Alhaji Abu Gidado Congratulates Yushau Shuaib for PRMan Award of NIPR in Kano 1998

Abu Gidado: An Encounter with Incorruptible Patriarch
By Yushau Shuaib

On his 66th birthday on April 2, 2006, I wrote a tribute on the incorruptible nature of Alhaji Abu Muawiya Gidado, Nigeria’s former Minister of State for Finance and Chairman of the monthly meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) during the Abacha administration.

I was his personal aide and spokesperson when he was Minister between 1994 and 1998. As he clocks 79 on April 2 this year, it is necessary to revisit the life of Alhaji Abu-Gidado as a man of unquestionable integrity, who distinguished himself through selfless service, godliness and simplicity.

Although tribute is usually paid to the memory of heroes, it is certainly more important and instructive to celebrate the exemplary leadership qualities of the living, as a way of encouraging others to emulate their virtues and inspiring ways of life. In any case, why wait for a hero to pass on when we have ample opportunities to testify to their goodness while alive, and whatever gives one the feeling of surviving such a person? Such are the ironies of life!

As a spokesperson in the Ministry of Finance back then, before I was assigned as his aide, Alhaji Gidado once said that a responsible person is conscious of his responsibility to the family and society. When he, therefore, encouraged me to marry early rather yield to temptations and indiscretion, I complied and later named my first child after him.

The Ministry of Finance during the military era was very powerful, combining both executive functions and those of the legislature in a democratic dispensation. The Minister was responsible for budgetary allocations and the appropriation of funds while approving foreign exchange allocations, tax exemptions, import waivers, and the settlement of contractors and special grants.

As the Chairman of parastatals under the Finance Ministry and Chairman of FAAC, Abu Gidado stood for justice and fairness in the disbursement of allocations to all the tiers and arms of government. His official interventions and benevolence rescued a number of financial institutions and business enterprises from the full weight of official sanction, while other genuine contractors and consultants thrived appropriately under the dispensation.

Yet, often to the dismay of the beneficiaries of his official magnanimity, Abu-Gidado rejected their various acts of gratitude, whether in the form of the allotment of shares, cash gifts, free products or other forms of appreciation. Not only did he routinely decline the inducements of stakeholders, he always insisted that his aides returned suspicious gifts, with the acknowledgment of the receipt of such by the senders. I and his security orderly, Ahmed Ibrahim who is currently an EFCC officer, were involved, in most cases, in returning these gifts.

Since I was responsible for keeping the finances of his office for maintenance, traveling and other contingencies, he always directed me to refund unutilised funds to the treasury, including unspent estacode for foreign trips. For instance, after a 1994 diplomatic-business tour of more than 10 African countries within a week in a President Jet, Abu-Gidado instructed me to refund the huge unexpended estacodes and contingency funds meant for a month tour. The jet was flown by the Flight Commander Samuel Atti and Captain Alkali Mamu who both retired as Air Vice Marshalls (AVM) in the Nigerian Airforce (NAF).

Before the introduction of the monetisation policy by the federal government, he keenly guarded against wastage of public funds on frivolities and extravagant social pastime. He was so uncompromising that he withheld endorsements from questionable expenditures and projects. For instance, when it was the practice for top public officers to have official guest houses, with all the services involved and amenities provided by the government, he declined this, even though he is polygamous. He only maintained an official residence in Abuja.

The former Minister never allowed nepotism to becloud his sense of judgment, as he did not allow members of his family to benefit from projects and contract awards within the ambit of the ministry. As a man of God who thinks about death as if he would die at any moment, he used to keep a special diary in which he recorded money he borrowed from individuals, with amounts sometimes as meagre as five hundred naira then, for the simple reason that his family had the obligation to settle all indebtedness from his assets at his demise.

Banner on the Book Launch of Nightmare for the Rich on October 10, 1997 at Sheraton Hotel Abuja

With an understanding of his strict lifestyle of contentment but my own need for an additional source of income to augment my meagre official remuneration, I had pleaded with him to support the launch of my first book, ‘Nightmare for the Rich in 1997.’ Although, he reluctantly gave his endorsement and accepted to be the Chief Host, for fear of a conflict of interest. He nevertheless allowed me to use his name on the invitations. His name attracted top public functionaries, finance commissioners and chief executives of corporate organisations to the event. In fact, Bar Jimoh Ibrahim, Mr. Waziri Kyari Mohammed, Mrs Cecilia Ibru, Hajia Hamrat Imam and Mr. Kayode Naiyeju were among top dignitaries who made generous donations at the book presentation. That was how I built my first house the same year!

When Abu Gidado was relieved of his appointment by the administration of General Abubakar Abdulsalam in 1998, he requested the presence of the Director of Finance and Supply, Mrs Grace Archibong and her staff to take an inventory of the items in his official residence. He accounted for and returned every single bit of public property in his possession, including cutlery, and even broken plates.

Immediately after the inventory was taken, instead of the official vehicles attached to him, he used his personal cars to convey himself and his family back to his hometown in Katsina. Mrs Archibong, who later became a Federal Permanent Secretary, was emotionally moved at the astonishing personality of Alhaji Gidado.

Before his appointment into the public service, his career in the private sector was meritorious, as he rose rapidly to the position of the Retail Manager (North) for Shell Nigeria limited, and then became General Manager, Arewa Textiles Limited, before later becoming Deputy Managing Director with Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN).

His patience after a frustrated attempt at getting into the civil service of the old Kaduna State was however subsequently rewarded with an appointment the following year as a Commissioner in the the same Ministry, where he subsequently became Deputy Chairman of the State Executive Council, which handed over to the incoming civilian administration of Balarabe Musa in 1979.

Alhaji Gidado’s past high-profile engagements include serving as a member of the Boards of Directors of Peugeot Automobiles of Nigeria, Arewa Textiles and DPMS/IBM. He was a member of the Board of Governors, Kaduna Polytechnic; Chairman, Katsina State Water Board, and Finance Commissioner in the former Kaduna and Katsina States. He also served in TCPC Sub-Committee for Privatisation and Commercialisation in the Automotive Industry; director of some multinational conglomerates, and he represented Nigeria’s interest in the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), and Afreximbank, before serving as Federal Commissioner in the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

Abu-Gidado’s life is a clear testimony to the existence of incorruptible Nigerians who do not worship money or idolise godfathers to reach the peaks in their careers and earn public respect. Their simple lifestyles and self-contentment give them comforts that elude many powerful and wealthy people in society.

As Alhaji Abu Gidado graciously steps into his 79th year on earth, while remaining hale and hearty, may we learn and imbibe enduring lessons from such a great person.

Yushau A. Shuaib
www.YAShuaib.com
yashuaib@yahoo.com

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One of the major reasons some of us believe strongly in ability of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was the way and manner she carried major players both from the North and the South along while she were Minister of Finance between 2003 to 2006. She were never accused of discrimination or bias against any of the diverse groups of the ethnically charged and religiously polarized nation. The same will be said of her then principal, Olusegun Obasanjo who, despite some of his shortcomings will never be accused of tribalism. He is a detribalized leader and a nationalist to the core who believe strongly in the Nigeria project.

The choice of her nominees into top public appointments and even the composition of her associates cut across every segment of Nigeria including those in her Economic Team like Nasir Elrufai, Nuhu Ribadu, Bode Agusto, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar and Chukwuma Soludo among others.

Her achievements too were glaring. We recall that in 2005 she led Nigeria to striking a deal with the Paris Club, a group of bilateral creditors, to pay a portion of Nigeria’s external debt amounting US $12 billion in return for an $18 billion debt write-off.

She ensured transparency in monthly federation account allocation by the introduction of monthly publication of the disbursements in selected media. She was instrumental to helping Nigeria obtain its first ever sovereign credit rating (of BB minus) from an international ratings agency. Even when she left the government in 2006, her nongovernmental organisation, NOI Global Consulting, partnered with the Gallup Organization to introduce what may be described as the first credible opinion poll, the NOI poll, into the Nigerian polity.

With these at the background, it was not surprising that when she were reappointed by President Jonathan as Finance Minister and when she were shortlisted for the post of President of the World Bank in 2012, she received overwhelming support from all Nigerians. An online publication even claimed that some Northern Mallams were praying for her success in the mosques. Everyone at that period believed that she were a detribalized Nigerian with real-world experience of policy-making.

The reason for writing this write-up is to alert her to some disturbing trends as regards some recent appointments into top public offices in Nigeria in view of their economic and political implications. As the most powerful minister and an Igbo Princess from the Niger Delta by virtue of being a daughter of Obi of Ogwashi-Uku community in Delta State, I believe she should continue to live above board.

Recently the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) made some disturbing allegations of ethnic cleansing of Yoruba in federal appointments by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Wife of the sage, Chief HID Awolowo and the retired Bishop of Akure, Rt. Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi in Ikenne Ogun State after the meeting of the forum accused the administration of systematically excluding the Yoruba nation from the federation in terms of appointments without justification. They called on the government to redress the “systematic discrimination” against the Yoruba nationality in federal appointive positions without delay, saying that the Yoruba have been getting “crumbs” from the administration.

No sooner than the Yoruba allegation was made that the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) also publicly lamented gaping marginalization against the North over appointments and promotions in the military. According to these distinguished Nigerians, there are lopsidedness in employment and postings in the Nigerian Army in favour of the Igbos, which is clearly in the breach of the principle of Federal Character.

She should be aware that many Nigerians are referring to a book, ‘Chinua Achebe Teacher of Light’ which she co-authored where she expressed bitterness about how her tribe was dealt with before, during and after the civil war and insinuating that now that she is in authority, she is determined to correct all that she perceived as injustice against her people. Some even insist that what she is doing now is promoting regional and ethnic agenda to the detriment of other groupings in Nigeria by manipulating appointments.

To drive the point home, her name has been lately mentioned as collaborating with another Igbo top ranking appointee in government to ensure the reinstallation of Ms Arunma Oteh as Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) despite the glaring allegations against her and consistent calls by the National Assembly for her removal. Okonjo-Iweala stood her ground, damning all and today, Oteh remains in the position.

While the debate on Oteh’s saga was yet to subside, a coalition of youths, led by human rights activist and President of Civil Rights Congress, Shehu Sani, queried the rationale behind the appointment of a new Chairman for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) when a northerner, Kabir Mashi was already in the position and improving the revenue base of the agency, especially VAT collection for the Federation Account. Under Mashi FIRS has continued to record steady increases in the collection of taxes that it closed the 2012 financial year with a total collection of N5 trillion where N1.8 trillion (36.07 per cent) came from non-oil taxes.

The group claimed that the committee that Okonjo-Iweala set up was a smokescreen just to give a semblance of due process and fairness whereas it was populated mainly by her Igbo kinsmen. They added that “We don’t believe there is transparency in the process, and we caution the President against the excessive ceding of his own power to the finance minister.”

They publicly criticized her of playing an ethnic game with many of the appointments made in the country since she returned to the saddle. Some of the other positions, they alleged, which were created and filled during this period include those of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Sovereign Wealth Fund, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) and even the recent appointment of a 40 year old lady as Director General of National Pension Commission (PENCOM).

People are wondering at the coincidence of only Igbos beating every other person at competitive interviews conducted by her nominated international consulting groups. The only semblance of federal character principle in some of those institutions is the appointment of ceremonious but temporary chairmen who are merely figure-heads, with mandates for mere advisory roles.

The use of catchy phrases such as “best brains,” “foreign trained,” and “foreign-based” to deprived qualified, competent and experienced Nigerians to aspire to top positions is quite inimical to the progress of our nation. The erroneous impression that some competitive and sensitive positions can only be filled by unique intelligent tribes must be corrected.

Experiences have shown that in practical situations, some so-called foreign trained and bookish first class graduates could not do better than other Nigerians who have the competence and experience to prove their worth in most difficulty terrains.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala should also note that blatant disregard to the sensitivities and sensibilities of others while arrogantly promoting only people from her tribe may expose them to hatred with potentially explosive consequences such as those experienced in the 1960s when most federal positions were occupied by a particular tribal group.

For those of us who still respect the Hon Minister of Finance and Economic Development, we strongly believe she should dissociate herself from current allegations of ‘biafranization’ of top public offices in Nigeria. We are in democratic government where policy issues should not be done in dictatorial manner of ‘we-are-now-in-power’.

I therefore urge her to ensure that appointments into important positions should be done in credible and transparent manners that can withstand public scrutiny. I believe strongly that only those that mean well will dare to tell the truth on the general feeling in the country.

Yushau A. Shuaib
www.yashuaib.com

This article by Yushau A Shuaib has been published in national dailies including, National Mirror, Blueprint, Leadership, Peoples Daily, Daily Trust, it has also appeared on Sahara reporters, Daily Post, Premium Time, Economic Confidential, Eagle News, Nigeria Viallage Square, etc….

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