The four drivers of Shettima

Exactly two weeks ago, Governor Kashim Shettima diverted his convoy while it was returning to Abuja from Kaduna. The Governor left Abuja earlier that day to honour the invitation of a fellow Borno man from the Southern part of the State, Engineer Saleh Dunoma, Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, whose son […]

Exactly two weeks ago, Governor Kashim Shettima diverted his convoy while it was returning to Abuja from Kaduna. The Governor left Abuja earlier that day to honour the invitation of a fellow Borno man from the Southern part of the State, Engineer Saleh Dunoma, Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, whose son picked a bride in Kaduna. The wedding fatiha held at the famous Sultan Bello Mosque in the city.
Before we go into that convoy diversion, I probably need to give small background to the title up which may have gotten some readers asking whether four drivers are not too much under a President Muhammadu Buhari that is downsizing. Governor Shettima actually has two official drivers, one at the Maiduguri Government House, Malam Haruna and the other at the Governor’s lodge in Abuja- Alhaji Hassan. Both are none Kanuris from Southern Borno. But then, there is Alhaji Gana, who because of his complete knowledge of routes in Abuja, was a regular guide to the Governor since the days Shettima was Finance commissioner in Borno State which made him a regular visitor in Abuja to attend monthly FAAC meetings that coordinate statutory funds allocated to the tiers of Government. Shettima actually ‘confiscated’ Alhaji Gana from Baba Kaka Garbai, a close friend to the Governor and a senior staff at the headquarters of Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, NIPC in Abuja at that time. Alhaji Gana still serves the Governor as his personal driver, strictly confined to private outings in Abuja. There is Tijjani, popularly called Teejay, he is the official driver of a security vehicle (Hilux) with siren which in protocol circle, is called pilot one. It leads the convoy. I will tell you how Teejay makes the fourth driver as you read on. By the way Teejay is a Hausa man from Kaduna while Alhaji Gana is a Kanuri man like Governor Shettima. Gana is the only Kanuri amongst the four.
As I was saying, on Saturday, August 1, 2015, Governor Shettima diverted his convoy to an unfamiliar place as we approached approached Kubwa through Bwari- Dutsen Alhaji axis. The convoy drove towards an un-tarred road in Kubwa, heading to a close with low cost and middle class houses. I was wondering who the Governor was seeing there that the convoy was navigating through a market like area, passing through wet, clay soil that was making the governor’s vehicle toss and turn on the road. ‘Who is this that is so important to the governor?’ I asked myself, I was sure others in the convoy wondered the same thing. As we were going, the missed it’s way to a different place but the Governor called from behind to say the place wasn’t his destination. Finally, the convoy arrived the destination. It was a two bedroom gated on a neat close that didn’t look rich or poor, just in between. Governor Shettima alighted from his vehicle and guess who received us? It was Alhaji Gana, the Governor’s personal driver. Gana had just returned from India. He was sponsored to undergo a critical surgery. Alhaji Gana was suffering from an ailment that made his speech dragging and almost inaudible. You must be incredibly patient and rapt to understand what Alhaji Gana says. Alot of people wonder how Governor Shettima communicates easily with Gana over the years. Governor Shettima was determined to help change Gana’s speech through a corrective surgery in India.
So, while we were at his residence, Alhaji Gana was so full of excitement. He was obviously confused. Sure, his status was to change as one who hosted a Governor in his small home. He could be the first and the only to have had such a VIP. Typical of him, Governor Shettima met everyone in Gana’s house with support and words of encouragement to the family. The limping driver was simply laughing. As the Governor was leaving, Alhaji Gana came out, feeling proud. I sighted him touching his tummy with some sort of fulfillment as he waved other drivers in the convoy who must have been happy that one of them was so honored.
But then, Alhaji Gana wasn’t the first to be accorded a VIP treatment by Governor Shettima. Malam Haruna, the Governor’s official driver at the Government House in Maiduguri actually went to India with Alhaji Gana for an equally complicated surgery. Somehow, two of the Governor’s drivers had serious medical challenges that were treated at the same time. I remember that at one point in 2014, Malam Haruna was so ill that he needed to be swiftly flown out of Maiduguri.  Unfortunately, the Maiduguri international airport was still close at that time, only chartered flights on Government request from the military were allowed to land and takeoff in Maiduguri. Governor Shettima made enquiries about his official driver when he didn’t see the man at work. The Governor was told that Haruna was critically ill and needed to be taken to a hospital outside Borno State based on medical referral. Shettima asked why Haruna was still in Maiduguri but was told the driver couldn’t stand traveling by road while the airport was closed. “So, what is stopping us from chattering a flight to take him out, should we allow him die because he is a driver?’, the Governor asked. Immediately, he ordered that a flight be chattered to convey the driver and that was how Malam Haruna got the treatment he needed which stabilized him for his surgery in April, 2015, when he was sponsored alongside Alhaji Gana. Haruna is stable, he even drives his personal car in Maiduguri even though the Governor stopped him from resuming work officially, until he is absolutely healthy.
Unlike Malam Haruna,  Alhaji Gana still can’t drive and this makes Teejay a beneficiary. Most drivers itch to drive the Governor because after virtually every outing, he offers a gift of either clothing, wrist watch, perfume or some change to whoever drives him. Alhaji Hassan is head of all the drivers at the Governor’s lodge in Abuja. He drives the Governor in official outings and loves to drive him on private outings now that Alhaji Gana is still recovering. Unfortunately for Alhaji Hassan, the man doesn’t know routes in Abuja as much as the Governor wants.  Shettima seem to hate sirens. He tolerates it during official outings and keeps sirens out during private outings. Now, Teejay drives the pilot with the siren which leads the convoy. Teejay knows Abuja routes very well even though not as much as Alhaji Gana. Because sirens are used with Teejay leading the convoy on official outings, Alhaji Hassan who drives the Governor fears nothing. He relies on Teejay. But what happens now that Alhaji Gana who drives the Governor on private outings can’t drive whereas Alhaji Hassan doesn’t know the routes in Abuja? Teejay was sorted by the Governor to abandon his siren lead pilot and drive the Governor in his private car and this is what makes Alhaji Gana somewhat angry.
When Governor Shettima visited Alhaji Gana’s house, I noticed that Teejay was avoiding Alhaji Gana while Alhaji Gana was looking at Teejay as the one making the Governor not to miss his absence. Perhaps what is not known to Alhaji Gana is that his job is actually under threat. That very day after we returned from Kubwa, I saw Teejay climbing the Governor’s private jeep like a monkey as washing it with so much dedication. Alhaji Gana was famous for taking care of the Governor’s car. Shettima often praised Alhaji Gana for his neatness. Whenever the Governor went on a private outing, Alhaji Gana made it a habit of cleaning the vehicle at every stop. He jealously guards the vehicle and gets really angry if anyone draws near the packed vehicle. I doubt if Alhaji Gana ever had an accident with the Governor’s vehicle. Generally in the Government circles, drivers with high safety records are assigned to Governors though in the case of Alhaji Gana, he wasn’t assigned by Government.
Governor Shettima seems to connect very well with drivers. He calls them by their names and teases them all the time. When he travels, he asks whether drivers have been fed. Majority of the drivers feel the governor’s kindness and generosity, but most of them seem to have one aspiration which is to come as close as Malam Haruna, Alhaji Hassan, Alhaji Gana or at least, Teejay.
Gusau is Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy to Governor Shettim. He wrote from Maiduguri.