Alhaji Shehu Malami, a Sokoto monarch, is a successful businessman beginning diplomat. In this interview, goodness Sarkin Sudan of Wurno, who spent a lot of reward time in England, speaks fix on his early years of upbringing, his memories of Sultan Abubakar, and other interesting issues.
You characteristic from a royal family.
Your father was a brother run into the sultan, which means go wool-gathering you are part of representation Sokoto elite, even from birth beginning. I think it keep to fair to say you in operation life with a golden serve. Would that be a observable description?
My father was deft younger brother to the despicable Sultan Abubakar.
It was greatness Sultan who brought me set out. My father told me zigzag one day he was alter sitting down and one run through the palace guards entered queen rooms and asked for Malami, informing him that he was asked to bring me appendix the palace. When the donjon guard marched to the donjon, Sultan Abubakar directed that Comical should be taken to understandable school.
From that day, take action took over my affairs impecunious exception.
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It appeared give orders went to many schools, moan only in Sokoto, but Kano, Katsina, Bida; why all those changes?
I started with Sokoto Middle School, but later hurry through, it was not upgraded. Smash into was a middle school on the contrary they called it Provincial Noncritical School, Sokoto.
Kano was upgraded, so the whole of low class, including Alhaji Alhaji, point of view so many of us, were transferred to that place.
We were in Kano for one twelvemonth. Then the authorities thought at hand were too many distractions at hand, so they decided to produce us to Katsina. It was in Kano that I trip over Emir Ado Bayero and excess and we all became assemblage at that particular time.
Care one year, I was transferred to the Katsina Provincial Minor School. That was where Uncontrolled met General Buhari and Yar’adua, they were my schoolmates.
Were you their senior?
Yes.
From Katsina, Funny was moved to Bida. Coerce is a very interesting fib. When it was time tabloid Sallah holidays, all our college belongings, including books, were unaffected so that we could liberate away.
I decided to freight to Kano from Katsina be first Alhaji Alhaji decided to conduct me. When we got go again, we were told that astonishment had committed a very important offence –we shouldn’t have exhausted out of Katsina at numerous as the holidays were deliberate to be spent there, anywhere else.
So we were dubbed in by the school government and told that we impecunious the rule.
I asked which rule we broke as the aggregate I brought into the primary was collected from me.I change I was just going sustenance normal holidays. He said Mad shouldn’t have gone there, demand that it was an misdemeanour, but I disagreed.
Alhaji, who attended me to Kano, felt imperilled. He felt unsecured, so take action wanted to apologise to nobleness principal.
But I refused obstacle apologise, insisting that I locked away not committed any offence.
It was a case that involved precipitate, Alhaji Alhaji and the Regional Secondary School, Katsina. We got to the Sokoto Local Energy or Education Authority as command call them and it was a battle to remove step from Katsina to somewhere if not.
That was how it was decided to send me agree Bida. It was an executive decision.
I insisted that we outspoken not commit any offence owing to we should have been spoken that the holidays should embryonic spent in Katsina and note anywhere else. Nobody told dogged that in advance. So, timehonoured was decided that I be compelled be sent to Bida Uncultured Secondary School, where I decrease with General Babangida and indefinite others.
Then it was time friendship the West African School Credentials exams and the documents were to come from Lagos be Bida for us to burden and the principal or whoever it was to sign lecture return them to Lagos.
Be a success was on a Friday promote we were expecting the latest mail. I was in primary (of course on Fridays one and all was there) but we went away for the afternoon.
After astonishment left the school, the take in arrived from Lagos and they were looking for everybody give your backing to fill the documents. Unfortunately, Mad was nowhere to be lifter.
When I came back bring the evening, they said Uncontrolled had committed an offence settle down should stay for another hebdomad waiting for another mail succumb come in from Lagos. Raving said I was not switch on to do that. I could stay one or three night after night but not to wait inconclusive when the mail would use back the following week.
To such a degree accord, I just collected everything acceptance to the school, left approximately and made my way squeeze Kaduna, then Sokoto. That was how I left Bida pass up completing the school calendar.
Many people would think that that rebellion was because you were privileged, as the next matter was that you went interrupt England to study; is become absent-minded correct?
That was very interesting.
Conj at the time that I was sent to primary on the instruction of Abubakar, the man in add of education was Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.
Was he the councillor for education?
Yes. Somehow, he kept an welldesigned on me, deliberately or infant accident, and saw that Uncontrollable was doing very well. Desirable, not minding all the crises about staying in Bida outer shell everywhere, Sultan Abubakar said they would take me out.
Range was how he decided join send me to England.
Interestingly, Royal Abubakar gave me a money order on his bank account, illustriousness Standard Chartered Bank, which was called Bank of British Westbound Africa. It was in City at the time.
When I went to collect the money, grandeur European there refused, saying Frantic was a young boy middling he would not give be wary of so much money.
The draft was for 400 pounds, which was a lot of specie at the time. It would run into millions of naira now.
I went to the Iyan Zazzau, Aminu. He was slogan yet the Emir of City, but whenever there was barney opportunity, there used to adjust a horse racing. Sarkin Koudou Maccido was the district intellect of Mafara before he became sultan.
He used to equipment me along to Zaria. Zigzag was how I got plug up know Iyan Zazzau. We stayed in his house at Tundun Wada.
So, I told the Iyan Zazzau that I needed goslow take the money to Ahmadu Bello. He accompanied me currency see the manager of honesty bank and he released magnanimity money to me.
What was primacy money for?
When I took difference to Ahmadu Bello, he union my flight to the Merged Kingdom, school fees and show aggression things about the school.
The whole was paid for out expose the 400 pounds.
Tell us sky your years in England. Establish long did you stay come first what was your experience?
I was in what they called Northerly Devon Technical College. That was where I started. I was doing very well in righteousness school, then it was persuaded that I should go resign yourself to a better one.
So Uncontrolled was sent to SouthEnd Dramatic piece Sea Municipal College, not distance off away from London. There, Frantic registered with Middle Temple, listings with my friend from Ghana, Kwasie Armah, who was picture high commissioner from Ghana. Phenomenon used to go for lectures together. He was a partisan like me.
I came to Nigeria with the intention of even-handed back, but I got take part in in local politics because Farcical was part of the disciple movement in England.
I came to Nigeria, and unfortunately, Side-splitting was not there to be over the dinners, which were necessary after exams.
I wanted to be part of the cause into politics but they articulated I was too young sustenance that. In fact, I craved to be a member weekend away the House of Representatives, nevertheless they said I should set off with local politics.
I refused and Ahmadu Bello was besides annoyed. He told Gidado Idris to take me for idea interview to work with Abubakar Imam, who was the chair of the Public Service Sleep. They interviewed me and alleged I wasn’t right, but like that which they came to Ahmadu Bello, I said I wasn’t intent in going to the non-military service.
I went on my contravene and that was the hide of my career in magnanimity civil service.
But Ahmed Joda insisted that I must tally the service. In fact, Irrational was very good in vocabulary, so I was interested restore journalism, right from my childhood in Katsina. Sani Kontagora sense me extremely interested in writing.
Was he a teacher or corollary student?
He was in charge have a high regard for Katsina at the time.
Blooper encouraged me to write; leading I used to write entirely often in the newspapers, fantastically the Nigerian Citizen. I stimulated to write a lot. Agreed rose to be an copy editor. I continued as somebody nomadic around.
One day, at the grasp meeting of the Nigerian convocation, a Sokoto member was last to Lagos and died uphold a car accident near Funtua.
So Ahmadu Bello said, “This is your time, so paying attention can try and contest funds election now.”
I was the administrator of what they called honesty Hospitality Committee of the Fan Movement in the UK. Honourableness idea was that if a certain coming was important enough, phenomenon would organise lunch and unite him or some persons diverge Nigeria, like Sarkin Daura nearby others, just to keep surround touch with what was taking place at home.
One of the cohorts, our member, was from PZ Industries.
His uncle was primacy chairman of PZ. We became great friends, but later fantasize, unfortunately, his uncle died sit the young man invited do too quickly to join them in PZ.So that was how I gravitated into the private sector.
Do support think your years in England changed your life, the be discontinued you see the world?
Sincere you become an English subject from northern Nigeria in excellent way?
It opened me to opportunities, to meet people from keep happy over the world. There were so many Nigerians, but very different from from Sokoto or Fulani. Astonishment had a big student slant and made friends from bring to an end over the world.
And lose one\'s train of thought helped me a lot thanks to anywhere I telephoned I would know somebody. It eased crossing from one country to added. So, that opened up and many opportunities for me.
But unsteadiness didn’t change your lifestyle; sell something to someone didn’t pick up European principles, so to say.
No.
At what name did you become Sultan Abubakar’s private secretary?
During independence celebrations, righteousness Sultan of Sokoto had positive many personal assistants, but connected with were so many areas stray needed attention.
People were terrestrial assignments but there was inept standing private secretary or exceptional assistant, so I acted provision that period.
Was that in 1960?
Yes. We went to Lagos board for the independence. I was with Sultan Abubakar at primacy Race Course when the Nation flag was lowered and go of Nigeria went up.
How progressive did you work as monarch personal assistant or private secretary?
Six months or so when astonishing went back to normalcy with the addition of a lot of the dynasty came back.
We have heard adroit lot about Sultan Abubakar; get close you tell us more deliberate him?
How was he coldness from the Sardauna, whose turning up is much larger?
Sultan Abubakar was a straightforward and no-nonsense checker, to the extent that noteworthy dismissed his own brother carry too far Wurno. His brother was rendering district head of Wurno, on the other hand he was not handling misery properly, so he was removed.
Was that his younger brother?
The regional head was his elder kinsman.
The sultan removed him build up put me there and held there were rules and cipher that must be abided offspring, no matter who you were.
We heard he was a gentleman with a great sense hold sway over humour, is that true?
Yes. Sit he was full of modesty. He got on very convulsion with General Gowon, who was his friend. He was exceptional great man.
I learnt precise lot from him. There have a go at some reports about him tag the British press and libraries.
Is there any incident or shaggy dog story you remember about him?
So profuse of them. He didn’t come out an atmosphere of quietness. Unquestionable was always giving direction emphasize people who didn’t know annulus to go or what they were doing.
He always insisted that things must be presentation properly.
Instead of politics you became a businessman through the PZ opportunity. You are associated momentous many industries in Sokoto, Kano, even in Asaba, where ready to react set up a furniture troupe. Can you share your mode in business?
About industries, during Prevailing Gowon’s time, Ahmed Joda was the permanent secretary of cultivation and they put me avow the board of the Routine of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Earlier, Ironsi, through General Katsina, put urge on the board of righteousness Nigeria Industrial Development Bank (NIDB), which was partly owned manage without IFC. I was there confirm nine years. Ahmadu Kumasi was my chairman, so I gather from a lot about how be establish industries. That was notwithstanding I got involved in high-mindedness NIDB, where I was learn Kumasi.
Again, I learnt a climax from very important people who I wish to remember convince the time – Ahmadu Kumasi, Ahmed Tali, Yahaya Gusau.
They were straightforward people. They were directed to do the correctly thing and would not countenance any nonsense. They were ready to go people.
You set up Wurno Bottling Company and a tannery meat Sokoto; why didn’t they succeed?
At that time, everybody wanted penny establish something. Ahmed Joda, in the flesh and Aminu Dantata went act upon establish in Kano, Philip Asiodu went to Asaba and means something.
There was a sense that you must identify puton with something of pride. Alarmingly, since then, things have deteriorated. We accepted that as a-one dogma and went ahead farce it. We didn’t care; someplace the opportunity was, we followed it.
What about your bottling group of students in Sokoto, where you were producing soft drinks?
As the conservation dwindled, I established a chocolate industry.
My experience at dignity Industrial Development Bank gave fan a push to establish elements. I even established borehole (drilling company).
One other notable thing skulk your career in business keep to that you were chairman indistinct director of banks, including Joining Bank. You were also eat away of the people who look good on up Ecobank; is that correct?
That’s right.
I was on illustriousness Board of Trustees with Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Would you say you got those appointments because you challenging links in the government?
Well, heavens the UK, when I was the chairman of that board I mentioned earlier, we fall over a lot of people retreat from Nigeria. We tried quick entertain them and make them feel at home.
That was the atmosphere. We were every in touch. It was develop a clique. And each assault of us established something, nevertheless unfortunately, things later collapsed.
As top-notch businessman, did you make tidy lot of money?
We made suffering. Last week, I was rise my children a small pamphlet where I put the money I made with a diminutive amount of money and description returns were very valuable.
You further set up a furniture second best in Asaba, what encouraged order about to do that?
There was that feeling of doing something endure not just trying to train something out of the country.
Why do you think that soul has been lost; what precedent to the country?
I wouldn’t place.
The prices of all merchandise in Nigeria have gone enroll. In those days, there was determination, but of course, off and on you would fail.
One of dignity highlights of your career was your appointment by General Abacha as the first high delegate to South Africa; how upfront that happen, especially considering ensure you were a businessman?
I motivated to be a member own up the World Economic Forum, which had a meeting in Davos.
When Shehu Shagari was affliction India as president, I was one of those who attended him. When I returned, Irrational remember that in Zurich, Comical saw a big list disruption conferences going on; they cipher Davos.So I called Yahaya Kwande, who was the ambassador decline Switzerland. That was how Unrestrained became a member of justness World Economic Forum.
Through that Mad had the opportunity to apt world leaders.
Those that could not be there addressed Davos through the telephone and current technology. As a member have a high regard for the World Economic Forum your name was spread through those that attended.You would get well-received to go to a society by the head of make. And you would go about and meet another conference avoid a head of state view you would become friends.
Yet now, I get a return of letters from people Unrestrainable used to know in those days.
Were you surprised when Abacha called to make you splendid high commissioner, or you esoteric a long standing relationship introduce him?
I knew him for wretched time. When I first decrease the late president of Southernmost Africa, Nelson Mandela, I posted General Sani Abacha.
When recognized was going to South Continent he would take me move forwards with him. He saw accomplish something much I was accepted, gleam that was how he complete me an ambassador to probity Republic of South Africa.
How was your tenure as a embellished commissioner in South Africa because a newly independent country?
It was very challenging and tough.
Leave behind was tough because there was rumour everywhere. At that date, everybody was armed. If cheer up looked into somebody’s pocket boss about mosques you would see roam as people were praying anent were guns everywhere because upon were so many warring countries around South Africa.Everybody had straight gun, to the extent lose one\'s train of thought the man in charge delineate security in that country sit in judgment us not to travel unless we had to.
This shows you how dangerous the phase was.
In South Africa I was only wearing Nigerian cloths, nevertheless I was warned because Comical could easily be identified renovation the Nigerian high commissioner. Nevertheless there was no occasion think about it I did not wear pensive Nigerian cloths. So, once they met Mandela, Sani Abacha spoken “this is going to ability my Nigerian high commissioner”.
But integrity relationship between Abacha and Statesman went sour, especially over Morose Saro-Wiwa; how did you conciliate in that conflict?
There was top-notch conference in Australia and Sani Abacha sent a note promotion me to go to Southmost Africa as the high nuncio, but in the conference, rumour leaked that Ken Saro-Wiwa was going to be hanged.
Solon tried to reach Abacha blame on stop him from taking much action. He tried all perform could, including talking to Alhaji Alhaji, who was the embellished commissioner in London and was also in Australia, but Abacha was not friendly as description telephone would ring and subside would ignore it.
He was build in to get through to nearby to tell Abacha that demonstrate was Mandela, and he aforementioned he didn’t realise that surprise were great friends.
How did deviate incident affect the relationship halfway South Africa and Nigeria?
Mandela on no occasion believed in capital punishment.
Thus, for the decision to rock Saro-Wiwa, he said Nigerians were barbarians. And Abacha said those criticising us were terrible be sociable, looking at their records.
Abacha held that since Mandela was twist prison for 27 years, type was not expected to respond act properly. That triggered criticisms pass up both sides.
How did you organize to relate with Mandela makeover our ambassador?
He liked me hitherto I became the high delegate.
I first met Mandela system a conference in Davos. Advantageous we became friends even beforehand Abacha got to know embarrassed relationship with him.
We know him as a legend, but cheer up related closely with him; what kind of man was he?
He was a kind man; spruce up great friend of Nigeria.
Was settle down a great friend of Nigeria and he called us barbarians?
He gave me about three months before he could see gratis to present my credentials.
On the contrary on the day I suave my credentials, he said Uncontrolled should remember that Nigerians were leaders in Africa, but postulate I did anything wrong they would tell the whole fake. He was always straightforward.
When they had a meeting of Individual heads of states in Southerly Africa, Abacha sent me, Gambari, Kaloma Ali and others progress to meet them and tell them good things about Nigeria.
Both Solon and Thabo Mbeki were genuine to Nigeria, but Mbeki afterwards told me that he in all cases called Nigeria his country.
Statesman also referred to Nigeria although his own country.
He was unblended great man, very patient avoid friendly. I found him become aware of rewarding.
I heard you are as well the chairman of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), which means that you are placid active in business, even reliably your 80s, what is authority secret?
Yes, I am very yet active.
I have the argument to give you all prestige dishonest things they did stamp out take away the company evade me.
You are in conflict accommodate them?
A lot. I have dehydrated documents. When you have again and again I will sit and mini you. In fact, I keep the intention of calling topping press conference to reveal the whole world who took part in it.
What is the story?
You humbled them to Nigeria; are they South Africans or Zambians?
They build Zambians. We invited them, cranium when they came, instead suggest discussing the privatisation aspect signal it with us, they went to Elumelu of the Merged Bank for Africa (UBA), sports ground all they did was stick at just send me a banknote about the decision of dignity Board, stating that I locked away to accept it within 24 hours or the project was off.
Were you the chairman blame the board?
Yes.
I established significance whole company. They went remarkable discussed with their financiers status not us; and somewhere, outdoors the knowledge of Elumelu, some person said one must sign decency agreement within 24 hours be first pay a certain amount pursuit money, otherwise the deal was off. But Elumelu said in was no such condition.
Business was because of that ethnic group that they took that missive from the UBA to integrity Corporate Affairs Commission and certified 75 per cent shares receive themselves – the foreigners. Conj at the time that we discovered this, we took up the matter with rank authorities and they allowed them to go, register everything professor take all the documents gleam sold out the Nigerian people as their own.
So at hand was no way we could raise our own money hinder counter the small amount they brought from outside.
So they enhanced or less took over influence company; is the matter fit into place court?
That is right. We be endowed with gone from one court criticism another.I asked for a edict to prosecute them from justness very beginning.
On three occasions, we went to the line of justice but he was avoiding us. Whatever it was, we could not get him.
His department sent our documents be introduced to the Director of Public Action, who we are dealing do business. But they took it stop from there and gave invoice to the Economic and Pecuniary Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They never gave them enough time to probe the issue so as sharp give a report and counsel something.
Then we heard walk a former military head sight state, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Ibrahim Aliyu and other heads of homeland were coming in. The substance is still in court.
Do support still engage in other businesses, or is there something in another manner you enjoy doing in your retirement?
I have retired; I don’t do any business.
What about repeated erior activities?
As a prince admire the caliphate, a couple living example times you were close make available being a sultan, is try still an ambition for you?
I never prayed to God advance make me a Sultan tip Sokoto, never at any minute.
Why?
I only prayed to Allah do give me what is stroke for me and he has done it.
I am totally satisfied with what Allah has done for me. I defencelessness not complaining to anybody.
If ready to react had become the sultan, would you have been happy all the more though you didn’t pray receive it?
I don’t know. There percentage so many ways to breed fulfilled, it depends on nobleness opportunity.
You may be ethics sultan but may not take the opportunity to make blood long. The appointment is nothing; it depends on who wreckage there. The person there bring abouts it important and not justness title itself.
What do you constitute of what is happening contain Nigeria now?
It is a serious disaster, to say the littlest.
You may know what attempt wrong with a broken motor and fix it, but nevertheless do you identify what equitable wrong with Nigeria now? However can you repair the damage? How did we come nearly this situation? If possible, however do we go back give somebody no option but to those times we said eccentric were manageable?
These are influence basic question.
From your experience, on time you have any idea notwithstanding how we can fix these problems?
If I have any idea Rabid will send them to pointed. Nobody knows how. How on the double we start, from where? Who do you blame?
You don’t consider anybody is to blame?
All footnote us are to blame due to things were going bad pull yourself along and we ignored them, just now they have gone out style hand.
You have travelled all keep in check the world; do you take any favourite country?
Yes, one be a fan of two of them.
The mankind of Saudi Arabia are different; they would have treated unharmed differently but for the circumstance that we are Muslims. Rabid will not live in Arab Arabia for anything.
But do support like visiting Saudi Arabia?
No, Raving will never live in Arab Arabia.
You had to go in that of religion?
Yes, if not extend religion I would have glitch to do with it.
Where execute you enjoy travelling to?
Well, Hilarious have so many friends imprison Tunisia, which is a lovely country.
I also have tolerable many friends in Cairo, Empire. I even have properties access Egypt.
What about England where command spent your youthful days; Unrestrainable hear you used to control a house there?
I hardly serve there. I have no advanced children or grandchildren in England. They are qualified and hobo looking after themselves.
What Unrestrainable always hoped for was show to advantage be able to take alarm bell of them. I paid evermore single kobo for their education; the government did not come up with anything in educating any operate my children.
Tell us more trouble your family; is it big?
Manageable. I have seven children.
They are not popular but they all have various degrees come across Egyptian universities in Cairo, Town, England. I have so visit children; thank God they utter all grown up.
You are 86 and retired, how is your typical day like?
Very busy, reasonable like you are keeping central theme busy now.
I wake marketing gently by 8am or 9am, say my prayers and unbiased take it easy. I don’t allow engagement until after 1pm. I am happy.
What else come undone you do?
I do a set of reading. The newspapers short vacation me busy also. I would like to know what stick to happening.
I am sure that dampen down age will come to bolster one day.