(63): Kano’s Sodomy Case and its Flawed Resolution
Muhsin
Ibrahim
@muhsin234
Some troubled parents in
Kano, a few weeks ago, complained that their sons were sexually defiled by some
unknown perverts at their boarding school, the famous Hassan Ibrahim Gwarzo
College, Kano. The case soon became a sensation, for, among other reasons, that
was least expected from a school known for its regimentation and Islamic teaching
to its separated male and female students. The state government promptly ordered
the closure of the (male) section and set up a committee to look into what exactly
happened. Following an unsettling delay, the report was, last week, finally
released. The delay was allegedly caused by some big shots in the state who did
not want it released.
No doubt what happened in
the College is appalling and deserves the government's drastic action to unearth
and punish whosoever is found wanting and guilty. The government was generally
hailed for the way and manner it handled the case, though before its final,
however inconclusive, resolve to relocate the affected graduating (i.e. SSS 3)
students to sit for their exams conducted by the West African Examination
Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) to other schools. I am,
for once, puzzled beyond wording.
As I mentioned earlier,
the report is still inconclusive, hence there is only sketchy information on
the overall recommendation made by the committee. I however heard on Freedom
Radio, Kano “Inda Ranka” program of Thursday 24th December, 2015
that the
government had paid forty
million naira (N40m) as exam fees for the 70 final year students relocated
to Andal Science Academy, Kano; Turkish International School, Kano; and Akilu
College, Kano. This amount is by all accounts very staggering. This is more
than half a million naira per head. Is it for GMAT that perhaps requires them
to travel to the UK or what? No.
Lest you don't grasp
the situation, Kano state government has been screaming that it doesn't have
money, hence its serious need for loan and the increase of the Internally
Generated Revenue (IGR). Some portions of the loan was already collected, while
the procurement of the IGR is about to kick off and other several austerity
measures are being considered. Yet, the government disbursed those monies for handful
elite's sons. To say this is a misplacement of priorities is understatement.
It's a squander. I have however got some questions and suggestions for the
state.
First, why was it the
government’s liability to pay for their examinations? Ordinarily, the government
pays only for the students of its schools, but never a private one. It used to
be for both WAEC and NECO, but that too was reduced to only one exam: WAEC.
Second, why wouldn’t the school as a profit-making business venture pay? To save money and avoid any backlash like this
one, the government could, in fact should, have quietly transferred them to
one/some of its numerous schools. If public school is not ‘befitting’ for them
as kids with silver spoons, there are several private ones far less costly than
Andal, Turkish and Akilu colleges.
I am all the more
bemused by our almost collective silence on the issue. Nowadays students in
tertiary institutions in the state are resorting to begging on radio stations to
pay for their tuition fees. They lamented that they thought the education was
free as declared by the previous government. Others who cannot do that will have
to give up on their aspiration to study, and perhaps end up as thugs,
prostitutes, hawkers and so on. Are these not Kano indigenes or what? They
deserve the same or similar pampering treatment, but they do, and will, not,
get.
I thus call on whoever,
please, can assist to forward my (our) fears and prayers to the appropriate
authority to reconsider that decision. We praise the government's effort to
address and dress the sickening issue, but the financial ‘sidekick’ is
undeserving, in fact uncalled-for. Thanks.
God bless Nigeria, God
bless Kano State, amin.
Ameen ameen
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