A MUST READ MESSAGE: Are You Ready For Your Turn?

He was a student, probably in his early twenties. I didn't know his name I really didn't care. All I know is he was going for a lay-up while playing basketball, lost his balance and fell on the ground flat on his back.

We thought he would shake it off and continue the game so no one really cared. To everyone's surprise, he never got up. At first a few people on his team (later everyone) went up to him but he just wouldn't respond.

CPR did no good. The ambulance personnel couldn't save him from dying. The result at the ER was no better. HE WAS DEAD!

As I came home tonight, I thought to myself, it could have been me going up for that lay-up. It is very possible that I could be lying in the cold city morgue, right this minute, as I type this post to my friends on Facebook.

So am I ready to die? Did I communicate with Allah today? Did I perform my daily prayers? Did I seek the pleasure of Allah? Turkashi!

Did I treat my parents and family with respect and love? Did I give any at all in charity (Sadaqa) today? How many times did I remember Allah and recount His name?

The entire day I made time to go to Shehu Yar'adua Center for #GenVoices, check my e-mails, read the news, update posts on facebook, twitter, chat with friends, watch TV, play football... But did I even once say "Astagfirullah?" Did I ask Allah to forgive the sins that I've committed today? NO! I doubt.

Did I say "Alhamdulillah" other than in my daily prayers? NO! Not once my friends, I told you the truth. Would you like to know why? Because I was too busy with my daily activities.

Well, guess what. I could have lost my life during a playing football game and what do I have with me? Not a thing. Nothing that I did today do I get to bring with me to the grave. Nothing.

A few words that I could have uttered were the only things that I could have brought with me. A few words that would've taken a few seconds of concentration out of the 24 hours that was allotted to me.

A few cents in charity instead of cold drinks and candy bars could have saved my soul. But I insisted on continuing with my careless attitude. Thank God it wasn't my turn to go, because I sure I wasn't ready.

Now I close my eyes and say Alhamdulillah. Now I look back and say Astagfirullah. Now I have a different attitude. Now, I want to prepare for my turn.

Did you perform your daily prayers today? Did you give in charity and love? Did you ask for forgiveness yet? Do you care? I'm asking because I don't want to see you fall, knowing you aren't ready for your turn.

Are you ready for your turn?

Ya Allah ya baibaye mu da rahamarsa. Ya gafarta mana zunubanmu. Ya sa mu yi kyakkyawan karshe.

Yours forever @BashirAhmaad

Jawabin Da Ya Sosa Min Zuciya

Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna

Alhaji Yusuf Tuggar, a makalar da yake gabatarwa a duk sati a shafin BARANDAMI na jaridar RARIYA. A jaridar ta wannan mako, ya yi wani rubutu da ya daga min hankali, marubucin ya dauko jawabin Firimiyan Arewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna da ya gabatar a ranar 16 ga watan Maris na shekarar 1964, wato shekaru 50 kenan. A lokacin Sardauna ya yi shekaru biyar biyar yana mulkar jihar Arewa. Tuggar cikin gabatar da rubutun na sa ya nemi masu karatu su kwatanta wannan jawabi da irin siradin da muke kai a yanzu dangane da ci gaba ta fuskar yadda shugabanninmu suke mulkarmu a yanzu. Tabbas jawabin ya sosa min zuciya, da ba don tarihi ba, da cewa zan yi tatsuniya ce ko kuma ba a Arewar Nijeriya hakan ya faru ba.

Ba zan cika ku da surutu ba, ga cikakken jawabin sai ku karanta watakila kuma ku ji abin da na ji a zuciyar ta wa, sannan daga karshe sai ku yi hukunci:

“Na fara da sunan Allah, mai jinkan talikai, mai musu rahama. Godiya ta tabatta a gare shi wanda ya rayar da mu har muka ga karshen wannan shekara.

Mun shiga shekara ta shida a cikin mulkin kan jihar Arewa da wani sabon tsarin mulki. Bara a cikin watan Oktoba Nijeriya ta zama Jamhuriya a cikin tarayyan nan ta ‘Common Wealth’ wannan ko shine matakala na karshe a cikin samowa wanan kasa cikakken iko da kuma ‘yanci na kanta.Yanzu duk duniya tana kallon Nijeriya a kan kasa wacce take tana da cikkaken iko na kanta, kuma bata dogara a kan ko wace kasa ba. A nan Nijeriya ta Arewa mun karpi kowane mataki na cigaban tsarin mulkin mu a cikin farin ciki da natsuwa wadanda suka cancanci zaman lafiyar Jihar nan da kuma fahimtar zaman duniyarta.

Ban da wannan muhimmin canjin tsari na mulki, ina farin ciki da gani cewa mun sami matukar cigaba ta fuskan tattalin arzikin jihar nan da kuma yaduwar ilmi. Ayyuka a kan abubuwan tsarin arzikin kasan nan na shekaru shida suna ci gaba sosai, haka kuma ake samu a wuraren sana’o’i wadanda ‘yan kasa da kuma mutanen waje suke kakkafawa. Na yi matukar farin ciki da sa harsashin ginin ma’aikatar yin siminti a Sokoto kwanan nan da kuma ganin ana kara samun ‘yan makaranta masu fita daga makarantu, tun ba ma masu fita daga makarantun Sakandire ba wadanda suke samun muhimman ayyuka a gwamnatin Jiha da ta tarayya ba, da ma’aikatar soja da ta ‘yan sanda, da kuma kamfanonin ciniki da sana’o’i. A watan Nuwamba da ya wuce ne na sumu darajar da aka nada ni shugaban Jami’ar Ahmadu Bello, kuma a wanan ranar ce Jami’ar ta fara bada digiri.

To ko wane canji da cigaba su kan kawo sababbin wahaloli. Ko ya ya ina so in yi kokari in bayyana muku wadannan wahaloli ba tare da wata manufa ba, kuma ba tare da wani rufe-rufe ba tun da dai kowa ya san rufe-rufe ba hali na bane.

Nijeriya ta Arewa kasa ce wadda take da manoma, duk galibin arzikin kasar nan ya dogara ga noma ne. Amma abin takaici shine da yawa daga cikin samarinmu na wannan zamani sun dauka akan cewa idan suka sami ilmin zamani, sai su gudu daga wanna al’adatamu ta gargajiya mai daraja (wato noma), su koma su yi aiki a ofis ko a masana’anta. To, ina so in sanar da su cewa suna yin kuskure ne.Tilas ne su fahimta cewa ba abin kunya bane ko kadan in da ko wannenmu zai zama manomi. Ni ma kai na manomi ne. Kullum ina beken cewa dama ayyukana za su rangwanta min da na sami lokaci na yi noma a gonata ta Bakura. Kada ku dauka bata lokaci ne ku aika da ‘ya’yanku makarantu domin karo ilmi idan baza su sami aikin akawu ba bayan sun gama ilimin firamare. Kowane yaro da ya sami ilmi, zai zama ya karu da fahimtar abubuwan da duniya take ciki, zai kuma zama dan kasa mai amfani, wanda zai taimaka wajen kara arzikin kasarsa. Ina kara maimaita cewa arziki da ci gaban kasar nan ya dogara a kan irin himatuwar da manomanmu suka yi ne. Ku wadanda za ku bar makarantar firamare kwanan nan ina da wannan sako a gare ku. Ku zauna gida ku yi amfani da sabon ilmin da kuka samu ku zama manoman bana. Idan ku da abokanku ku ka bi shawarata kauyanku zai fi haka ci gaba, zai kuma zama wuri mai kyawun zama a cikinsa. Muna da shirye-shirye wadanda za su ba ku sha’awa, za ku ji su kwanan nan, wadanda kuma aka shirya musamman don a kafawa masu barin firamare guraren zama yadda za su koyi noma a kan hanyoyin zamani, cikin tsarin jam’iyoyin tsimi da tanadi, da kuma hanyar da za’a kara aikace-aikacen karuwar aikin gona.

Bara na tambayeku ku yi tunani a kan hanyar da za ku bi ku taimaka wajen kara cigaban kasarku ta hanyoyi masu sauki amma fa muhimmai, wato kamar yin ‘yan aikace-aikace wadanda za ku iya yi ta wajen hanyar gayya da gama kai. Na kuma tabbata kuna nan dai kuna tunani akan wannan roko da na yi muku. Ni kam ina nan ina tunani a kansa. Gwamnati tana nan tana ta tunani a kan yadda za’a yi a karfafa aikin gayya saboda jama’a su taimaki kansu da kansu. Wadansu daga cikin hanyoyin sune za’a shirya kyautoci iri- iri wadanda za’a rika bayarwa kowace shekara ga dukkan mutanen da suka fi kowa himmatuwa wajen gama gwuiwa su taimaki kansu da kansu. Don nuna shekara biyar da cikar samun mulkin kan wannan jihar, ina so in ba wa kowane daya daga cikin ku ko a ina yake wannan aiki. Ina so kowa da kowa a cikinku a wannan shekara ya shuka bishiya a gidansa ko a fili ko a gonarsa wanda a nan gaba za ta ba da itacen girki ko kuma ‘ya’yan itacen da za’a ci. Shekaru masu zuwa idan muka zauna a karkashin itacen bishiyoyin, za mu iya tunawa da hijira 1964 a kan hijira wadda mu da kanmu mun taimaka wajen tattalin arzikin kasarmu. Gwamnati ba za ta iya ba ku duk abin da ku ke bukata ba, ko kuma kuke so ku samu ba.Tilas ne ku shirya ku yi abubuwa da dama da kanku. Kuna da kasa wadda take da ‘yanci da zaman lafiya in da kowa daga cikinku zai ci riba idan ya yi amfani da gapopinsa da basirarsa. Cigaba abu ne wanda duk ya shafe mu baki daya , ba sai gwamnati ko En’e kawai ba. Saboda haka ku kudira niyya cewa wadannan bishiyoyi da za ku dasa su zama alama ce ta nuna sa niyya a kan cigaban kasar nan.

Bara gwamnatin tarayya da ta jihohi sun hadu sun kidaya duk mutanen kasar nan. Wannan aiki ne mai wuya da nauyi, to amma na yi farin ciki da cewa mutane a ko ina a jihar nan sun fahimci muhimmancin samun kyakkyawar kidayar mutane. Kuma sun amsa kiran gwamnati sun kuma hada kai da ita. Wannan ya rage nauyin aikin masu kidaya. Gwamnati na ta kara jin karfi saboda irin wannan hada kai da kuka nuna, kuma tana fata cewa a nan gaba duk sanda abubuwa muhimmai suka faru za ku nuna sha’awarku da dagewarku.

Na tuna da na yi muku magana bara a watan Maris, abubuwa mara sa dadi sun faru a kasar Afirka. Galibin abubuwa sun faru ne saboda son zuciya da kuma rashin dabarar wadansu mutane. Ina fata wadannan abubuwa ba za su faru a Nijeriya ta Arewa ba. To amma duk da haka ina so in yi wa duk shugaba wanda yake mulkin jama’a gargadi. Hanyoyin cigaba sun tunkaro da karfinsu, da yawa daga cikinsu za su yi hankoro su nemi ci da zuci. Tilas ne ku san yadda za ku yi ku zauna da su. Mutanen da aka dankawa jama’a a hannunsu, tilas ne su dauki duk nauyin aikinsu, su kuma gane bukatar canji, idan dai canjin nan shi zai jawowa jama’a alheri.

Tilas ne ku nuna cewa kun cancanci mukamin da ku ke da su, da yiwa jama’arku bauta, ko da shugaban kuwa Sarki ne ko Minister ko Hakimi ko Dagaci ko shugaban babbar makaranta ko malamin makarantar kauye, ko dan sanda ko ma’aikacin baitul mali ne. Tilas ne ku yi aikinku da gaskiya, da jure wahala cikin tsoron Allah da son kasarku. Da shugabanni da jama’arsu suna zaman cudeni-in-cudeka ne akan jawowa kasa cigaba. Tilas ne ka da mu yarda saboda sakewa mu kyale rashin kwanciyar hankali ya bata mana kasarmu. Tilas ne mu canzja tare da lokaci, kowane lokaci mu rika gyara halin zaman mu in da zai da ce da zamani, ba tare da mun yi wadansu ra’ayuyyuka ba wadanda ba su dace da halayar zaman kasarmu ba.

Ni bana shakka a zuciyata cewa cigaban kasarmu zai karu a kan hanya madaidaiciya, ko da yake a ko wane lokaci, tilas ne a sami mutane masu son kai da kuma dogon buri wadanda za su so su rudar da jama’a. Hakkin kowa daga cikinmu ne mu bi ta kan hanyar doka mu nuna musu kuskurensu. Mu yi kokari kowane lokaci mu rike halinmu na nagarta da fara’a mu kuma yi kokari mu gyara kowane rudani ne ya faru tsakaninmu, ta hanyar da abokai ya kamata su yi. Don saboda ko wane bambamci ne yake tsakaninmu, dukanmu mutanen gida daya ne, yayye da kanne, da abokai. Ina so daga wannan rana kowa daga cikinmu ya kuduri niyya, ya yi mutukar kokarinsa ya ga cewa kasar nan tamu tana ci gaba ta hanya madaidaiciya wadda ta haka ne kawai za mu sami biyan bukatunmu. Ina rokon Allah Madaukakin Sarki ya sa mana albarka baki daya. Amin.”

Idan har kun zo nan a karatunku ba tare da yin tsallake ko batan layi ba, tabbas na san kuma kun ji wani abu a zuciyarku, ko da kuwa bai yi daidai da abin da na ji ba. Wannan babban kalubale ne a gare mu, mu ne jikokin su Sardauna, idan har aka ci gaba da tafiya a haka, zuwa lokacin jikokinmu kuma ya abin zai kasance? Allah ya kawo mana dauki a Arewa da Nijeriya baki daya.

2014: My thoughts on Nigeria, politics, elections and social media - Atiku Abubakar

2014 is an important year for Nigeria. 100 years ago this year, what is today known as Nigeria came into being, after the amalgamation of the territories known as the Northern and Southern Protectorates.

It is also an important year for the world, being the centenary of the start of the 1^st World War.

For me personally it marks the silver jubilee of my retirement from the Nigeria Customs Service, as Deputy Director, the second highest office in the Service. On the 28^th of April 1989 I submitted my resignation letter, two months shy of the twentieth anniversary of my joining the public service.

It’s hard to believe twenty-five years have passed so quickly. In that time a lot has happened. I went into full-time business, and also became a politician. And that’s what I’ve done since then. A quarter of a century on, I remain as committed as ever to seeing Nigeria prosper and take an enviable place in the global economy.

There will be a lot of things happening this year. We will see elections in Ekiti and Osun States, and we will see preparations for the 2015 elections. How time flies! All eyes are on Nigeria, and there is much nervousness at home and abroad, about how this season will play out.

I believe the political class has a responsibility to start this year pledging their commitment towards peaceful electioneering. We all must shun incendiary language, and all action that leaves the impression that the electoral battle is a do-or-die one. There’s nothing do-or-die about politics! There is no justification for the loss of even a single life, in the quest for the realisation of a political ambition.

Now is the time to start holding ourselves to higher standards. There is too much toxic language in the political space at the moment. No one ever said politics should or could happen without disagreement. It is in the very nature of politics that its players should belong to different camps. But we can compete and disagree sensibly, without descending into abuse and violence.

At the end of the day it is not the angry press statements and conferences that bring development; it is well-thought-out plans and policies.

This year, on this blog I intend to set a good example, devoting a sizable potion of my time and attention to matters of public policy and good governance. Because, at the end of the day, that is all that matters.

And politicians will be judged, not on the basis of what party they belong to, or how many pages of letters they can write, but on the basis of how they’re able to touch the lives of the people they profess to serve.

Before I close, let me cast my mind back to May 2013, when I came to Twitter. (Actually I’d been there a few years earlier, but halfheartedly, and had taken a long break). I posted my first tweet totally unsure what to expect.

Looking back it has been an interesting ride. I’ve met and interacted with a lot of interesting people, endured a lot of hostility, and generally learnt a great deal. I think it has helped that my children are active there as well; they have helped me – the sixty-something year old grandfather – better understand how it works, and how to behave myself.
It would have been a lot tougher settling in without them.

I also started writing actively, and am grateful for your feedback on my blog. To see how I did in my 2013 blogging year, the people in my office sent me this exciting link http://jetpack.me/annual-report/56179862/2013/

I look forward to an exciting social media experience in 2014. I expect that I will continue to have to deal with a lot of criticism and cynicism, and I’m more than prepared to engage with as many people as possible.

And, who knows, maybe this year I will even venture out into newer territory. My children have been telling me about Instagram. I won’t promise them anything, of course, but I’ll keep an open mind. Which, I think, is the best way to approach a new year.

Wishing you all the very best in 2014, on and off the Internet!

Atiku Abubakar (Turakin Adamawa)
Former Vice President of Nigeria 

From Zahrah Buba's Blog

Last weekend during a peaceful afternoon with the family my Brother in law suggested I start a blog as I love taking photos so much. My sister suggested I blog about Nigeria and the North in particular because every time she tried to show her colleagues abroad photos of where she comes from she never really finds a blog or website that could explain it as she sees it. Several days later the blog came to life and I have encouraging traffic on the blog, my facebook profiles is on fire with friend requests and my wall and inbox crazy with words of encouragement. I guess we have wanted this for a while now. I'm so excited and promise to keep you all entertained. Thanks for the tremendous support.

      

      From Nigeria Through Zahrah's Eyes

Abokan Juna

Abokan juna

Wannan hoton ya burge ni sosai, ya kuma tuna min da tsofaffin abokaina, wadanda muka taso tare, mu ma, mu uku ne, (Abbas, Sudais da ni Bashir) kuma komai tare muke yi. Ba zan taba manta wannan lokaci ba, it's unforgettable memory. Na godewa Allah, dukkanmu muna raye, sai dai kuma rayuwa ta raba mu, kowa a cikinmu is living in his on world.

Allah ya bar mu da abokanmu na gaskiya.

HOTO: Babban Masallacin Nigeria

Babban masallacin Juma'a na Nigeria (Nigeria Central Mosque) dake birnin tarayya Abuja. Masallacin na daya daga cikin wuraren bude ido ga baki 'yan kasar waje idan sun zo Nigeria, ko kuma mutanen dake zaune a wasu sassa na Nigeria da ba su taba zuwa babban birnin kasar ba.

Mu Cigaba Da Son Matanmu Bayan Aure

Akwai wani mutum mai suna Balarabe, yana neman wata budurwa mai suna Ladidi da aure. Kullum yana zuwa hira gidansu da yamma budurwar tana kawo masa ruwan sha a duk lokacin da ya zo gidansu hira.

Wata rana da ya zo sai kakar Ladidi ta ce mata: “Ga kunu mai dumi ki kai wa Balarabe ko zai sha.”

Ladidi ta ce to, sai ta zo ta tambayi saurayin cewa zai sha kunu? Bayan ya yi dan murmushi ya ce "eh zan sha", sai Ladidi ta koma cikin gida ta dauko kunun da nufin ta kawo masa. Tana zuwa kusa da shi sai santsi ya dauke ta ta zame ta yi tangal-tangal ta fadi, kwanon kunun nan ya kife a jikin sabon dinkin shadda da wannan saurayi ya ci ado da ita. Hankalin wannan budurwa ya tashi, ta rude ta rasa me za ta ce masa. 

Amma shi gogan naka bai damu da jika shi da kunun da ta yi ba, hankalinsa yana kanta ne, yana cewa: “Ladidi sannu, ina fatan dai ba ki ji ciwo ba?”

Yana ta kokarin dagata da lallashinta, ita kuma da ta tashi abin da ya fi damun ta shi ne yadda ta bata masa ado da ruwan kunu. Nan take ta je ta debo ruwa a buta tana zuba masa yana wanke jikinsa, tana ta ba shi hakuri. Shi kuma yana murmushi yana ce mata, ai ba komai.

Da ya ga Ladidi tana ta nuna damuwarta kan abin da ya faru, sai ya nuna mata alamun cewa za ta bata masa rai, ya za a yi ta rinka damuwa kan abin da baitaka-kara-ya karya ba! A haka dai abin ya wuce.

Bayan wani lokaci sai aka daura auren Balarabe da Ladidi, Allah Ya azurta su da ’ya’ya guda biyu.

Wata rana da yamma Balarabe ya dawo gida don yin wanka, sai Ladidi ta kawo masa abinci. Bayan ta ajiye, sai ta je debo masa ruwa a kofi da nufin idan ya gama cin abincin ya sha ruwa. Bisa tsautsayi, sai ga babbar rigar da Balarabe ta sarkafe Ladidi ta fadi kasa, ruwan da ke kofin ya zube a jikin Balarabe, ai sai ya mike tsaye ya rinka bambami, kai ka ce wuta ta zuba masa.

“Ke dai wallahi ban san ranar da za ki yi hankali ba! Sam ba ki da lissafi da natsuwa! Idan ban da hauka da rashin hankali, me ya jawo
haka? Ke dai kam Allah wadaran ki........!”

Karshe dai wannan dalilin sai da ya janyo Balarabe ya saki Ladidi.

Mu yi nazarin wannan abin da idon basira, lokacin da Balarabe ke neman matarsa da aure, ta yi masa barin kunu mai zafi a jikin sabbin tufafinsa, amma bai nuna bacin ransa ba, hasali ma yana nuna wannan abin ba komai bane illa tsautsayi. Amma yau barin ruwan sanyi ya zama tamkar ruwan narkakkiyar dalma!

Mu duba yadda ya damu da ita a wancan lokacin, amma yau ba damuwarsa ne ta ji ciwo ko ba ta ji ba, shi dai kawai laifin da ta yi masa yake kallo.

Ya kamata maza mu rinka tuna baya, bai kamata a lokacin da matayenmu suka saba mana za mu ke yanke hukunci ba. 

-  Maimaitawa, na taba rubuta wannan rubutu a wannan shafi a ranar 14 ga watan Disambar 2010.