Memories of integrity, modesty and selflessness
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- Written by Abdullahi Bala Isa, Snr
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The above title is true of late Wazirin Minna who departed this world ten years ago (precisely on 11/08/99). This article is written as a tribute to a man who lived and acted gloriously so that the society becomes better. He was born in 1927 at Minna, and attended Minna Elementary School (known as IBB Primary school) from 1936 to 1939, and also Bida Middle School from 1940-1942. On completion, he joined the then Minna Native Authority as Clerical Assistant. He attended the Hides and Skins inspector course at Kano Training Institute (1943- 1945). In 1948, he attended the Executive officer (clerical) course at Oshogbo. In 1949, he was appointed clerk to the Minna Native Authority. In 1952, he became member of the defunct Northern Nigerian House of Assembly representing Minna constituency. In 1953, he was among those selected to go to England for a course in Public Administration, which he completed successfully. In 1956, he was appointed Assistant Divisional officer (ADO) and posted to Azare in Katagum Native Authority.
In 1957, he was among those selected to undergo further training in Public Administration in United Kingdom. On his return, he was appointed Divisional Officer (DO) and posted to Sokoto division. In 1960, he was transferred to Kano division and put in charge of the Hajj operations. In 1962, he was transferred to Kaduna and appointed the Secretary, Public Service Commission (PSC) of the Northern Region. As the secretary, he served meritoriously under the legendary late Abubakar Imam who has earlier been appointed by the late Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello as the pioneer chairman of the commission.
His good disposition and hard work earned him the position of the Administrator of the newly created Kaduna Capital Territory. In 1963, he was appointed Resident officer and posted to Ilorin as Resident, Ilorin Province. The search for an arduous and competent officer earned him the position of Chief Regional Census officer, Northern Nigeria. After the assignment, he was appointed in 1965, as Provincial Secretary, and posted to Maiduguri Province. In 1966, he was transferred to Katsina as Provincial Secretary. After the senseless coup of 1966 by the dissident soldiers, the new administration retained and appointed him as provincial secretary in charge of Zaria Province, shortly afterwards, he was transferred back home to Minna as provincial secretary, Niger Province.
In 1969, he was appointed commissioner for Home Affairs and Information, North Western State. In 1973, he was reassigned to the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. In 1975, he was appointed Permanent Secretary, Special Duties in the Governor’s office; a position he held until his retirement. In 1976, he was appointed and turbaned as Wazirin Minna by the first Emir of Minna, late HRH Alh. Ahmadu Bahago,CON. In 1978, his service was required by the then General Olusegun Obasanjo administration and was appointed a Commissioner, Federal Electoral Commissioner (FEDECO) in charge of Niger State and later Plateau State.
Aside from his arduous duty as wazirin Minna, he held several ad hoc duties which include member, representing Minna Emirate council in Federal University of Technology, Minna Campus –Community Forum; Grand Patron, Gamji Memorial Club, FUT, Minna chapter; Grand Patron, Federation of Niger State Students Association (FNISSA, now NANISS), FUT, Minna chapter; Member, National Economic & Intelligence Committee. In recognition of his exemplary life, a memorial lecture was held in his honour in March, 2003 by Gamji Members’ Association.
The then National President of the association, Alhaji Yakubu Jisambo , in his welcome address describe the late wazirin Minna as a nationalist whose exemplary life is worthy of emulation by our teeming youths and others. He further pointed out that “the association whose lofty objectives include immortalising the exemplary leadership qualities of late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunan Sakkwato and other past national leaders, chose to dedicate its first public lecture (of the newly established state chapter) to him in view of his tremendous contributions to national development and also in recognition of his selfless leadership qualities.
The lecture attracted quite a number of his associates, relations, former and present students of FUT Minna, members of the association and the general public. In his contribution, the special guest of honour and national patron of the association, Justice (Dr.) Mamman Nasir (Galadiman Katsina), describe the late Wazirin Minna as one who it appears from the early stage took upon himself the vow for probity, sincerity, honesty and hard work. It was this attributes and diligence that earned him the reputation of serving in different capacities at different time’s meritoriously. He disclosed that the late waziri’s appointments as Chief Census officer for Northern Nigeria, Administrator of Kaduna Territory, Secretary of Northern Nigeria Civil Service Commission, Provincial secretary at different regions among others were all based on credibility and merit. He went further to add: “I have had the opportunity of working with him as colleagues working under the tutelage of the late Premier; whenever he is given an assignment, he is anxious to see that he execute it diligently, you don’t find in him, the minute trace of laziness”.
The two discussants, Rev. Fr. D O’Connell and Dr. U B Ahmed (represented by Hajia Aishatu Umar) in their separate contributions pay glowing tributes to the late waziri’s life and his achievements. They both spoke extensively on the state of education in the state and the country at large. They advocated for more funding of the educational sectors if the nation is desirous of achieving the aspiration of its past leaders. In his contribution, Alhaji Abdullahi Bisalla (a former Chairman of the defunct Bank of the North) expressed fears on the state of public schools and call on policy makers to pay urgent attention to the educational sectors which according to him is in a state of decay. In his vote of thanks, the secretary of the organising committee and a former President, Student Union, FUT, Minna, late Engr. Bashir Mohammed added “we thank the merciful Allah that our paths crossed his in the course of our training as students and members of Gamji association”.
Whatever challenges we encounter in life, we shall always be grateful to Allah for been so generous to have given us a patron as noble as him. We are grateful for his guidance and will continue to be inspired by his insistence on honour, discipline, truth, integrity, hard work and above all the fear of God; characters which mark his sojourn on this earth. May the Almighty Allah grant him aljanna Firdausi.
Isa, Snr is a Special Assistant to the Governor of Niger State
Articles
Memories of integrity, modesty and selflessness
Category: Comments Written by Abdullahi Bala Isa, Snr Hits: 3072
The above title is true of late Wazirin Minna who departed this world ten years ago (precisely on 11/08/99). This article is written as a tribute to a man who lived and acted gloriously so that the society becomes better. He was born in 1927 at Minna, and attended Minna Elementary School (known as IBB Primary school) from 1936 to 1939, and also Bida Middle School from 1940-1942. On completion, he joined the then Minna Native Authority as Clerical Assistant. He attended the Hides and Skins inspector course at Kano Training Institute (1943- 1945). In 1948, he attended the Executive officer (clerical) course at Oshogbo. In 1949, he was appointed clerk to the Minna Native Authority. In 1952, he became member of the defunct Northern Nigerian House of Assembly representing Minna constituency. In 1953, he was among those selected to go to England for a course in Public Administration, which he completed successfully. In 1956, he was appointed Assistant Divisional officer (ADO) and posted to Azare in Katagum Native Authority.
In 1957, he was among those selected to undergo further training in Public Administration in United Kingdom. On his return, he was appointed Divisional Officer (DO) and posted to Sokoto division. In 1960, he was transferred to Kano division and put in charge of the Hajj operations. In 1962, he was transferred to Kaduna and appointed the Secretary, Public Service Commission (PSC) of the Northern Region. As the secretary, he served meritoriously under the legendary late Abubakar Imam who has earlier been appointed by the late Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello as the pioneer chairman of the commission.
His good disposition and hard work earned him the position of the Administrator of the newly created Kaduna Capital Territory. In 1963, he was appointed Resident officer and posted to Ilorin as Resident, Ilorin Province. The search for an arduous and competent officer earned him the position of Chief Regional Census officer, Northern Nigeria. After the assignment, he was appointed in 1965, as Provincial Secretary, and posted to Maiduguri Province. In 1966, he was transferred to Katsina as Provincial Secretary. After the senseless coup of 1966 by the dissident soldiers, the new administration retained and appointed him as provincial secretary in charge of Zaria Province, shortly afterwards, he was transferred back home to Minna as provincial secretary, Niger Province.
In 1969, he was appointed commissioner for Home Affairs and Information, North Western State. In 1973, he was reassigned to the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. In 1975, he was appointed Permanent Secretary, Special Duties in the Governor’s office; a position he held until his retirement. In 1976, he was appointed and turbaned as Wazirin Minna by the first Emir of Minna, late HRH Alh. Ahmadu Bahago,CON. In 1978, his service was required by the then General Olusegun Obasanjo administration and was appointed a Commissioner, Federal Electoral Commissioner (FEDECO) in charge of Niger State and later Plateau State.
Aside from his arduous duty as wazirin Minna, he held several ad hoc duties which include member, representing Minna Emirate council in Federal University of Technology, Minna Campus –Community Forum; Grand Patron, Gamji Memorial Club, FUT, Minna chapter; Grand Patron, Federation of Niger State Students Association (FNISSA, now NANISS), FUT, Minna chapter; Member, National Economic & Intelligence Committee. In recognition of his exemplary life, a memorial lecture was held in his honour in March, 2003 by Gamji Members’ Association.
The then National President of the association, Alhaji Yakubu Jisambo , in his welcome address describe the late wazirin Minna as a nationalist whose exemplary life is worthy of emulation by our teeming youths and others. He further pointed out that “the association whose lofty objectives include immortalising the exemplary leadership qualities of late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunan Sakkwato and other past national leaders, chose to dedicate its first public lecture (of the newly established state chapter) to him in view of his tremendous contributions to national development and also in recognition of his selfless leadership qualities.
The lecture attracted quite a number of his associates, relations, former and present students of FUT Minna, members of the association and the general public. In his contribution, the special guest of honour and national patron of the association, Justice (Dr.) Mamman Nasir (Galadiman Katsina), describe the late Wazirin Minna as one who it appears from the early stage took upon himself the vow for probity, sincerity, honesty and hard work. It was this attributes and diligence that earned him the reputation of serving in different capacities at different time’s meritoriously. He disclosed that the late waziri’s appointments as Chief Census officer for Northern Nigeria, Administrator of Kaduna Territory, Secretary of Northern Nigeria Civil Service Commission, Provincial secretary at different regions among others were all based on credibility and merit. He went further to add: “I have had the opportunity of working with him as colleagues working under the tutelage of the late Premier; whenever he is given an assignment, he is anxious to see that he execute it diligently, you don’t find in him, the minute trace of laziness”.
The two discussants, Rev. Fr. D O’Connell and Dr. U B Ahmed (represented by Hajia Aishatu Umar) in their separate contributions pay glowing tributes to the late waziri’s life and his achievements. They both spoke extensively on the state of education in the state and the country at large. They advocated for more funding of the educational sectors if the nation is desirous of achieving the aspiration of its past leaders. In his contribution, Alhaji Abdullahi Bisalla (a former Chairman of the defunct Bank of the North) expressed fears on the state of public schools and call on policy makers to pay urgent attention to the educational sectors which according to him is in a state of decay. In his vote of thanks, the secretary of the organising committee and a former President, Student Union, FUT, Minna, late Engr. Bashir Mohammed added “we thank the merciful Allah that our paths crossed his in the course of our training as students and members of Gamji association”.
Whatever challenges we encounter in life, we shall always be grateful to Allah for been so generous to have given us a patron as noble as him. We are grateful for his guidance and will continue to be inspired by his insistence on honour, discipline, truth, integrity, hard work and above all the fear of God; characters which mark his sojourn on this earth. May the Almighty Allah grant him aljanna Firdausi.
Isa, Snr is a Special Assistant to the Governor of Niger State