I can die for peace in Nigeria, says self-styled ‘Mr. Nigeria’
Daily Trust: At what point did you begin to demonstrate your patriotism for Nigeria in green-white-green colours? Ibrahim Sayyadi Madaki: I started when I was in JSS Three.<p> DT: What drove you? Madaki: Growing up, I learned from Indian and Western movies the significance of the national flag and saw how battles were fought for […]
Daily Trust: At what point did you begin to demonstrate your patriotism for Nigeria in green-white-green colours? Ibrahim Sayyadi Madaki: I started when I was in JSS Three.<p>
DT: What drove you? Madaki: Growing up, I learned from Indian and Western movies the significance of the national flag and saw how battles were fought for such flags and gradually understood its significance. That was how I started flaunting our own colours.<p>
DT: In what way did you demonstrate this while in secondary school? Madaki: I wore shoes and clothes with the green-whitegreen colours, including my tasb’ah (prayer beads) and school bag. Presently, my motorcycle is painted green and white. Even when I go to a restaurant I like to other food that has a mix of those colours no matter what. And places I frequent are familiar with my preference.<p>
DT: How do you pull that off when it comes to food? Madaki: For example, I go for rice and vegetable soup, or white rice, salad and a little bit of stew.<p>
DT: Why do you choose to display your patriotism in such a way? Madaki: It’s simply because God has created me and made it possible for me to be a Nigerian. I grew up with parents that are Nigerians and have reached where I am in this same country. For this reason I want to give back to my nation and ‘Mr Nigeria’ poses by his motor cycle Madaki says he can give his life for peace in Nigeria Born in Kano and an electrician, Ibrahim Sayyadi Madaki is popularly known as Mr. Nigeria for showing his patriotism for Nigeria by flaunting the green-white-green colours in clothes he wears and virtually everything he owns. Here, he speaks to Daily Trust on the need for peace in the country, why he fl aunts Nigerian colours and the supremacy of patriotism for ones country. Excerpts: I can die for peace in Nigeria, says self-styled ‘Mr. Nigeria’ let the world know this is who I am and that Nigeria is my country. So I choose to use my country’s colours to show that I am a Nigerian and have no other place to call my own. Therefore wherever a Nigerian is in any part of the world and does the nation proud, I feel it within me where I am and even feel as though I am the one that accomplished it. DT: Can you give an instance? Madaki: A typical example is the Under 17 World Cup this year, when we beat Mali and won the cup. I watched that match in a viewing centre where many people surounded me and waited to see my reaction in case Nigeria lost. But we won.<p>
DT: What did you wear on that day? Madaki: I wore a green-whitegreen jersey with ‘congratulations Nigeria 2015’ written on it in anticipation of our win. I did the same thing on October 1st where I wore clothes with ‘Nigeria at 55’.<p>
DT: Now that Boko Haram is constantly attacking Nigeria, how do you feel? Madaki: People have warned me that I should stop using my motor cycle so I would not be attacked. But I told them that if it’s because of my loyalty to my country that I can become a target, then I am ready. God knows, I must show who I am and where I come from. Our prayer is that God brings all this to an end. I have read stuff about people saying President Buhari keeps travelling around the world and I commented in Sahara Reporters that people should be patient. By God’s grace his travels will reap fruit.<p>
DT: Can you die for Nigeria? Madaki: Yes, I can. In fact before now many thought I wouldn’t reach this point. Even while Jonathan was president, I didn’t put a halt to my patriotism. I never stopped wearing my Nigerian clothes and riding my painted motorcycle. Before the motorcycle, I was using a bicycle and there was hardly any part of the bicycle that didn’t get a feel of Nigerian colour. Anywhere in Kano you ask about ‘Dan Najeriya (Mr Nigeria) people know me. My home is equally not spared. My extension wires and curtains have the colours. If I am looking for something in the market, say eye glasses, and I’m unable to find one with those colours, it bothers me. Things are brought from abroad and colours of football clubs will be represented, but there’s none in our colours. Sometimes I take hours searching.<p>
DT: If you were president of Nigeria, what will you do? Madaki: I would do quite a number of things. I want a situation where even on television, Nigeria’s colours are seen clearly on things such as street lights and people will know indeed this is Nigeria. This is apart from other developmental projects. For example, people acquire lands and build houses without a single logo of the country. I have a Nigerian flag on the door of my house.<p>
DT: What advice do you have for Nigerians? Madaki: I urge Nigerians to be patient and pray our leaders. We have those that are dead and everyone knows them and how some of them led their lives. But now outside the country the ‘big men’ are not always trusted. We should join hands, from top to bottom. Look at the fuel situation where the product is being hoarded. Let’s all work towards Nigeria’s growth. If the peaceful co-existence of Nigeria was dependent on my life, I would be ready to give it. There’s no place for me but Nigeria. Even while Jonathan was president, I didn’t put a halt to my patriotism. I never stopped wearing my Nigerian clothes