Abubakar Malami Vs The Government That Is Afraid Of Its Shadows -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

In the previous essays I have attempted to highlight some of Abubakar Malami’s achievements when he was the nation’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. The purpose is not to sing his praises but to show that he truly worked to execute his mandate as the demanded by his office. And as I have already stated his contributions and achievement cannot be contained in one essay of this kind and hence the need for this series. Malami, the Kebbi-state born legal luminary is a classic case of a conscientious public officer who understands the purpose of public office and worked hard to fulfil his mandate. He did not work as what one of my colleagues would call a professional politician (one whose only job is politics and would gloss over everything in order to remain at the corridors of power) but as professional in politics; one who is guided by the spirit of responsibility and performance.

Professional politicians have no other job except politics. If Malami is in that class, he would have been one of those chanting as others do today to Tinubu: “on your mandate we stand”. He would not be harassed or hounded as he is being done today by the agents of the government on the excuse of fighting corruption by a government that reeks of corruption from every side. Malami would not have left the corruption-ridden All Progressives Congress, if he was one of those unscrupulous politicians. He would have one the beneficiaries of Tinubu corrupt appointments. Having served as a Minister, he would have been one of the ambassadors to one of the choice locations abroad. Take a sweeping look at those appointed by Tinubu, almost all have one corrupt case or another. Some have had criminal convictions before. Some have certificate scandals. But, Malami as a man of principle wants to distance himself from Tinubu and his political brigandage. And, I salute his courage!

Malami is a thorough-bred professional guided by principles of ethics and service. His loyalty and commitment to service is total. He does not believe in half measures neither does he give in to distractions. He was loyal to to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to his boss, Buhari and to his Party, APC when the going was good. He was one of the principal officers of CNC, one of the legacy parties that formed the now hydra-headed APC. As a bright legal mind, he was in the team that drafted the APC constitution and campaign manifesto and worked hard to ensure the party’s victory at the national elections in 2015, 2019 and 2023. But now he feels the party has outlived his usefulness, having failed woefully to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians especially in the current regime and hence his desire to leave the party. But those who feel threatened by his exit are peeved because they know his influence and power as a real strategic thinker and performer.

The traducers of the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice know his position in the politics of not just the Northwest where he comes from but nay the entire Northern political bloc. And so, Malami’s current ordeal was meant to distract, frustrate and weaken his influence in his area. But unknown to them it is not going to work. The rank of his supporters are swelling by the day. The recent court verdict quashing the suit challenging his candidacy as the ADC gubernatorial candidate for Kebbi State in the forthcoming election points to his popularity and acceptance among his people. One of my acquaintances joked after the said court judgment that Malami will any election in his home state wherever he is, even if he is in exile.

Indeed, Malami’s refusal to work with the ruling APC and his decision to team up with the other political bigwigs in the country in the ADC like Atiku Abubakar, GCON, the former vice-president, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State, Senator David Mark, the former Senate President (2007-2015), Chief Odigie Oyegun, the former APC Chairman and other political gladiators, has put the APC in a panic mode because they know the implication. It is very clear to all observers that the fate All Progressives Congress regime is dangling precariously because the party as I stated earlier failed woefully in governance. Despite luring almost all the governors into its fold in its desperate bid to turn the country into a one-party state, the party and the government are still very uncomfortable because they know that they will lose power in a free and fair election. The government has tried everything to muzzle opposition, suppress civil advocacy, and spread false narratives about reforms and rosy future, hire foreign agencies to polish its battered image and yet the truth about its failures cannot and will not be covered.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK