Economic Confidential, April, 2009

FEATURES

The North persistent poverty

By Kabiru Danladi Lawanti,

There is no time in the nation’s history that we need a working social security system like this time, especially in Northern Nigeria, where begging, almajirci, maula or what is popularly referred to as kafanka jarin ka in places like Gombe and some states in the North-East of Nigeria became part of our culture. Nothing disgraces one as a Northerner or a Muslim travelling with a Southern Christian friend, to be faced with a young boy that is supposed to be under the full care of his mother, but is sent away to a distant place in the name of acquiring Islamic education. What a pity. I was discussing with a friend last week who is leaving in Iran, an Islamic country, where he told me that what really fascinates him about life in that country was its social order. Despite being under several US and European sanctions, the leaders in Iran were able to maintain a social and political order in that country.

Several efforts were put forward by some NGOs and CLOs in the country to reform the almajiri system so that it will conform to modern challenges, however to no avail. In fact, it has even worsened the situation. This is partly due to two reasons; one is the failure of governments at all level to drive social welfare programmes that will accommodate poor and disadvantaged families and second is the attitude of our people who are always reluctant to accept changes. I quite disagree with people who suggest that the persistent poverty in the North is caused by ignorance or illiteracy, we have enough educated people and informed society that can be able to stand on its own in terms of economic independence, but our leaders are too selfish to utilise that.

We have a culture, a religion, social and political heritage that provides answer to all our social and economic problems; however we are not finding the solutions from there. Islam has an organised social security and solidarity incomparable to any, obtained in this modern world. Not all will accept that, but if the social security system we have in place failed to take care of our poor, destitute and the old in our society why can’t we go back to the Islamic system? Islam has an established social security system through zakat (which is an obligatory charity), donations, religious endowments, expiation, and vows etc.  to enable man to lead a decent life.

However, today Muslims in Northern Nigeria found themseves in a dilemma of managing their society in a fast and changing world, not because their religion did not offer them solution but just because they left it to grab ideas built on the basis of greed and materialism. God says in the Holy Quran what means: “Behold, ye are those invited to spend (of your substance) in the Way of Allah: but among you are some that are niggardly. But any who are niggardly are so at the expense of their own souls. But Allah is free of all wants, and it is ye that are needy. If ye turn back (from the Path), He will substitute in your stead another people; then they would not be like you”(38:47).

Islam obliges a Muslim to help the poor ; even if obligatory charity (Zakat) and (voluntary) charity are not adequate, subsistence available should be common to all the members of society, as God says in the Holy Quran what means: “… Thus, it will not remain monopolized by the rich among you” (59:7).

Leading a decent life is one of the fundamental human rights guaranteed by Islam 14 centuries ago which unlike the one introduced by the West, which started 2 centuries ago, is not a result of human experiences gained through development of the political and economic systems but on the basis that we are not created equal, so we must help each other. Islam stresses the importance of justice by leaders and ensuring a social security and solidarity. The Prophet (PBUH) warned leaders against injustice when he said in an authentic hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (R) that “Whenever he whom God, exalted be He, made a president of some people dies, while he is unjust to his people, God would deprive him from going to Paradise.”

So our understanding of the religion makes us to know that in Islam the final goal of humanity is God. From Him we come, for Him we live and to Him we shall all return. In fact, the sole purpose of creation as described by the Qur’an is to worship God and serve His cause, the cause of truth and justice, of love and mercy, of brotherhood and morality. Until and unless we understand this well, we will continue seeing the deprivation, abject poverty and decay in our social structure. Nobody is advocating for the establishment of shari’ah in Nigeria, which is so politicised that it has lost its flavour and substance. To be frank, if an Islamic social security and solidarity can be established in for instance Kano, Zamfara, Bauchi etc. instead of the so-called shari’ah established in these states we will have a situation where even non-muslims will be migrating to these states to taste the justice which the system offers.

For me we can do a lot of good to ourselves if we revert to the Islamic way of social security and solidarity, which in reality is the foundation upon which the shari’ah system is built. In Islam the role of the individual is complementary to that of society. Between the two there are social solidarity and mutual responsibility. The system makes the individual responsible for the common welfare and prosperity of his society. This responsibility is not only to the society but to God, therefore he feels a sense of commitment to his creator which will make him work with a sound social-mindedness and genuine feelings of inescapable responsibility.

On the other hand the society does the same to the individual, thus the society provides security and care, should the individual becomes disabled or old. The concept of one dominating the other therefore does not arise. There is no state to dominate the individual and abrogate his personal entity. Likewise, there is no individual or class of individuals to exploit the society and corrupt the state. There is harmony with peace and mutual security. There is a constructive interaction between the individual and society. This is something that we should start thinking about and base our argument on that, although too idealistic but since it has happened in history I believe we can revive it and do it in order to address the social and economic problems we find ourselves in.

Kabiru Danladi Lawanti,

Area 11, Garki,

Abuja.