allah. The Military has given their account of the incident; the time was not ripe to apportion blames but rather we should all join hands for healing process. Shaaba in the past has strived and labored hard for his community and would never wish to end his long committed efforts in this manner. Allah is all knowing. He is a man that has made a lot of sacrifices for the community and the citizens. Therefore, I don’t think it was reasonable to even thought that a man that has worked hard for his community for many years would think of destroying it overnight. What transpired was simply destined to happen, lessons have been learnt and it is time to advocate reconciliation.
Lafiagi Elders and Youths should join hands to preach love instead of hate speeches, work as a team instead of individual, promote unity instead of division, and spread messages of forgiveness.
Long Live Lafaigi Community
