The punning ranting of Makosa - by Saka Raji Audu

Ordinarily, one would not have bothered to respond to the idiotic article authored by one Muhammad Bala Makosa, which appeared in the September 29th – October 6th edition of the notorious dry newspaper called Desert. But for the belated and misguided piece of Makosa under the title, "Ibrahim Khalil: Another Dubious Malam for Kanawa"

I am aware that due to the rottenness and fakeness of the dryness in the moribund Desert, people do not know the existence of such junk paper. So, what is more of the people caring to read it? For me, I always endeavour to dash Tukur Mamu, the Publisher and Editor-in-Thief of that weekly junk the sum of two hundred naira every week. This is meant to assist me get some facts about the paper's contents and idiosyncrasies so that I would be in position to debunk and indeed confirm to the people that the paper contains nothing but a bunch of wicked lies packaged by novices in journalism.

Before I delve into Makosa's defamation of character against Malam Ibrahim Khalil, it is pertinent to point out here that I have had the cause to read some of the previous punning ranting of Muhammad Bala Makosa in the Desert and my discovery about him is that most of his writings are bereft of good communication skills and short fall of compendium of facts. Taking after his benefactor, Tukur Mamu, Makosa is also another dubious writer hired by his boss to help him in fermenting lies and fiction, not minding his language deficiency syndrome. After all, it is often said that birds of a feather flock together.

It would interest Makosa and Mamu to note that I have previously responded to their dubious fictitious publications, which are promoted by their junk paper. Their publications are dubious because they are deceits and outright crucifixion of truth. All such responses were published in reputable widely read newspapers and online publications. However, I do not know whether or not Muhammad Bala Makosa and his boss had the courage to read some of these recent articles such as "the tragedy of junk journalism in Nigeria", "As Desert Herald battles Kano Pensioners". "Desert Herald, a newspaper at war with journalism", "Appraisal of people's freedom under Shekarau's administration", etc. These publications succinctly unraveled the hypocrisy, dryness, sponsors and junk of the paper they referred to as Desert Herald. Indeed, if Makosa and Mamu had cared to read these articles and have conscience, they would have run into hiding and covered their face with shame. This is just by the way side.

Let's now come to the issue of Makosa's dubious piece which he published in his junk paper of September 29- October 6th on page 44. After going through it, one does not see in any part of his nuisance write-up that warranted him referring to an Islamic scholar, Malam Ibrahim Khalil as being 'dubious Malam'. Because of their ignorance of journalism, Makosa and Mamu do not know that the essence of any publication is to educate and convince readers on a rational course of action. This however could only be successfully done by writers that use facts, and not fiction as weapon.

In democracy, any body from the age of 18 years has the right to vote and be voted for. A man can therefore leave his hamlet to occupy Aso Rock Villa in Abuja as President of the country if the people so wish. It therefore, beats any person's imagination that Muhammad Bala Makosa is referring to Malam Ibrahim Khalil as 'dubious Malam' simply because, he heard that the man, "would contest for gubernatorial seat come 2011, and therefore, he's Shekarau's candidate."

Makosa myopically went further in his belated piece to say that "I am finally convinced when last week close to Sallah break; I saw his posters everywhere in Kano city, in which some people are calling him to contest for governorship." So, when has mere expression of people's wish for a man they adore and respect becomes "dubious" in the parlance of Makosa? If one goes by this wrong assertion of Makosa, can one then be right to say that every office seeking politician is 'dubious?' This is because; the posters of every politician also dots prominent cities of the country preparing for 2011 election contest. Methinks Makosa should have made use of his brain when looking at issues.

Still, why did Makosa base his conclusion about Malam Ibrahim Khalil on hearsay? As arm-chair journalist that is only useful to Desert, has he endeavoured to meet Malam Ibrahim Khalil and ask him of his political ambition? Has Makosa met Malam (Dr) Ibrahim Shekarau to verify with him whether Ibrahim Khalil is his candidate? Where was Makosa when Governor Shekarau spoke to the press about the rumour being peddled around that Khalil is his candidate? Has he not heard that Governor Shekarau has not confirmed such story? If Makosa knows Malam Ibrahim Khalil very well to the extent of his unwarranted assault on him, can he give a detail profile of the man to justify his accusation of the man's 'dubiousness?' Why do Makosa and his nauseating boss believe that 'popularity' can only be derived from disparaging men of integrity, especially from the northern Nigeria?

I want to believe that Makosa's piece is an expression of his personal hatred carried too far on somebody he may not truly know. It is not enough to blackmail somebody simply because a group of his admirers had expressed their wish for him to come out as their governor in the next political dispensation. What clear and convincing evidence that Makosa can present before any court of law that Malam Khalil or any other person of his hate is 'dubious?'

In any case, I do not blame Makosa for dancing on pen and paper as Makosa is a Cameroonian dance. He can only offer reasonable things with his dancing legs, not intellectual brain. Let it be known to Makosa that if Malam Khalil finally makes up his mind on the conviction of his admirers, nothing holds him back like any other interested person from the contest. This is a democratic period in the land that permits any eligible Nigerian to vie for any post of his or her choice and in any party of his or her wish. Did it not occur to Makosa that it is because Malam (Dr) Ibrahim Shekarau has credible record to pull crowd that would be contestants in Kano always like to associate themselves with him for political position?

But the major reason is service. So, if any body is willing to serve the people in any capacity, his request will be granted only through people's votes. Therefore, making much ado about a man who has not even declared his interest is a waste of Makosa's unworthy knowledge.

Most successful great men are often being envied by the lazy and never do well in the society. This is why Makosa in his sensible nonsense tries to discredit the person of Malam (Dr) Ibrahim Shekarau. If Makosa has nothing to write about Shekarau, it is advisable for him to look for a better thing to do rather than expressing Mamu's and his own envy and jealousy on the people's successful leader. If he does not see any thing good in Malam (Dr) Ibrahim Shekarau, he should know that the likes of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Dora Akunyili, Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), ICPC Chairman, retired Justice Emmanuel Ayoola and even the former President Obasanjo, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera had at one time or the other appraised and rewarded Governor Shekarau of Kano State for his vision and mission.

It should therefore be placed on record that perhaps, if there is any body that is deceitful, dubious and fake as espoused by Makosa piece, it is no one else but Tukur Mamu and Muhammad Bala Makosa himself who have been using their junk paper to commit cardinal errors in journalism. This is one strong reason why the moribund Desert Herald is being deserted by the people and hardly has it received patronage from both the public and private sectors in terms of advert placement except that certain foreign organisation sponsors them to destroy their fellow brothers in the northern part of Nigeria through false, malicious and fictitious publications.

Saka Raji Audu writes from Kano and can be reached on his email: [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it