The many frustrations of a man of several firsts

I was posted to Kano as passport officer and that was where my trouble started. The present emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, was a very good friend. He was then the Nigerian ambassador in Dakar he was appointed emir around that time. Then the 1964 election came and some officers working at Congo in […]

I was posted to Kano as passport officer and that was where my trouble started. The present emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, was a very good friend. He was then the Nigerian ambassador in Dakar he was appointed emir around that time. Then the 1964 election came and some officers working at Congo in Zaria were on short break and therefore came to Kano. I took them to Sabon Gari for entertainment, so there was a girl that one of them wanted to pick but she resisted, saying she was not a free lady and the guy reported her to the authorities that she was abusing Sardauna and the emir of Kano. They came and arrested her and thereafter as an administration officer, I was called to bail her. And when I did, fresh trouble started because they said I bailed a girl that abused Sardauna and the emir of Kano.

The late Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Victor Pam was the police officer in charge of Sabon Gari and he was my mate in 1954 when we where about joining the police force. So I tried to get him notified that some of those people were mixing up matters and therefore urged him to come and intervene. He said no, that girl had abused Sardauna and emir of Kano so we were all arrested and taken to Gidan Ma’aji and locked with people like Tanko Yakasai, Baballe Manager among others who were all supporters of NEPU. We were tagged ‘radicals’ and some even said I was supporter of Nkrumah.

I was arraigned before a court and that was how I lost my passport officer’s job and my outburst was so fantastic because,I challenged those people that conspired against us that they didn’t even know Sardauna and I told them that we ate together in his parlour and that  Sardauna knew us very well and knew our value. One Tasawa, who was the judge then cautioned me to be careful, pointing out that he had been asked to implicate and send me to prison. Then Sharu Mamuda who was then the sanitary officer in Kano worked out the case out of Kano metropolis, I was remanded in prison custody for over a year and my case was not heard. The emir of Kano then intervened and I was released after our case was taken to a provincial judge. I was not treated fairly and my work file was destroyed and I therefore left the job in the passport office.

Were you identified with any political group then?

Of course yes. I was in the GNPP.

How was your relationship with Ibrahim Imam?

It was very good. May his soul rest in peace. He was more of an uncle. What we saw in those days was terrible because immediately you were identified with a certain group, you must be victimised.

When did you complete your public service?

It was in 1965

Did you voluntarily retired or what?

No, in that year I tried to gain my right but could not succeed so I went into business. I established a supply enterprise and my brothers were there. Later on Tatari Ali wanted me back into the public service but I was given a lower grade which I rejected and decided to be on my own.

So you didn’t resign?

The issue of resignation did not arise, I was victimised, and I was thrown out. First of all I was sent to prison and later the court discharged and acquitted me and I tried to go back to the federal service but they said I was a threat to their leaders,someone who abused Sardauna . In 1965 Sardauna died and Tatari sent for me because he had become a sort of a life friend. Even when he became governor in 1979, he invited me.

Nigeria is now 49 years. Do you think we are progressing?

If we are to talk on that, what we don’t have in Nigeria is patriotism. I don’t know whether it is in our blood. We are not patriotic because Nigerians are only after what they will gain. Selfishness has taken over our lives, backbiting and jealousy, among others. A Nigerian is ready to sell his mother in order to achieve what he wants to achieve.

Do you think Nigeria was ready when it got its independence from the British?

In fact, it was overdue and over matured.

Then how can you compare our progress with that of Ghana?

There are many differences because Nigeria has a diversified culture and tradition so you can not compare them.

You made mention elsewhere that the white men were not sincere about developing the north during the colonial era.

Yes, because before they came to Nigeria, they knew what was on ground hence they debated our independence. People like Abubakar Imam, Bukar Dipcharima, among others, went to London for the Constitutional Conference. The interest of the white man then was on the northern Nigeria, I think because of political and religious background. They understood that the north was developing in line with Arab and Islamic culture, which they thought was a threat because they had been to Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sudan and many Middle East countries. So they thought northern Nigeria might also be the same and therefore they sabotaged our education.

They introduced something they called “educate northerners and lose Nigeria”, imagine! To start with, they stopped all science subjects in the middle school. This was around 1948. Thank God, we were good in all science subjects, including mathematics.

Are you a pensioner now and what do you think are your contributions to Nigeria during your active years?

To be honest with you, I did not contribute anything to Nigeria. I know you would be surprised to hear this. What happened was that we lacked career guidance. There were career officers during our time but most of us were not properly guided and therefore many of us messed up. If the talented among us were given chance to develop, it would have been a different story.

At the age of 80, what are you now expecting from Nigeria?

My prayer is that Nigeria should be just and shy away from greed. Many Nigerian are not patient and they can stop at nothing to get what they want. Religious disharmony and ethnicity has beclouded our conscience.

Can you tell us about your family and how you relax?

I am married and have six children. I also listen to the radio. I have never counted myself among the rich. I sometimes visit my friends, like the Sarkin Malamai to while away time and I am most grateful to the Fika Emirate Council which is now taking care of me.

You walk on crutches, was it old age or you had an accident?

I fell down in October 2008 and the late emir of Fika, Alhaji Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa, took me to the orthopaedic hospital in Kano, but later I came back and the fracture was corrected using traditional method. My condition is gradually improving even though I am limping.

Is the house you are living in yours?

Yes, it is a four bedroom flat and it was the late emir of Fika that facilitated my getting it. I bought it long ago at the cost of N20, 000.