Breeze of reconciliation is gradually blowing in Nigeria

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It is time to say that breeze of reconciliation is gradually blowing, if the ceremonious breaking of fast is anything to go by.

President ?Goodluck Jonathan has in the past few weeks broken his fast with political allies, senior Muslim government officials ?and prominent Islamic leaders in the country. The Ramadan fast ends on Sunday.

Most unexpected was the breaking of fast with the former Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who is now the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The duo after having a running row for months now, over the allegation by the former CBN boss that some $49.8 billion oil revenue was not remitted to the national treasury, finally met at iftar, the breaking of fast the president holds annually, at his official residence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

What better way to break a fast than to mend fences or bring seeming enemies closer or better put to reconcile two warring factions.

While it is not out of place for the Emir of Kano to come visiting the President, it is now common knowledge that the former CBN governor and the President no longer shared a cordial relationship.

?Their stand-off had began in February when the President suspended Sanusi from his position as CBN Governor over alleged ?acts of financial recklessness and misconduct.?

His suspension was announced four months to the end of his tenure while he was away on an official assignment in Niger Republic.

?A statement by the president?s spokesman, Reuben Abati ordered Mr. Sanusi to hand over to the most senior deputy governor of the CBN, Sarah Alade, who acted until a substantive governor was appointed.

The statement had also said that the president was concerned about far-reaching irregularities under Sanusi, which had distracted the Bank from its pursuit and achievement of its mandatory.

Sanusi had in turn accused the quarters above of victimising him, based on his work and that he had no regrets but was proud of his achievements since his assumption of office as the CBN helmsman in 2009.

?We all know what this is about, this is about consequences for the steps that I have taken, and this is something that was long overdue. I am surprised that it took them so long,? the former Governor had told an international news agency.

Sanusi who had blown the whistle on the $49.8 billion oil revenue had subsequently modified the figure on two other occasions.

The ensuing bad blood between the two led to Sanusi’s suspension from office in February and the latter instituting a suit against the federal government to challenge his suspension. The case was yet to be decided when Sanusi emerged the Emir of Kano in May. The monarch recently ordered the withdrawal of the case from court.

Also recall the drama that followed the announcement of Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano, taking over from the late Ado Bayero. Some leaders of the opposition, All Progressive Congress had congregated in Kano to support one of their own. Shortly after being declared the Emir, a riot broke out and this, the opposition had credited to have been on orders from above.

?Unconfirmed reports had said the monarch who had been lodged by the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso after being denied entry into the palace, had reached out and tendered an apology to the President, and was then allowed access to his officail residence as an Emir.

The new emir who was earlier prevented from gaining entry into the palace by security officials who were allegedly acting on instructions from Abuja, had finally moved in on the 13th of June.

It was however shocking to see the Emir of Kano who was in the company of some other emirs at the Villa to break the Ramadan fast with the president .

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, led other emirs for the breaking of the fast.

The former CBN governor was however at the forefront of a special prayer for the peace of the country. The country, is currently facing the scourge of terrorism, especially in the North.

While shaking hands with the Emirs, the President’s face betrayed no form of emotions whatsoever, as many had expected. Not like friends or foe, but more like acquaintances, and not like those with any grudge towards each other.

In the past weeks we have also seen this camaraderie between the President and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Now is it the ongoing fasting and prayers, that is mostly for the return of peace to the nation? Or is this true to the saying that in politics there are only permanent interests and not enemies? What ever it is, more will be heard as time goes on.

One cannot also help but ask if the Emir is no longer loyal to the APC, whose leaders supported him through his rough days with the President to ensure that he emerged Emir.

If the prayers are really working, then we look forward to more reconciliation, of even those who constantly trouble the waters of the country, those who delight in bombing different parts of the country.

Speaking of reconciliation, the President finally met with parents of the abducted Chibok girls and some of the girls who escaped from their captors.
This was after a botched meeting which he described as politicization of the bring back our girls campaign.
It was awkward when after a meeting has been scheduled between the President and the parentsof the abducted girls, the former takes off without informing the latter. However the parents later explained that they had to go decide who will attend the meeting.

The meeting which Abati told journalists was an interactive session, where the parents and the girls who escaped had the opportunity of pouring out their minds to the President was long overdue. Just maybe this has given the parents a renewed hope, that the government may after all be able deliver on their promise of bringing the girls home safely.

As we round off the Ramadan period, may peace return to our country and may our prayers be answered.

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