The David who ‘slew’ Goliath in Borno
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- Category: Philosofaith
- Written by Aisha Umar-Yusuf
- Hits: 682
Ever since the announcement that a certain senatorial candidate from Borno state had lost his bid for a seat in our esteemed higher chamber, some people just can’t stop partying. But the untold story of this major upset is even more amazing than the fact that some are still celebrating it. The news from Maiduguri is that this powerful, larger-than-life senatorial candidate was beaten by an unknown and not at all formidable opponent.
Impeccable Maiduguri-based sources told this columnist that when some months ago, members of the party to which the victorious senator belong came together to decide who will run for that senatorial seat, at their party primaries, none of the big shots nominated agreed to give it a try. Their reason was that Larger-than-life Candidate was unbeatable. Party stalwarts did all they could but these nominees wouldn’t budge. It will be a waste of time, money and resources, they reasoned, to join a losing race.But while the big-shots argued with their party leaders, a meek voice from among the crowd offered itself. A party member had decided that rather than their big party not offering anyone due to their fear of losing, it is better they offer someone who could be beaten anyway. Other party members agreed and Mr. Courageous meek voice ended up the party’s candidate.
Report has it that the man wasn’t always this meek. An engineer by training and a seasoned civil servant, Mr. Courage was just the victim of a personal misfortune which affected him physically. A motor accident some years ago had seen him confined to a wheel chair. At the time he offered himself for the senate he had graduated from the wheelchair to a pair of crutches. He was obviously no match for Mr. Larger-than-life of the opposition party. He was reported to have said he had little to lose if he lost the bid because he was not a party big shot for whom the loss will be an ego issue.
With this clear mindset Mr. Courage ran for senate. April 9th saw voters trooping from his senatorial district to vote him in. Somewhere heavenwards a divine vote was already cast in his favour. So against all odds, Mr. Courage beat his opponent roundly. Mr Larger- than- life had the status, the money, the connections and other advantages such as incumbency powers, but his opponent had a simple divine decree to back him up. ‘Kun fa ya Kuun’ says the Holy Qur’an, and the rest is history.
When I heard this story, I immediately remembered the song my Northern Christian schoolmates used to sing when we were in boarding school years ago. It goes something like this:
Ba da wuqa ba Dauda ya kashe Golia
Ba da adda ba Dauda ya kashe Golia
Ba da harbi ba Dauda ya kashe Golia
It is a song celebrating the Biblical version of how David slew Goliath in Hausa. It means that without a knife, an axe or a shot, David was able to kill the giant tyrant Goliath. The Scriptures say he was only twelve years old and armed with nothing but a small stone. Yet he achieved the unimaginable. The Holy Qur’an celebrated the story in Suratul Baqarah in verses 247 to 250 and included, in the narrative, what has since become a popular prayer among those seeking divine aid ‘Kam mim fi atin qaliilatin, galabat fi atan Kathiiratan bi izhnillah? Wallahu ma’assaabiriin.’ (How many times has a small army vanquished a mighty one by Allah’s leave? Allah is with the patient) verse 249. The story of David –Prophet Dawud- and Goliath- Jaluta the tyrant, is a popular one with most Qur’anic interpreters.
So did we really see a similar incident in Borno? Maybe we did, except that this one involved no killing. And the lessons derivable from the incident are almost as potent as the Scriptural incident. The first lesson is to those who refused to contest fearing that Mr. Larger- than- life was unbeatable. They have now seen that with the Hand of God (not Maradona’s type) all things are possible. Lesson two is to Candidate Larger –than- life, who made it known to all and sundry that he had that senate seat for the taking, so everyone beware. Before his very eyes an unknown, not really powerful challenger took it away.
The last but most important lesson of all, is to Mr. Courage, who offered himself to save the party’s face then ended up winning. The lesson to him is that ‘God gives power to whom He wills and takes it away from whom He wills’(Qur’an verse Chapter 3 verse 26) and so he has to see his victory as a divine test. Divine tests come with divine responsibilities, so he has to live up to them by serving his people well. Luckily for him he can serve two groups of Nigerians in that hallowed chamber. First, by speaking up for the people of that senatorial district who elected him and by being a voice for those Nigerians who are victims of one road accident or another, and who like him are forced to live their lives bearing one physical challenge or another.
Yes, this is indeed a good opportunity for Mr. Courage to speak up and campaign for good roads, effective road safety, effective vehicle inspection and the effective enforcement of traffic laws. He must also remember that national legislators are generally seen as people who don’t justify their pay, because they simply come to Abuja and forget what brought them. Mr Courage must stand out and prove his worth once in the senate.
As I was trying to round up this piece, I heard the latest that Mr. Larger-than-life’s party is planning to challenge Mr. Courage’s victory in court, on the grounds of his having questionable educational credentials. If this is true, then Courage must dig up all the relevant certificates and brace up to fight for his mandate courageously. Such a God-given mandate must not be wasted because some people can’t learn to imbibe the spirit of good political sportsmanship. For now I salute the Borno David, who clinched the seat without a shot or an axe.
The David who ‘slew’ Goliath in Borno
Category: Philosofaith Written by Aisha Umar-Yusuf Hits: 682
Ever since the announcement that a certain senatorial candidate from Borno state had lost his bid for a seat in our esteemed higher chamber, some people just can’t stop partying. But the untold story of this major upset is even more amazing than the fact that some are still celebrating it. The news from Maiduguri is that this powerful, larger-than-life senatorial candidate was beaten by an unknown and not at all formidable opponent.
Impeccable Maiduguri-based sources told this columnist that when some months ago, members of the party to which the victorious senator belong came together to decide who will run for that senatorial seat, at their party primaries, none of the big shots nominated agreed to give it a try. Their reason was that Larger-than-life Candidate was unbeatable. Party stalwarts did all they could but these nominees wouldn’t budge. It will be a waste of time, money and resources, they reasoned, to join a losing race.But while the big-shots argued with their party leaders, a meek voice from among the crowd offered itself. A party member had decided that rather than their big party not offering anyone due to their fear of losing, it is better they offer someone who could be beaten anyway. Other party members agreed and Mr. Courageous meek voice ended up the party’s candidate.
Report has it that the man wasn’t always this meek. An engineer by training and a seasoned civil servant, Mr. Courage was just the victim of a personal misfortune which affected him physically. A motor accident some years ago had seen him confined to a wheel chair. At the time he offered himself for the senate he had graduated from the wheelchair to a pair of crutches. He was obviously no match for Mr. Larger-than-life of the opposition party. He was reported to have said he had little to lose if he lost the bid because he was not a party big shot for whom the loss will be an ego issue.
With this clear mindset Mr. Courage ran for senate. April 9th saw voters trooping from his senatorial district to vote him in. Somewhere heavenwards a divine vote was already cast in his favour. So against all odds, Mr. Courage beat his opponent roundly. Mr Larger- than- life had the status, the money, the connections and other advantages such as incumbency powers, but his opponent had a simple divine decree to back him up. ‘Kun fa ya Kuun’ says the Holy Qur’an, and the rest is history.
When I heard this story, I immediately remembered the song my Northern Christian schoolmates used to sing when we were in boarding school years ago. It goes something like this:
Ba da wuqa ba Dauda ya kashe Golia
Ba da adda ba Dauda ya kashe Golia
Ba da harbi ba Dauda ya kashe Golia
It is a song celebrating the Biblical version of how David slew Goliath in Hausa. It means that without a knife, an axe or a shot, David was able to kill the giant tyrant Goliath. The Scriptures say he was only twelve years old and armed with nothing but a small stone. Yet he achieved the unimaginable. The Holy Qur’an celebrated the story in Suratul Baqarah in verses 247 to 250 and included, in the narrative, what has since become a popular prayer among those seeking divine aid ‘Kam mim fi atin qaliilatin, galabat fi atan Kathiiratan bi izhnillah? Wallahu ma’assaabiriin.’ (How many times has a small army vanquished a mighty one by Allah’s leave? Allah is with the patient) verse 249. The story of David –Prophet Dawud- and Goliath- Jaluta the tyrant, is a popular one with most Qur’anic interpreters.
So did we really see a similar incident in Borno? Maybe we did, except that this one involved no killing. And the lessons derivable from the incident are almost as potent as the Scriptural incident. The first lesson is to those who refused to contest fearing that Mr. Larger- than- life was unbeatable. They have now seen that with the Hand of God (not Maradona’s type) all things are possible. Lesson two is to Candidate Larger –than- life, who made it known to all and sundry that he had that senate seat for the taking, so everyone beware. Before his very eyes an unknown, not really powerful challenger took it away.
The last but most important lesson of all, is to Mr. Courage, who offered himself to save the party’s face then ended up winning. The lesson to him is that ‘God gives power to whom He wills and takes it away from whom He wills’(Qur’an verse Chapter 3 verse 26) and so he has to see his victory as a divine test. Divine tests come with divine responsibilities, so he has to live up to them by serving his people well. Luckily for him he can serve two groups of Nigerians in that hallowed chamber. First, by speaking up for the people of that senatorial district who elected him and by being a voice for those Nigerians who are victims of one road accident or another, and who like him are forced to live their lives bearing one physical challenge or another.
Yes, this is indeed a good opportunity for Mr. Courage to speak up and campaign for good roads, effective road safety, effective vehicle inspection and the effective enforcement of traffic laws. He must also remember that national legislators are generally seen as people who don’t justify their pay, because they simply come to Abuja and forget what brought them. Mr Courage must stand out and prove his worth once in the senate.
As I was trying to round up this piece, I heard the latest that Mr. Larger-than-life’s party is planning to challenge Mr. Courage’s victory in court, on the grounds of his having questionable educational credentials. If this is true, then Courage must dig up all the relevant certificates and brace up to fight for his mandate courageously. Such a God-given mandate must not be wasted because some people can’t learn to imbibe the spirit of good political sportsmanship. For now I salute the Borno David, who clinched the seat without a shot or an axe.