People who say Phantom
Crescent is controversial should await more controversial
books –Mallam Shehu Sani
By SEGUN AJAYI
Tuesday,
December 4, 2007
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•Sani
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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Cool, calm and collected, Mallam Shehu Sani’s demeanor
bellies his credentials as a writer, social critic and civil
rights activist. The satirist, whose latest play, Phantom
Crescent sparked-off controversy lately, told Daily
Sun that he is not a fictional writer. Having been
in and out of prison many times, one therefore appreciates
his commitment to writings that educate and enlighten the
downtrodden people. Sani who has also authored other books
including Political Assasinations in Nigeria, speaks on his
mission, his latest work, and why he is unintimidated by the
recent ban on his play.
The Book
The Phantom Crescent is a ventilation of the socio-economic
and political atmosphere in my part of the country which is
the up-north. For the past eight years, the zone has proved
contrary to the dictates of democracy. It can be recalled
that in the past eight years, since Sharia law was launched
in Zamfara State; the law which was something unusual, have
produced quite a number of events, one of which is the slow
erosion of the fundamental rights of the citizens.
As a writer, I felt that we can use Literature; specifically,
a stage play to educate, enlighten and conscientize the citizens
of that part of the country, and how they can defend their
fundamental human rights. The fact remains that this is democracy
and people must have a right, and freedom to express their
views on issues. The democracy, we are enjoying today came
with a prize. There were people who fought for it; sacrificed
their lives for it.
There were people whose liberties were denied of them; all
for democracy to be entrenched. It is unusual for people like
me who was part of the struggle to simply fold our arms and
behave as if we never invested anything in the stuggle. Now,
for a system to determine for us, what we can say and what
we cannot say, it is a disservice to literature itself. Literature
should be in the interest of the people, so that my people
in the northern part of Nigeria can be better enlightened;
educated on when their rights are trampled upon and how they
can rise to defend such rights. So, the play is not about
controversy, it is simply a stage performance to educate the
people.
Threats to life
Well, we have been through all these things before; during
the Babangida and Abacha era, even under the present democracy.
I have been in and out of jail. I have been arrested and persecuted
and suffered abuses. Well, if some people think that they
can silence us by simply raising emotions by misinterpreting
what we’re saying, they are wasting their time.
We are only saying very clearly that we’re in democracy
and people must have fundamental rights to express their opinions.
I was in no way threatened by what my accusers do. Afterall,
they took me to the court and I went to court too. Two issues
are in contention; one is that , I was critical of the Sharia
law, and also critical of the late Shehu Othman Dan Fodio.
Well, the fact remains that I’m critical of the Sharia
code. I am saying that you cannot amputate the hand of a cattle
seller and call the looting of public funds a breach of thrust.
And what I’ve said in my book was that, Shehu Othman
Dan Fodio was not a Sultan nor an Emir, neither did he advocate
any Sultanate or Emirate. People who make such claims are
simply distorting history. I also raised the question that,
why has the aristocracy in the northern part of Nigeria continued
to suppress the literatures of Shehu Othman Dan Fodio? Othman
Dan Fodio, called himself an apostle. Again, they said that
the Sharia is going to address all the socio-political, and
economic problems in the north. Yet, that has not been achieved.
Rather, what we have seen is favouritism, nepotism and people
shielding themselves through the sensitivity of religion.
We have seen a clear case in which religious clerics were
simply manipulating religion and situations in which people
were being encouraged to be fatalistic about their live. They
even cajoled them not to fight against injustice. As far as
I am concerned, Phantom Crescent is a light that should be
beamed on a people who have decided to put themselves in darkness.
Message
My writings are meant to enlighten. Those people who make
it controversial are only threatened by the fact that their
powers and influences are being undermined by the realities
of my play. What I am saying is that, there must be a way
by which people can unveil themselves to the truth. The best
way to do that is to educate them and I felt that a literature
like this does that.
Some people have misinterpreted my message, but what I am
saying is very clear: if there is going to be any uprising
that is justifiable, it should be the ordinary people on the
street, rising up against those who are using religion to
misinform them. Since Nigeria got its independence more than
forty years ago, the northerners had held power more than
any other part of the country, yet, nothing has been done
to alleviate the socio-economic well-being of the people.
Our industries in Kano and in Kaduna have closed down, and
these were as a result of years of waste and corruption for
which the northern political elites have supported the military
rulers of the past. So, we hope that with the coming of Umar
Musa Yar’Adua; someone that has a different pedigree
from the former rulers, there might be a change. One thing
that is clear is that I’m not going to follow the crowd.
My book is about reality.
Self-Censorship
Some people have even suggested to me that, I should expunge
certain parts of the book so that I would be able to stage
it. But I’ve not written about Cleo Patra and Anthony;
rather, I’m writing about a rededication to the enlightenment
of our people. What I am saying is that, people are being
deceived with the use of religion and that must stop.
Banned
The book has been banned by the Sharia Court. But we were
in court to appeal against the ruling and as far as the judge
is concerned, he has washed-off his hands off the case; that
he has no jurisdiction. The plaintiff have also filed their
appeal.
Circulation
The book is not in circulation because of the order of the
Sharia court which restrained me from staging the play. We
will pursue the matter to the supreme court if necessary.
Mission
Unfortunately, I am not a fictional writer. I write to enlighten
and educate my people.
Inspiration
I developed interest in writing when I was a political prisoner
during the Abacha years. Because there was nothing to do,
I learnt to write on mosquito coil papers, tissue papers.
I’ve written quite a number of books. People who say
that Phantom Crescent is controversial should wait for more
controversial books.
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