Autobiography, into biography: Reviewing Liman Ciroma’s life
The title of the book carries in it two critical, conceptual words – grit and public service. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English (2015) defines ‘grit’ as ‘the courage and determination that makes it possible for somebody to continue doing something difficult or unpleasant’. Anyone who knows the late Malam Liman Ciroma will […]
The title of the book carries in it two critical, conceptual words – grit and public service. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English (2015) defines ‘grit’ as ‘the courage and determination that makes it possible for somebody to continue doing something difficult or unpleasant’. Anyone who knows the late Malam Liman Ciroma will find no difficulty in associating his character with the anticipations of these definitions of Grit. Hence the aptness of the title of his autobiography: Testing the Grit of the Public Service, published by Safari Books Ltd.
The book itself comprises twelve chapters organically arranged in a linear, chronological order in terms of its structural and thematic concerns. The first chapter provides the spatial and temporal settings of Malam Liman’s descent and noble ancestry. Chapter Two delineates the fascinating life of Malam during his elementary and middle school years, culminating in his admission into Kaduna College now referred to as Barewa College. One striking aspect of the chapter is the character portrait of Malam’s own father, Maina Baba, the Ciroma of Fika. The description of the father by his son amply depicts Malam Ciroma as the proverbial worthy scion of the worthy stock. The chapter later stresses the importance of knowledge acquisition and as well as the significance of the alumni networks in the development of societies.
In chapters three, four, five and six, the author in a frank, honest and objective manner, recalls his challenges in choosing a career and his unsuccessful attempts to obtain a federal scholarship to study overseas.
Chapter Seven is one of the most important chapters in the book. Titled ‘In the Northern Region Civil Service 1961-1966’, the chapter discusses the evolution and development of the service which, by 1961 when Malam joined, had transformed into a public service in the mould of an ideal bureaucracy. It was still a fledgling but capaciously blossoming into a strong public service. It was above all loyal, yet apolitical and professional bureaucracy. The hallmark of its cadres, high and low, was its high sense of responsibility, self-esteem and discipline, hard work, high integrity and a commitment to the rule of law and due process (p79). This respect for rule of law helped, in no small measure, the growth of the service in efficiency and effectiveness. The author also attributes the successes of the civil service to the commendable attitude of the political leaders of the region who related with the civil servants maturely, respecting them as experts and professional administrators.
Chapter eight is entitled ‘In The Eye Of A Storm’, precisely because Malam Liman and his colleagues in the northern Nigerian civil service found themselves at the center of the political crises that engulfed the country in the period preceding the first military coup of January 1966. The author carefully reviews the unfortunate build-up and suggests that the maturity and foresight of political and bureaucratic leaders of the region under the charismatic and transformational leadership of the Premier Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto saved Nigeria from total disintegration.
Chapter Nine, which is the eponymous chapter as it shares its name with the whole book, details some eyewitness accounts of the first coup staged in the country in January 1966 as well as the heightened tensions and crises after the coup and which ultimately culminated in the counter- coup of July 1966. All discernible students of history, public administration, political and military science ought to read and digest this chapter. It specifically narrows down on Nzeogwu’s brutal and wanton assassination of prominent Northern leaders, including the revered Sardauna himself. It is from these accounts that we will best appreciate the central role played by outstanding public servants such as Malam Liman Ciroma in stabilizing the polity and securing a common cause for the good of the nation. The chapter closely analyses and exposes the conspiracies and intrigues hatched by top political, military and academic leaders associated with General Ironsi’s government in a deliberate attempt to frustrate the development of northern consciousness and undermine or demote northern participation in the country’s political, military and economic life during his regime.
No other account of the dark years of 1966 and 1967, to my mind, in its frankness, boldness, honesty and authority matches Ciroma’s rendition of the events as recounted in this chapter.
In chapter ten, the author’s courage, determination, resilience and strength of character are manifest during his stints as Permanent Secretary, first in the Federal Ministry of Industry and later in the Federal Ministry of Education. A sizable portion of the chapter details the role of Malam and his colleagues in the development and implementation of Nigeria’s industrialization policies. It is the mark of Malam’s distinction that he did not corruptly enrich himself, either in the Ministry of Industry where he presided over the rapid industrialization agenda of the government, or in the Ministry of Education where he supervised the largest expansion of basic, secondary, and tertiary education in the history of the country.
Chapter eleven, ‘The Peak and Twilight of a Career’, shows how the grit of the public service and that of the Secretary to the Federal Military Government and Head of Service of the Federation was fully tested. The unbridled sense of self-confidence, a significant attribute the civil service tradition etched for itself, became piteously eroded. In its place evolved a pathetic sense of fear, insecurity and distrust within the nation’s public service. The rest of the chapter tests the courage and determination of the service in weathering the storm and continuing to function as the stabilizing force within the fabric of a fragile polity.
Chapter twelve, the final chapter in the book, documents the events surrounding Malam’s retirement from public service and his major activities and passions after retirement. “Since my retirement”, Ciroma remarks, “my activities have been confined in three or four major areas namely; charity organization, part-time membership of public bodies, part-time membership of private sector companies”.
This final chapter is also a reflection on his life since his retirement from public service. It is important to note that the content of the book is enriched by a careful selection of 123 priceless photographs; a moving epilogue by Malam Liman’s eldest son, Ibrahim; a selection of the author’s his numerous public speeches; a selection of five citations on him during the conferment of honorary degrees and fellowships, as well as some comments and testimonies from colleagues, friends and associates upon his passing away.
In the final analysis, Malam Liman Ciroma’s autobiography is a remarkable work crafted by a gifted, resourceful and one of our country’s most dynamic, charismatic and culturally educated public servants. The book itself is eloquently written, well-edited, and is reader-friendly with commendable technical finish. The work, in the true tradition of scholarly writing, is a product of healthy collaboration between the author who drafted it and the Malam Adamu Fika-led committee which revised, updated, edited and prepared it for posthumous publishing.
As a serious publication tumbling from the pen of a profound man of letters, this book is highly recommended to anyone interested in the history of Nigeria’s public service, especially from 1960 to 1980. The book is also the only authoritative document on the life and times of an extraordinary Nigerian who will continue to serve, enduringly, as a role model for this and for future generations to come. From the quality of its content, the authority, resourcefulness and charisma of the writer, and the eloquence, integrity and fidelity to the source material of the biography collective under Malam Adamu Fika, no-one will remain the same after reading this inimitable biography of an autobiography.
Prof. Rasheed wrote in from Abuja.