change agent needed For the Good of the Nation – Essays And Perspectives By Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; ALFA Books, Ikoyi, Lagos; 2021; 509pp

By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the past Emir of Kano, wants to be remembered as “a man who always spoke truth to power”. Sanusi’s book, For The Good Of The Nation – Essays And Perspectives, compels considerable attention.

In his Foreword to the book, Nasir el Rufai writes: “Lamido is angry about the Nigerian condition and is unsparing in his exposure of the hypocrisy of our political and economic elite in creating and sustaining this condition for their enrichment.”

Professor Pius Adesanmi, who died in the Ethiopia Air crash of 2019, penned the introduction dated May 2012 thusly: “If Sanusi takes no prisoners in his critique of Northern society, understandings of Islam, and Northern political elite, do not expect him to take prisoners in his critique of Yoruba and Igbo societies and their respective political leaders and structures.”

According to Sanusi, “the Igbo were the prime movers of the first successful military mutiny which eliminated the political leaders and senior officers of the North and West while letting off those of the East.” He further states: “The Northern Bourgeoisie and the Yoruba Bourgeoisie have conspired to keep the Igbo out of the scheme of things.”

Sanusi’s litany of charges on the Yoruba runs thus: “The Yoruba elite was the first, in 1962, to attempt a violent overthrow of an elected government in this country. In 1966, it was the violence in the West that provided the avenue for the putsch of January 15. After Chief Awolowo lost to Shagari in the 1983 elections, it was the discontent and bad publicity in the South-West which led to the Buhari intervention. When Buhari jailed UPN Governors like Ige and Onabanjo, the South-Western press castigated that essentially good government and provided the right mood for IBB to take over power.”

As CBN Governor, Sanusi appointed seven female directors, even as only four women had ever been appointed directors in the 50 years of the existence of the apex bank.

Change agents like Sanusi are needed from all sections of Nigeria, especially the conservative North, “to bring together good Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Ogoni and Angas men, and women; good Christians and Muslims; to run the affairs of this country…”

Uzor Maxim Uzoatu is a renowned poet, journalist, and author.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.