Who succeeds Rimi?

When the late Mallam Aminu Kano endorsed Rimi as the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in 1978, hardly anyone raised any objection because Rimi’s leadership qualities spoke for themselves. He was a unique politician who perceived public office as a call to selfless service rather than an opportunity to enrich oneself. Contrary […]

When the late Mallam Aminu Kano endorsed Rimi as the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in 1978, hardly anyone raised any objection because Rimi’s leadership qualities spoke for themselves. He was a unique politician who perceived public office as a call to selfless service rather than an opportunity to enrich oneself. Contrary to the allegations by the military that politicians stole billions, leaders of Rimi’s time were eventually found to have accumulated no money from illegal enrichment. In fact, other accounts say that even the house his family is living in today was built from a loan he obtained from Savannah Bank.

The military rulers had whipped up so much sentiments against politicians of Rimi’s generation but the subsequent realities of their lives contradicted the allegations of massive corruption made against them. Today, Rimi’s children live modestly just like the children of other average citizens. In fact, his children don’t ride in expensive state-of-the-art cars or live in posh houses of their own built through overnight wealth because their father is in office. Throughout his life in public service, he didn’t allow his children to use his office to secure contracts to enrich themselves. Today, there is nothing extraordinary about the lifestyles of Rimi’s children who live just like other ordinary Nigerians. The only difference is that they bear the name of a prominent and charismatic father.

It is difficult, therefore, for any political midget or pretender to wear Rimi’s big shoes. The lifestyles of the children of today’s politicians and public office holders is a constant reminder of the widening social distance between today’s self-styled leaders of the talakawa (masses) and the teeming population of talakawas.

Some of those aspiring to succeed Rimi have fallen short of his standard. It is not enough to aspire to succeed Rimi without demonstrating sincerity in our everyday conduct. We have a case of politicians who once rode on the back of the masses to achieve popularity. However, as soon as they got power, they abandoned their socialist principles and embraced full-blown bourgeoisie tendencies.

Throughout his life on earth, there was nothing to suggest in the lifestyle of Rimi’s children that their father’s position was a gravy train for them. Whoever aspires to succeed Rimi must measure up to this standard. Some of the socialists aspiring to succeed Rimi no longer command the credibility to be taken seriously. You cannot claim to be a socialist when your children live a lifestyle inconsistent with reality, especially when their previous economic status is widely known.

The late Rimi was not only remarkable for his strict discipline over the conduct of his children, he was also a selfless man. He would go to every extent to help you execute a plan to better your life; he might not necessarily give you money. But he would facilitate your effort to achieve your objectives. He would stop at nothing to give you a foothold in life.

Stepping into Rimi’s shoes is not for jokers. The late Rimi didn’t believe in destroying his friends once he had used them for his own purpose. He was not one of those politicians with short memories who easily forget their humble past and how others facilitated their progress in life. Stepping into Rimi’s shoes is not enough unless those aspiring to do so have his qualities. An office is diminished once those seeking to occupy it fall below certain standards.

Durbunde wrote from 29, Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina Road, Funtua, Katsina State