I am a happy and active retiree – Ambassador Bala Sani
As a career foreign service officer, Ambassador Bala Mohammed Sani served in many places, including Germany, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Zambia and Libya. He last served as Nigeria’s Ambassador in Mauritania between 1999 and 2003, from where he retired. He also worked in the Kano and Federal civil services in various capacities. As a Kano […]
As a career foreign service officer, Ambassador Bala Mohammed Sani served in many places, including Germany, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Zambia and Libya. He last served as Nigeria’s Ambassador in Mauritania between 1999 and 2003, from where he retired. He also worked in the Kano and Federal civil services in various capacities.
As a Kano man, how would you describe your background?
I am a real Kano man. I belong to Kano city. I was born in 1946 and started junior primary school at Dandago in 1955. It was a four-year programme. When I finished junior primary school, I went to senior primary school, then secondary school.
All in Kano?
All in Kano. I attended Rumfa College. After secondary school, I went to Federal Training Centre, Kaduna, where I spent two and a half years. I was employed at the federal civil service as confidential secretary and posted to the Federal Ministry of Establishments in 1968.
From being a student in the North – Kano, Kaduna – you suddenly got your first job in Lagos, wasn’t that a big jump for you?
I was scared, but because we were assured of accommodation and transport to the office, there was no fear. And that fear was really allayed in no time, in the sense that the chairman of the Kano State Public Service Commission, Alhaji Sha’aibu Kazaure of blessed memory went to the federal civil service and requested that confidential secretaries who qualified at that time – three of us – be deployed to Kano State at its inception in 1968.
Alhaji Shaibu didn’t even give them enough time to formalise the transfer and we were asked to report to Kano as though we were taking a fresh appointment from there.
So you didn’t really spend too much time in Lagos?
Not at all.
What was your experience in Lagos?
Not even one month. Well, Lagos was a very busy place and very expensive to us. We were accommodated at YMCA.
Young Men Christian Association?
Yes. I understand that it was a very good place; not expensive.
For young people?
Young people and those who were not known to the town were usually sent there. So I was there for some time, then we came back to Kano. I was deployed to the Ministry of Finance, and my colleagues to Cabinet Office and Ministry of Agriculture.
Two years thereafter, I was also in the Cabinet Office and was confidential secretary to the secretary to the government and Head of Service, Alhaji Hawaidi. I stayed for two years with him; and in his wisdom he thought I was a good material for an executive grade. So he sent me to Devon( England) to undergo a diploma one-year course in Public and Social Administration. When we came back, that made me to be converted to the position of assistant secretary in the administrative office.
So you became a senior grade officer?
Senior grade. With that status I was even posted to Rano Local Government as acting secretary. The grade for the secretary at that time was Level 14, and substantively, I was at Level 9. So I was allowed some acting allowance of about 50 per cent between my grade and Level 12. Barely a year thereafter, I was again tempted to transfer to the federal service.
Alhaji Hawaidi was a very famous Kano civil servant and secretary to the military government(SMG) for most of the time of Audu Bako; is that correct?
He was SMG for 9 years or so.
Tell us your experience working with him.
I worked with him as a confidential secretary and benefitted tremendously from his wealth of experience. He was a versatile public servant who started as a journalist. He was also in the West African Frontier Force.
He attained the rank of a sergeant as a soldier. He was the editor of Sodangi, a Hausa paper here in Kano. From there, he went to the Kaduna Radio Corporation and eventually transferred to federal civil service, where he rose to the rank of a substantive deputy permanent secretary. He was an acting permanent secretary when he was transferred to Kano as the secretary to the government. There are many good stories about him. I will not discuss bad stories about Alhaji Hawaidi.
There are lots of stories about his humour; can you discuss the humorous side of him?
Jovial. He is a very nice person. He has excellent public relations. He interacted with his juniors, peers, and of course, seniors.
Do you have any unusual story about him you can share?
When he was an acting secretary to the government, many people knew him popularly as Tony, not Alhaji Hawaidi.
Why?
Maybe it was a nickname he got in Lagos or some places. He was a secretary to the government that was always wearing a big gown; I mean he was dressing nicely.
One day, he left a message that someone would call on him at 2o’clock or thereabouts. That person came at that point in time and asked for Tony, but of course, his secretary, Alhaji Bashari(Gumel) didn’t know him as Tony. He said there was no Tony there and she left. An hour thereafter, Alhaji Hawaidi came to Bashari and asked whether somebody came looking for him. He said yes, but the guest was looking for one Tony and she was told there was no Tony there. Alhaji Hawaidi said, “Look Bashari, from today onwards, I am Tony”!. I am sorry that is the only joke I can remember now.
Were you young when you were moved to local government?
Was I? I started civil service at 25.
Was it a very difficult assignment being in charge of a local government as secretary at that age?
Yes. It was an onerous responsibility indeed. And you have to remember the background. It was immediately after General Obasanjo’s local government reform, under which the local government was insulated from politics. You will understand it better if I tell you that traditional rulers who used to be the lords of the local government are now given traditional roles. They also look after religion, culture and so on, but not administration. The government said any person who wanted to be in the local government as a leader had to contest election. That is why we have local government dignitaries now, councillors and so on. It was Obasanjo’s reform.
And he did not allow traditional rulers to contest for that position. He pointed out that if they wanted to contest and become local government dignitaries, they would have to resign and contest as councillors, supervisory councilors etc, otherwise they would remain fathers of the community, with an advisory role as traditional rulers. They would not interfere with the affairs of local government secretaries and other elected personnel.
Did that work for you? Were you able to operate independently?
It wasn’t easy. Definitely, there was resistance from the traditional rulers. But we always found solace when we visited the senior councillor, Alhaji Shehu Ahmed and requested him to speak to them so that they would cooperate in the way the new local government was to be maintained.
How long did you stay as a local government administrator?
Just one year. From there, I was tempted to transfer my services to Foreign Service. When the opportunity came, I thought I should seize it and I did so immediately.
Did you go back to Lagos?
I went back to Lagos.
And you spent a long time in the foreign service?
Yes. I spent over 20 years. My tenure in Kano was just about 9 years; the rest were spent in the Foreign Service.
Tell me about your experience in the foreign service. I know you served in many countries; which ones do you remember?
To be honest with you, I enjoyed Mauritania more than any other place because I was an ambassador. I liked the courtesies and so on. And whenever we had a conference, there were Nigerians. There was a time 87 Nigerian doctors came for a conference.
To Mauritania?
To Nouakchott, Mauritania. And whenever they stood up to speak, against protocol, they would call the Nigerian Ambassador to Mauritania. I was very happy with that.
But Mauritania is a very small and even a strange country, I would say. Did you really enjoy your stay there?
Why strange?
Well, it has a very colourful history, it is on the fringes of the desert. And there are lots of stories about slavery?
They do, but we enjoyed it in spite of that. There was a purpose I was sent there – you just mentioned the aspect of slavery. General Obasanjo specifically wanted to know whether slavery existed at that time. And we were able to find its vestiges. It happened. That was a very important assignment.
Slavery was not there officially but operated quietly underground?
Vestiges. Just like the kind of thing we have here. It is nominal. But there was no humiliation. They were even very close. There was a kind of good working relationship between the black Moor and white Moor. It was not servitude.
Were they like house servants?
Yes. It wasn’t slavery as such. But in the eyes of the community, since the people were designated as slaves, they were regarded as such, to all intents and purposes.
And the slaves were blacks while those in the ruling class were Berbers or Arabs?
The Berbers are the whites, maybe from Algeria. But you have some black Moors. There’s inter-marriage between the whites and them. You also have African blacks.
From Senegal and other places?
From Senegal, Mali and other places. I enjoyed that place.
What did you enjoy about the place?
Cost of living was not high, so I was able to save a lot of money and send my children to undergo education in Ireland. One of them is an electrical engineer and another one is a doctor.
What about lifestyle, food and culture? I thought the place was very hot, considering the desert and all that.
They have very nice food, especially if you go to restaurants or they invite you to their homes; you would enjoy nice food with lamb. Arabs like a lot of lamb and they don’t care; they are not afraid of cholesterol.
Is it also by the sea?
They have a lot of fish. We enjoyed it too.
Did you experience any racism in Mauritania?
No.
Because you were of high profile?
They always respected ambassadors. Apart from Mauritania, I enjoyed my stay in London and Saudi Arabia. There, you always found people visiting. You were always in touch with friends, home people coming. Whatever you need, in London or Saudi Arabia, it is available in the market – materials, electronics, vehicles, whatever.
What of Germany and Ghana?
I enjoyed Germany. They are nice people. We did not notice any discrimination as such. They were very friendly to us. I spent three to four years there . From Germany, I was cross-posted to Saudi Arabia. I was with Ambassador Abba Zoro.
You also spent time in Ghana. Was that too close to home?
I spent about three years in Ghana. In fact, my last born , Hafiz, was born in Ghana. From Ghana, we came back home very briefly; then I was appointed an Ambassador to Mauritania.
Having experienced local government, state and federal civil service, would you say the best is foreign service?
I learned a lot from Kano State. I learned a lot from Alhaji Hawaidi , Alhaji Alfa Wali, Mallam Balarabe Ismaila and other technocrats.
These are the places where I learned my civil service career. I went to foreign service with working experience, except that it is a different field. And I took adequate care to make sure that I obtained a qualification in foreign affairs.
Is there more money in foreign service?
In terms of prosperity, you will have a lot of money. Your salary is kept at home and you will be earning allowances. And if you are able to go round to attend some conferences or assignments you will earn estacode allowance; and that will also boost your income.
Given your experience as a foreign service officer, would you say the image problem of Nigeria existed when you were in service 20 years ago?
I think there was discipline in our time. In the civil service, almost all your activities are regulated. An entrant into the service will have a scheme of service, which will tell you that after so and so years on a grade you will move to another grade, and after probation you will go on a course, which will enable you to sharpen your skill so that your activity as a senior officer will enable you to teach those under you and guide them effectively.
There is a system. Whatever you do, your seniors will always be looking after you. If they think that something is amiss, they will call you and advise you so that you would sit up and do the right thing.
I am talking about the image of Nigeria, which has really become poor. Having represented us, as a country, why have we not been able to present a good image over the years?
We were handling consular cases wherever we went and found out that a lot of our people were not complying with the host countries’ regulations on residence or work permit. Till now, they don’t comply, they do whatever they like, and when they are arrested, of course they will be deported; and soon after, they will go back.
So the problem has been there, even when you were in service?
It is a circle, especially in Saudi Arabia. You have a lot of mallams who will sponsor some workers and give them some funds. They will sponsor them to go to Saudi Arabia to work in the houses of Arabs and earn a lot of money. The moment they send it home, they will convert it to naira and it is a handsome amount of money. When they spend about three years, they would come back home, invest their money and go back.
The bad thing about it is the non-compliance with residence and work permit. And at times, Saudi and other countries can be very harsh in treating Nigerians.
Apart from the non-compliance to residence and work permits, there is also the problem of drugs abuse. The moment they take drugs and they are caught, in some places, it is death penalty.
So the image problem is created by Nigerians.
Well, the people involved say they are looking for greener pastures. They are pushed to the wall to go and find means of livelihood. It is not that they do it with the consciousness that they will be arrested and killed. No.
But they know the consequences and are warned. Whenever they came to the embassy, we warned them and told them to try and be of good behaviour.
If you misbehave, especially if you are dealing in drugs or some other prohibited items, the embassy cannot help you at all. We could only come to your help when the application of law was deliberately not done in our favour.
This bad image leads to issues of visa and maltreatment at airports? From your experience, are there things the country can do to change this?
They have to do the right thing. You have to give them orientation on what needs to be done.
All the citizens?
Well, you have a National Orientation Agency. They always inform people on what are required of them, especially if they are intending to travel. If you were given some orientation, the moment you do not comply with that, if you enter trouble, it is your fault.
It should sink into their heads that this business of drugs is not good, as well as other businesses pertaining to cyber crimes etc.
You have to be straightforward. If you do legitimate business, nobody will molest you, but the moment you try to be smart and you are caught in the process, you will be on your own.
Did you retire as an ambassador rather too early? Did you feel that you had reached a point where you were satisfied?
I was lucky that I got the ambassadorial appointment, though not in good time.
You waited?
I was already on grade level 17 when I got it. Normally, you were expected to be on 15, go on posting, spend four years, come back home, spend another two years and go. You would be accredited to places at least three times. But in my case, I was appointed to Mauritania, where I spent three years, came back and retired. I am so far the first and the last Nigerian-Mauritanian ambassador.
We have closed the embassy?
We have closed the embassy. It could be that they were not happy with Mauritania’s withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Do you think Nigeria has too many embassies?
We have 109 or thereabouts. Most of the countries have also opened their missions in Nigeria on a reciprocal basis. So, whatever money you think you spend overseas, some other missions also spend on your country.
It promotes cooperation and respect if you open an embassy. We can discuss bilateral issues and agree on investments within our means. But I understand the foreign minister has come out openly to say that it is because of money that Nigeria is not yet able to appoint ambassadors.
Is it money?
Yes. You know money is very important, in the sense that you would be sending at least five home-based officers to missions and have to look after their accommodation, their children’s school, utilities etc. And travelling is very expensive. You also have to recruit local staff to assist you in covering some jobs and some running around. So a lot of money is needed and I think this is our problem.
On the issue of not having ambassadors for over two years, what do you think would be the effect on our foreign policy?
I think they have done the right thing. Wherever we have our missions, we have senior officers looking after them. They are not ambassadors yet but equally senior officers who are responsible and competent. They look after the missions.
If there is an important thing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants to discuss with his counterpart in Japan or elsewhere, he can send an envoy. You also have telephone hotlines, such that it is very easy to discuss and agree on what course of action you want to take.
So you don’t think we are missing anything by not having ambassadors in those countries?
I haven’t said so. It is better to have ambassadors in place. There may be some insignificant advantages, but it is better. If you are in a place you have to collect some useful information on your relationship and what is going on, including economic issues that would benefit your country and send it home.
Everybody does reporting; and that is the essence of diplomatic life. You will learn. Even your government assigns you tasks to get information so that we can compare and contrast. It will be a very important input in our decision making policy.
The inputs of foreign policy are really collected by our officers who are deployed to various places in other countries. They send them back and they are collated, analysed, reviewed and you are given back to implement. It is a cycle.
You retired from service in 2003; what have you been doing since then?
I retired about 22 years ago. Immediately I retired, I was lucky, in the sense that the government of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State appointed me as the chairman of the Alhaji Abubakar Rimi Television. In addition, we established a skills acquisition programme, a foundation under the guidance of Dr Shamsuddin Usman – the Gidauniyar Alheri, or Goodwill Foundation. I was made the director. Dr Usman also expanded the programme to the Kano Peace and Development Initiative.
It is another non-governmental organisation that will take care of drug (abuse) and other things. He has been doing that and involving us – making us very busy.
I was also happy when I was nominated to participate in the 2014 National Conference under President Goodluck Jonathan. I gained a lot when one activist, Yinka Odumakin, brought the issue of restructuring and he was supported by Chief Olu Falae.
Mr Odumakin argued that he did not see any problem with the resource control. He suggested that the six geopolitical zones should be converted into regions, which would be a second tier of government. Federal is there, region and the states. The states would become the third tier. All the states should collapse into the geopolitical zones as regions.
He said that for presidential election, geopolitical zones should nominate two good candidates from each region and one would win. The six who would win from all the geopolitical zones would form a collegiate presidency at the centre – rotating – and after every six years they would be replaced. If that was done, there would be a feeling of belonging from each geopolitical zone. According to him, that would considerably solve Nigeria’s problem.
Do you think that formula would solve the problem?
Northern Nigeria owns about 78 per cent of Nigeria’s land, so the moment you adopt this, we will be dealing with you on commercial basis of land, not the way we give it to you now like a chicken feed.
So the conference couldn’t agree on this restructuring formula brought by some advocates, especially from the South.
This basic one was agreed. But they said we didn’t have the basis for legitimacy for elections, nominations etc. Don’t ask me. Don’t get me involved in politics.
But it is relevant. You were part of the 2014 conference, where an agreement was made. We don’t have to go into all the details, but do you think that report has any relevance in solving our current problems?
This is what the present administration is doing. It is picking some of these reports piecemeal.
From that conference?
Yes. Maybe insignificantly, but the Nigerian anthem, which we said should be brought back, is our recommendation.
From that conference?
Yes.
So you think restructuring can help solve these problems we have?
They also pointed out that each geopolitical zone should have not less than 9 states.
So there should be additional states?
There will be additional states. Nigeria will have 54 states. And that will do away with the problem of agitation for creation of more states. And there will be competition among the states, especially in improving the welfare of the people. But very importantly, you have to solve the political problem first.
Since you retired you didn’t get involved in politics; don’t you want to be a politician?
I don’t have money to do politics.
Is money the only qualification?
No; but if you want to influence some people, you have to use money.
So you never attempted to join?
I did. I tried to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives in Gwale Local Government Area.
How was the experience?
I did my best, but money was needed. I was telling them that I spent about N2.5 million and they said that was nothing.
So since you burnt your fingers you didn’t go to that again?
Even if I burnt my fingers, I got some medicine.
You used to write articles in the newspaper; why did you stop?
I didn’t stop; I had some other jobs to do. General Akilu, a very good man, was my good boss. He was the one who sent me to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS); and a lot of other things.
He established a secondary school in Madobi 26 years ago. I am a director there. I look after some administrative matters and I like it.
Are you still active there?
Very active. Also, one Professor Gwarzo recommended me and Ambassador Ghali Umar to be undertaking some lessons in international relations at Baba Ahmed’s university. I do that twice a week.
So you teach?
Yes. I teach twice a week; and that keeps me busy.
What of the Goodwill Foundation; are you still active?
The Goodwill Foundation is very active, but we have changed people. The chairman, Alhaji Sani Buhari has died and Dr Shamsuddeen took over and made some changes he feels comfortable with.
So you are no more the director-general?
I served as director-general for over 20 years, so it is okay.
How do you make a living? I mean, do you find it challenging?
I don’t engage in contracts.
What about farming?
I tried it and wasn’t impressed. It was a waste; so I wouldn’t like to do it again. My pension is meagre but I have some investments in housing, property and some of the money I get from General Akilu and Baba Ahmed(university).
How is your family life? How big is your family?
I have two wives and 16 children. I thank God that I have assorted manpower in my house.
Assorted manpower?
Yes. I have three doctors, a lawyer, three education officers – two are principals and vice principals. Hafiz has just qualified as a geographer and gone for master’s at the Northwest University. He is still looking for job. I also have Aisha, who has completed a course on Public Policy. She was engaged briefly at the National Population Commission. She is still looking for a job. So we don’t have problems in maintenance of life. We thank God.
Most retirees are complaining. Has the cost of living also caught up with you?
We thank God. Let me just illustrate how lucky one can be. About five months ago, Munir, who is now in Scotland, sent us tickets: myself and his mother so that we would visit them. We did. I spent two weeks and returned, but his mother spent about two months.
Mothers always get the better deals.
Yes.
Do you still travel?
I need to travel, but it is very expensive. If not because of Munir, I can’t imagine paying over N1.5 million, economy class to travel to Scotland.
What of invitations as a foreign observer for elections?
It was a very important job; I enjoyed it.
Did you do many of them?
I did about 12; I enjoyed it. I was in Namibia, Sudan, Malawi and Cameroon.
For the African Union?
Yes.
Have the invitations stopped coming?
The problem now is that if they invite people like us to go and do election observation, some of us fall sick and take a lot of their money.
So they have retired you from that?
They have retired us.
What is your average day like? What do you do? Do you exercise?
I have to exercise. You have to exercise. I told you that I am getting to 79 years in December. I was thinking that you would even wait until I reach 80.
I thought you were 80. You were born in 1946.
I am 79. I have my machines here.
So you go to the gym.
I ride. They keep on saying that I should walk, but I said no. I like riding this stationary bicycle. Let me just continue with it.
Do you do it daily or whenever you feel like?
Daily; at times twice – in the morning and evening.
Do you have other hobbies?
Reading and community development. And I attend non-governmental organisation meetings like the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Northern Elders Forum.
Alhaji Maitama Sule of blessed memory nominated 50 of us and appointed us as his advisers. Our head was Mallam (Mohammed)Hayatuddeen.
Unfortunately, Sule died (may his soul rest in peace) and Paul Unongo, took over. He couldn’t get along with Sani Zango Daura, Ango Abdullahi and others, so Ango seized the leadership.
But I liked Mallam Hayatuddeen’s Renaissance Forum, which he created. A very fine and competent person. At times we would go and discuss. This also takes some of my time.
So you are a happy and active retiree.
By God’s grace.