“Sanusi be careful na express you dey go…”

The great Nigerian philosopher; Alhaji Abass Akande Obesere, the Omo Rapala 1 once postulated thus:

“Egungun be careful na express you dey go, moto go jam you, e don happen, I don tell am, moto don jam am…“

In his disambiguation of this profound piece of knowledge, Alhaji Obesere explained that this saying was intended as a warning to a masquerade from its handler to curb its excesses as failure to do so would lead to its eventual ruin. The masquerade as Alhaji Obesere pointed out did not heed its handler’s warning to be careful and as a consequence of its aigboran, it was hit by a car and its handler was left to explain to the crowd of onlooking spectators that “he don happen, I don tell am, moto don jam am…”

The case of Alhaji Akande Obesere’s Egungun and its handler; the Atokun is directly relatable to the ongoing covfefe in the Kano emirate where the Egungun of Kano, sorry the Emir of Kano; His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has just been dethroned by his Atokun; the dollar stuffing, babariga wearing Governor of Kano State; Umar Ganduje.

On different occasions where Sanusi’s Egungun veered towards the road, his Atokun was always quick to warn him “Sanusi be careful na express you dey go” motor go jam you… ” but did he listen? Baa mukutum, Ina gaskiya kaza kaza mutumin walahi metu mu bashi ne! He embarked on a jamboric display of his own making, dancing to music only he could hear. Flaunting his flamboyance, eloquence, elegance, mastery of English, deep knowledge of Economics ati be be lo all of which are haram to the average northerner. Like how dare he? Egungun lasan lasan?? How dare he speak truth to power??? How dare he keep their sweet lies and speak the bitter truth????

Imagine Sanusi’s Egungun saying that Northerners should not marry children, that they should not marry more than one wife, that they should send their children to school ??? Ha! Astaghfirullah! Eewo! In fact don’t imagine, read it here for yourself.

Or that the North does not need Saudi Arabia or Iran to explain Islam to them. Oro-ko-ro.

But the act that reportedly broke the Camel’s back and made Sanusi’s Atokun desert his Egungun and allow him enter road was the one where he said 80% of Nigeria’s poverty is caused by the North, that the north is holding Nigeria back, and that northern leaders are practically useless. Ha! The Atokun was finally tired of his Egungun’s excesses.

In the official statement released to the press following the dethronement and banishment of Sanusi’s Egungun, Governor Ganduje through the secretary to the state government Usman Alhaji stated that:

“The Emir of Kano is in total disrespect to lawful instructions from the office of the state Governor and other lawful authorities, including his persistent refusal to attend official meetings and programmes organised by the Government without any lawful justification which amount to total insubordination.”

In other words, his Atokun was telling the gathered public that “e Don happen, I Don tell am, motor Don jam am”…  

In the aftermath of the jamming of Sanusi’s Egungun and as we pray for its quick recovery, let me gently remind us that speaking truth to authority, to the powers that be still remains a suicide mission in Nigeria. But should that deter our Egungun from speaking truth to power even with the threat of motor jamming hovering always above its head? I think not.

And on this note, I leave you with the words of Baba Iyabo, the celebrated Ebora of Owu to Sanusi’s Egungun in the aftermath of its motor jamming:

“It is sad because it was undeserved. It is good because you have paid the price.”

Egungun be careful, na express you dey go…

Shalom.