Hamdiyya Sidi: A baseless attack on Col. Dangiwa Umar’s towering legacy
Hamdiyya Sidi: A baseless attack on Col. Dangiwa Umar’s towering legacy
The recently published article by Abubakar Rufai on Blueprint newspaper, dripping with unrestrained vitriol and tasteless invective, is a brazen attempt to malign one of Nigeria’s most respected elder statesmen, Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd.). His article is not just an unwarranted personal attack; it is an egregious misadventure in character assassination, laced with sycophantic undertones to please a governor.
Colonel Umar, a retired officer of impeccable integrity and a former military governor of Kaduna state, is widely celebrated for his principled stance on issues of national importance. From his unwavering commitment to justice and fairness to his sharp critiques of misrule, Umar has consistently stood above the mediocrity of our political landscape. To attempt to diminish his towering reputation with unsubstantiated allegations and disrespectful language is both laughable and pitiable.
It is glaringly obvious that Rufai’s pen was wielded to serve a narrow political agenda, a hatchet job aimed at shielding a governor. Rather than address the substance of Umar’s critique of the Sokoto administration, Rufai’s article resorts to cheap insults and name-calling—a hallmark of intellectual bankruptcy.
What is even more troubling is the insinuation that speaking truth to power is somehow a crime. In a democracy, constructive criticism is essential for progress. Colonel Umar’s interventions are rooted in his genuine concern for Nigeria’s future, particularly the alarming decline of governance. If anything, Rufai should channel his energy into advising the governor to embrace the truth rather than launching baseless diatribes against an elder statesman.
Furthermore, Rufai’s writing is a disservice to public discourse. By prioritising personal attacks over evidence-based rebuttals, he undermines the intellectual rigor required to engage with Umar’s critique. His approach exemplifies the toxic culture of sycophancy that has eroded the quality of leadership in our country. Leaders surrounded by cheerleaders like Rufai are doomed to repeat their failures because they are shielded from the truth.
Colonel Umar’s critique of the Sokoto governor is not an isolated opinion; it reflects the frustrations of millions of Nigerians who are fed up with poor governance. Instead of addressing these frustrations, Rufai’s article attempts to divert attention from the inadequacies by attacking a respected figure whose contributions to nation-building remain unmatched.
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To Abubakar Rufai and his ilk, let this be a clear message: Nigerians are no longer swayed by empty rhetoric or blind loyalty. The days of using the media as a tool for propaganda are over. The focus must shift to delivering good governance, addressing insecurity, and uplifting the lives of ordinary citizens. These are the benchmarks by which leaders are judged, not by how well their surrogates can malign critics.
As for Colonel Umar, his legacy speaks for itself. His courage, integrity, and commitment to justice remain a shining example in a country desperate for principled leadership. No amount of mudslinging can tarnish his reputation. Abubakar Rufai’s article, rather than achieving its intended purpose, has only exposed the desperation of those who fear the truth and lack the competence to engage with it constructively.
In the end, history will judge leaders by their actions, not by the sycophancy of their apologists. The Sokoto governor has an opportunity heed the advice of seasoned patriots like Col. Umar. Whether he seizes is entirely up to him.
For now, however, Nigerians will remain steadfast in calling out poor governance and defending those who stand for truth, justice, and progress.
Aliyu Musa writes from Kaduna
