Buhari Laments Condition of poor Nigerians, Almajiris situation makes Me uncomfortable

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday night, lamented the high level of poverty in the country at present and the inability of the elite to address the education needs of the less privileged in the society, saying the situation makes him uncomfortable.

President Muhammadu Buhari speaking during the breaking of Ramadan fast with members of the federal executive council, service chiefs and heads of MDGs at the Presidential Banquet hall State House, Monday night in Abuja. 

Nigeria can’t ban imports amid poverty and hunger The president’s statement drew the immediate reaction of socio-cultural and political  groups, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere and Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, VAM News which challenged his government to lift Nigerians out of poverty. 

The president expressed his displeasure on the nation’s poverty rate when he played host to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, ministers, service chiefs, heads of security agencies and chief executives of Federal Government agencies and institutions to a breaking of fast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He noted that too many people were running around unable to find something to eat, and challenged the elite to do something very urgent to ameliorate the pathetic situation. 

The president said already, the Federal Government had introduced people friendly programmes, such as the School Feeding and ‘Trader Money’, to alleviate the hardship being faced by the less-privileged in the country. He, therefore, commended the vice-president for successfully managing the school feeding and ‘trader money’ programmes Buhari said:  “When I drive around the country, what upsets me very much is the status of our poor people in this country. You see young people, the so-called Almajiris with torn dresses, with plastic bowl looking basically for what to eat. “The question of education (to them) is a luxury. I think we, the Nigerian elite, are all failing because I think we should have a programme that will at least guarantee some basic education for our people no matter how poor they are. 

“So, I welcome the vice-president’s initiative of the school feeding programme. If you check in your localities, the enrolment into schools improved because a lot of children can get at least one good meal a day. This is the position of this country. “But, culturally some of us are quiet merciless, we don’t care about what happens to others, we just keep on moving. Speaking at the event, Vice-President Osinbajo thanked the President for inviting them, both Muslims and Christians, to the breaking of fast with him. He said regardless of ethnic and religious affiliations, Nigerians must continue to be their brothers’ keepers and work towards building a united nation. 

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Director-General of Nigerian Television Authority, Alhaji Yakubu Ibn Muhammed, and Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Abdullahi Mukhtar, were among the dignitaries at the event. 

President should match words with action—Ohanaeze Reacting to the president’s statement, Ohanaeze Ndigbo said the government had not shown seriousness that it was concerned about the high poverty rate in the country. The apex Igbo body in a statement signed by Media and Publicity Adviser to the President-General, Chief Emeka Attama,  said talk is cheap and urged President Buhari to match his words with action. The group stated:  “He (President Buhari) is not serious about addressing the issue of poverty and the state of insecurity in the country. “There is no way people cannot be poor when their sources of wealth have been destroyed by insecurity; when there is high level of unemployment and per capital income is very low. All these are integrated and no one can stand in isolation of the other.” 

It’s nauseating Buhari is just knowing about poverty he plunged Nigerians— PANDEF In its reaction, PAN-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, said it was terrible that it took President Buhari so long to recognise and admit the new poverty level his government has plunged Nigeria. 

The group, which spoke through its National Secretary, Dr. Alfred Mulade, said:  “We have always said that the kind of poverty and frustration in the land is enormous. We remember when World Poverty Clock classified Nigeria as the capital of poverty in the world, many people, particularly those in the Buhari government, refused to admit the naked fact. “It is only what you believe, you find solutions to, the primary purpose of every government is to provide security, and then welfare.Today, there is massive poverty in the land, fuelled by anti-people policies of government.” 

Address social system that produces Almajiris —Afenifere Also reacting, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, said the social system that produces Almajiris must be addressed. Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said: “It must be the rule of banditry in the North now that is bringing the lesson home. The Almajiri issue has been a product of a social system, which has not been addressed over the years, in spite of the fact that the North has ruled for more years than the rest of the country. “In fact, the Almajiris have been used as a demography that can be herded like cows during elections to go in a particular direction. “Until we talk about the social system that produces Almajiris, any lamentation about their plight doesn’t mean much.’’ 

Understanding Almajiri; past, present and future. : VAM. In his reaction,

Concept of the Almajii education. 

The basis for the al-Majiri system of education is entrenched in the Islamic tradition of prioritising knowledge over any other things admired by the believers. As such, it is believed that once a person is knowledgeable any other things he wishes to acquire in life become easier. That is why many Muslim scholars left the comfort of their homes and places of birth to other parts of the world in search of knowledge. They put themselves in such disquieting situationsin order to benefit themselves, their immediate community and humanity as a whole. This assertion is apparent in the meaning of the word al-Majiri, which is a derivative of the Arabic terminology al-Muhajir (the traveller or migrant).The expression is customarily used in depicting someone who migrates for a precious purpose- The Almajiri Child: Who will speak for us ? -ACRI

https://www.voiceairmedia.com/2019/04/the-almajiri-child-who-will-speak-for.html

Al-Majiri

The Al-Majiri System in Recent Times

Unlike pre-colonial Nigeria, when the al-Majiri system of education flourished and recorded exceptional accomplishment in literacy and social services, the system is today faced with a myriad of challenges with glaring abnormalities. Since the live wires that used to be sources of funding and morale booster for the scheme have been cut, the proprietors of Makaranta Alo (local Madrasah) and their pupils were left “to whom it may concern”. Findings revealed that 6 out of 10 of the al-Majiri pupils never find their way back home. 

Many lose their lives through street violence, ritual killing, kidnapping, disease and hunger. Those who are able to survive the harsh condition they are subjected to exhaust most of the profitable hours of learning on the streets in the name of eking out a living, while majority of them eventually drop out in the long run. Instead of being brought up, they grow up like wild grass and lose out on all grounds; educationally, morally and, above all, religiously. It is on record that the current insurgency in Nigeria and neighbouring countries handily recruit their foot soldiers from the al-Majiri schools after brainwashing them that the Western system of education is a sin. Through this loophole, the future workforce of the nation that is supposed to man various sectors of the economy slowly but steadily and gullibly wastes away. Those who prefer a “dignified” means of livelihood among them end up as maigadi (security guards), housekeepers, bus drivers, conductors, etc. The lazy ones who are comfortable with the life on the street continue to beg throughout their lives. The luxury loving ones usually end up as political yobbos and live on handouts from unscrupulous politicians. One mayargue that it is inconceivable to expect that everybody would be at the helm. 

From among those who are privileged to have formal education, some would be leaders, while others would be the led. In response to this, Prophet Muhammad was reported to have said in a hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah: 

A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don't say: If I had not done that, it would not have happened so and so, but say: Allah did what He had ordained to do, and “if” opens the (gate) for the Satan. 

Going by the spirit of the above hadith, Islam discourages the believers from condemning themselves to the low ebb of affairs right from the onset. One has to aim high and work towards achieving his goals. But if after exerting all necessary efforts towards achieving one‟s lawful desires and it turns out the other way, one must succumb to destiny. 

The word, al-Majiri, which used to command respect, sympathy and solidarity, nowadays generates obnoxious feeling in the public domain. What quickly comes to the mind of many people whenever the word is uttered is the image of malnourished and destitute school age-street children, who constitute public nuisance and security threat to the society.In addition to child labour, child abuse, and a vague future, the al-Majiri pupils today are being linked to the insurgency in the country due to their vulnerability to crime. While justifying this assertion, some analysts argue that a person who solely relies on begging for survival; who is enduring instead of enjoying the preamble of his life as a result of societal negligence; and who does not know where his next meal will come from, can easily fall prey to terrorists‟ biddings through a peanut bait. As such, the al-Majiri system in its current state is akin to a societal time bomb waiting to be remotely detonated.

Buhari has worsened the poverty in the north—Arewa youths In its reaction, National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, said Buhari should take responsibility for the worsening insecurity and poverty in the north. The group, which spoke through its National President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, said Buhari cannot be exonerated from blame. He said: “He should accept responsibility for the situation in the north. He can no longer claim to be a private citizen. In the last four years, what has he done to alleviate the poverty and insecurity in the north?”

REVEALED! Why Most Almajiris don't pray- VAM News

https://www.voiceairmedia.com/2019/05/revealed-why-most-almajiris-don-pray.html