My Encounter With Hajia Farida Muhammed – Wole Adedoyin

MY ENCOUNTER WITH HAJIA FARIDA MUHAMMED – WOLE ADEDOYIN

Hajia Farida Muhammed embodies qualities of ease, humility, and quiet strength. In a previous article titled "Breaking Barriers: The Pursuit of Female Leadership in ANA," I passionately advocated for supporting her presidential aspirations. Despite her admirable qualities, I am cognizant of opposing forces at play, which I intend to expose in due course. Stay tuned to uncover the motivations behind these regressive efforts.

Upon delving into Hajia Farida Muhammed's literary background, it becomes evident that she has been rigorously assessed and proven to be dependable. She fits seamlessly into her role, having served various positions within ANA Niger (her chapter) with distinction. Moreover, her substantial contributions to the Association's advancement will be unveiled in my upcoming article. Stay tuned for the details.

I first crossed paths with Hajia Farida Muhammed in 2015 in Kaduna, during the election that marked the beginning of Denja Abdulahi's tenure as the 11th President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). During this period, Hajia Farida Muhammed publicly endorsed Mallam Denja Abdulahi. Consequently, this endorsement stirred an internal crisis within ANA Niger, a situation that remains unresolved to this day.

The turbulence within ANA Niger during that time was widely discussed within the ANA community, both on social media and various WhatsApp platforms dedicated to ANA discussions. One particular article caught my attention, describing Hajia Farida Muhammed in a way that piqued my curiosity, motivating me to meet her in person.

I was serving as the official publicist and media consultant for Mallam Denja's ANA Presidential Campaign back then. Interestingly, ANA Niger posed a significant challenge for us during the campaign period. Despite the internal strife, ANA Niger stood out as one of the most vibrant chapters in the country, primarily due to its rich literary activities, innovative programs, and impactful projects. Adding to its strength was the chapter's financial backing from the former Governor of Niger state, His Excellency Babangida Aliyu.

It was noteworthy that Mallam Denja’s main competitor in the election also hailed from the same state. Learning about the challenges faced by Hajia Farida Muhammed from some staunch members of ANA Niger, even before the 2015 ANA Presidential Election, I could empathize with her decision to support Mallam Denja Abdulahi over his primary rival from her own state.

While in Kaduna, I observed Hajia Farida Muhammed actively campaigning and rallying support for the Denja/Camillus ticket. I also witnessed the intense public confrontation that unfolded between her and Mallam Denja Abdulahi's sole opponent both during and after the election.

Those acquainted with ANA's history and politics will remember ANA Niger's significant involvement in the 2011 ANA Presidential election, which led to Professor Remi Raji's appointment as the 10th President of ANA. This success was attributed to the chapter's unity and cohesion. However, in 2015, the division within ANA Niger played a pivotal role. This division ultimately worked in Mallam Denja Abdulahi's favor, securing his victory against his sole opponent from the same chapter.

In the 2019 elections, influential members of the chapter extended substantial support to the opponent of Mr. Camillus Ukah, the outgoing President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). Camillus Ukah's backing in Niger state was solely through Hajia Farida Muhammed. She staunchly stood by Camillus Ukah both before and after the election, assuming a pivotal role akin to the Director General of Camillus Ukah's ANA Presidency in the entire Northern Region. It's no surprise that Camillus Ukah chose her as his running mate.

The selection of Hajia Farida Muhammed as Camillus's Vice Presidential candidate sparked hope among many of us that the 2019 ANA Election would favor the Camillus/Farida's Camp. However, the situation turned sour as the election had to be canceled due to an internal crisis.

The unfortunate turmoil that marred the 2019 election will be discussed in detail in my subsequent writing. The association's elders made sincere efforts to prevent the crisis from escalating.

The delegates brought by Hajia Farida Muhammed from Niger and other Northern states provided us with confidence that Camillus would emerge victorious in the election. The atmosphere on the election ground was intense, with fervent campaigning from both Camillus Ukah's supporters and his opponents, each group striving to persuade the Congress regarding the best candidate to vote for in that election.

It's no secret that the current ANA President is actively supporting Hajia Farida's sole opponent, even going to the extent of aiding in the selection of the candidate's team. I possess evidence supporting this claim. My sincere advice to the outgoing ANA President is to allow the Congress to make the decision. I mentioned to a member a few days ago that the outgoing ANA President obtained the ANA Presidency on a platter of gold, without any competition. As far as I know, Camillus Ukah didn't participate in any ANA Presidential election. In 2020, he assumed the ANA Presidency through an emergency Congress meeting convened by the BOT, and he ran unopposed. Similarly, in 2022, there were no contenders; he once again emerged unopposed. There is a need for him to respect the opportunity he has been given and not misuse it. This position is a result of nothing but the grace of God. As mentioned earlier, I intend to delve deeper into the events of the 2019, 2020, and 2022 elections before the convention.

Camillus Ukah ought to refrain from pressuring ANA Chapter Chairmen to vote for his preferred candidate. He should demonstrate leadership by being fair to both candidates. I'm not suggesting that Camillus Ukah must repay Farida's support for his past campaigns, but he should maintain a neutral and transparent stance before, during, and after the election. He should allow the candidates to present their agendas to the Congress and win their votes based on merit, rather than selecting candidates and leveraging his presidential power for personal gain.

I extend my best wishes to Hajia Farida Muhammed for a successful outcome in the upcoming election.

Wole Adedoyin holds the position of National Coordinator in both the Writers for Democratic Change (WDC) and the Democratic Writers Association of Nigeria (DWAN).