A Prolific Writer and Vocal Social Activist, Dr. Mahdi Shehu has called on leaders from the northern part of Nigeria to either publicly or privately ask for forgiveness from former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for using sentiments and tribal campaign to malign him out of office.
Mahdi said by all standards, Johnathan was the ideal Nigerian leader who had all the shock absolvers to lead the country because of his tolerating nature and had good intentions for the north.
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Mahdi spoke exclusively to a correspondent of DAAR Communications PLC aired on its world news on AIT on Sunday and monitored by the Drum Reporters.
According to the Serial Entrepreneur, the issue of Almajiri and street begging would have been totally eradicated in the country if Jonathan was reelected and his policies sustained. Shehu said, the people of the North were deceived by Buhari’s campaign of calumny, accepted by many and anchored by the APC to get “the gentle man out of office.
“What happened in the case of Jonathan was a reflection of the fact that good intentions are not enough, where most of the Tsangaya schools established by former president Goodluck Jonathan are now shadow of themselves” Over ninety percent of Jonathan’s Almajiri schools are in shambles. He added that, “Shamefully and painfully too, the buildings are not only dilapidated, the pieces of furniture have been destroyed with an inhabitable learning environment.”
“Empirical evidence shows that the Tsangaya schools failed to function as intended by Jonathan because most state governments left its funding and provision of food for the Almajeris who were taken from the streets after the administration of Goodluck Jonathan”.
“Look it, it is shameful to us, Muslims for a Christian to establish the Tsangaya schools, using federal governments resource, which of course is not his responsibility, but that of the local and state government”
Speaking further, Mahdi said the north and by extension the entire country is sitting on a keg of gunpowder as the consequences of not educating the poor and vulnerable children will hunt the political leaders who have made them slaves and used them for their political exploitation.
Violent crimes, armed robbery, 419, and all manner of crimes will not end soon in the country unless the Almajiris are taken off the streets to the classroom. They are waiting patiently to hunt those who have impoverished them and made them poor and vulnerable.
“Today, Jonathan is a celebrated hero because he did what many leaders could not do. If he comes out today for any reason to contest, I will use my resources to mobilize support for him because he is a perfect gentleman, honest, amiable and God fearing.
To liberate the north from poverty, Mahadi said its governors must reinvigorate the Nigerian educational system to meet international standards and make the Tsangaya system work as intended by Goodluck Johnathan to address the issues of violent crimes in the country.
The governments at all levels should make genuine efforts to eradicate poverty in the villages, improve the income of the rural dwellers and economically empower people to take care of their children. Government must provide adequate and effective infrastructures and social amenities to make their lives better and easier.
