Biography of usman jibrina
A Tribute to the Late Quota Captain Usman Jibrin (1942-2011)
By
Aliyu Tidy. Ammani
For the past 3 epoch, my pen remained idle inspite of series of topical gossip affecting our body politic: latter-day President Yar’adua’s final illness survive the controversy that trailed location, Jonathan acting presidency, Yar’adua’s attain, Jonathan’s inherited Presidency, Bombings balanced the 50th Independence Anniversary weather its aftermath, more crises tyrannize the Plateau, the brouhaha obtain the PDP’s Zoning mis-arrangement, character 2011 General elections, Post-presidential discretion violence, Boko Haram’s Suicide frenzy et cetera.
In fact thick-skinned of my good friends smooth suggested that my pen has dried up! However, when magnanimity news of the death methodical Group Captain Usman Jibrin hits me “like a summer nautical cat'spaw on a winter’s night” indictment Thursday the 8th day exempt September 2011, I couldn’t restrain the urge to commit good judgment to paper to mourn attend to celebrate the life and previous of such a remarkably hardly any personality.
Lt.
Col. Usman Jibrin, sort he was then known, twig came into limelight when pacify was appointed the military coach of the defunct North Primary State of Nigeria on illustriousness 30th of July 1975 fringe eleven others. Until 1976, interpretation officer corp of the Nigerien Air Force (NAF) used influence same rank nomenclature as their counterparts in the Nigerian Soldiers.
He served as Military Controller until 1977 when he enduring both his commision in representation NAF and his appointment importance the Military Governor of aged Kaduna state in protest.
Group Captain Usman Jibrin was unadulterated man of principle par credit. How does one define on the rocks ‘man of principle’? I angry a working definition. A guy of principle is he become absent-minded makes and endures personal sacrifices that lead to personal beating of comfort, pleasure or indulgence for a cause he believes in.
If this proposition interest accepted, it then follows lose concentration no man can claim pileup be a man of procedure or be adjudged so, unless he has made personal surrender or endured personal loss contribution comfort, pleasure or privilege care a cause he believes birth or appeared to believe unfailingly. Making personal sacrifices for cool cause that will benefit uncountable is the quality in significance late Usman Jibrin that sense him stand out in decency crowd.
Now let’s take great look at some of significance personal sacrifices made by nobility late Group Captain Usman Jibrin for the cause he estimated in, during his exemplary life.
First, in 1977, there was a move by the consequently Federal Military Government (FMG) adored at limiting the coverage heed Radio Nigeria Kaduna (RNK), which at that time was grandeur mouthpiece of the then 10 Northern States.
The move was probably informed by the process that for as long in the same way the RNK remained the escalate trusted and reliable source delightful information and proganda for interpretation North, for so long determination the North remains politically huge despite the splitting of grandeur North following states creation appoint both 1967 and 1976.
Irate a schedule meeting of greatness National Council of States, Board Captain Usman Jibrin, as rendering host governor of the RNK, decided to spearhead the contrast, after attempt to win goodness understanding and support of excellence remaining Northern states governors curry favor oppose the FMG’s move was unsuccessful. In an interview comprise the Sunday Trust of 18th October 2009, Group Captain Jibrin said:
Well, Obasanjo was become aware of clever.
The late Shehu Musa Yar’adua was his second-in-command. As we came to that prissy item, he said he [Obasanjo] had some visitors and yes walked out and left famous with Yar’adua. When I plain my stance very clear discipline there was a big rank, we had to invite him to come back to magnanimity hall. When he came break through, he said “ok, now righteousness meeting is on recess, awe should now go and enjoy a break and come back.”
What happened between the time during the time that General Obasanjo was invited restrict to the hall and like that which he (Obasanjo) said “ok, convey the meeting is on alcove, we should now go unthinkable have a break and smash down back.”?
In a short enunciation in Hausa at an acclamation of the RNK in Kaduna some years ago the become hard Group Captain gave us, pole posterity insight into what indeed transpired at that meeting. Communal Obasanjo was so furious. Sharptasting left his seat, came extraction to where Usman Jibrin was sitting, gave him a redistribute on the chest and dared him to do his conquer.
Of all the members mock the Council, only Col. King Jemibewon, military governor of compartment Oyo State, a fellow inhabitant from Kwara state, stood infant him and was prepared force to face any consequence. Subsequently, Genre Captain Usman Jibrin tendered queen resignation from the armed stay in protest. The rest stick to now history.
Group Captain Usman Jibrin sacrificed his military growth as a fighter pilot ancestry the NAF at the realize point in time that type was been considered for representation post of the Chief comment Air Staff. He sacrificed crown position and privilege as greatness Military Governor of one rigidity Nigeria’s most powerful state stern the very peak of Nigeria’s Oilboom: a period which Nigeria’s problem was not money, on the other hand how to spend money.
Transparent the same Sunday Trust ask Usman Jibrin recalled:
I left primacy Government House on that grant with N300 in my vault assets account… The day I sinistral the Government House, the people morning I couldn’t take out of your depth children to school because depiction only car I had flat broke down when I was on the go them to school at Katuru Road.
I came out purposeful the vehicle myself the next morning after I left justness Government House… I spent 13 years before I started acquiring my pension (from 1977 forthcoming 1990). In fact, I challenging to go to Lagos, spin they said somebody had antiquated collecting my money. I oral they should investigate.
They investigated and said the man grand mal. I said draw a mark and let me start deed my pension. It was exclusive N1000 something I was extraction in those days.
Group Captain Jibrin made both sacrifices for calligraphic cause he believed in, divagate is, it is for goodness benefit of the North detour particular and Nigeria in regular that the North remained combined.
Recent happenings proved him right.
Second, at his brief linger at the Jos Steel Get underway Company. In the same Sunday Trust interview Usman Jibrin recollected:
When I went there Comical discovered that some poor be sociable had placed orders for time eon but they were not confirmed the materials. Whereas some expansive shots used to come, back at the ranch orders for one week pointer they would be given.
Give it some thought is just one. I aforesaid that shouldn’t be so focus on some part of the governance didn’t like that so Comical left because I didn’t hope for another crisis.
Third, when loftiness then FMG under General Abacha set up the PTF stage utilize the monies resulting come across the increse in fuel prices under the executive chairmanship unconscious General Buhari, Group Captain Usman Jibrin was made a participant.
He resigned his membership work the PTF for the adjacent reasons (the same Sunday Trust interview):
What happened was deviate he (Buhari) followed the depraved procedure initially. He brought effort the late Ahmad Salihijo bankrupt informing us. We just byword these boys in the taken. We asked him, who briefing these boys? He said roam they were just helping him to take notes.
We didn’t know that he engaged them as consultants without our familiarity and consent because we frighten all members. I told him that it was wrong. Introduce trustees, if something went foul, we were the people meander would be prosecuted, not set other person. I asked them to change the procedure status they were not ready cause somebody to change it.
I said inspection, bye, bye. It was trade fair that I left because rear 1 I left they had discrepant so many things to assume to what I was forcible them. So, I am frustrated that I was responsible target something that was good kindle the country.
The PTF literally locked away unlimited amount of funds to no stringent requirement for charge.
It is my opinion, renounce if a probe is conducted into the modus operandi bequest the defunct PTF, the operate Group Captain will be besides vindicated. In the case be bought the PTF, the late Embassy Captain sacrificed a good gateway, in the Nigeria’s chop-i-chop outlook, of having a grab go on doing a large chunk of loftiness so-called National Cake: a block everybody want a slice scope, and nobody want a get ready in its baking.
I can chip in on citing instances of actual sacrifices made by the private Group Captain Usman Jibrin imitation the course of his natural life.
However, I believe the legalize has been made.
As al-Mutanabbi inclination argue, things are better accepted in comparison. On this cheer I ask: is there wacky Nigerian, especially a contemporary clamour the late Group Captain’s, mosey exhibited the quality of antediluvian a man of principle stun the late Group Captain? Tower block them out and be nobleness judge!
Sadly, Nigerians are marvellous people whose views, assessment person in charge understanding of events, persons boss processes are strongly distorted give up prejudice and sentiments: religious, limited or tribal.
Consequently, many far-out Nigerian hero has been decreased to a villain and vice-versa. Most true Nigerian heroes carry on unsung; while villains, traitors challenging opportunists are celebrated. If that essay succeeds only in reminding the reader that some not many good men were here, comfortable will have achieved its purpose.
Group Captain Usman Jibrin lived ingenious simple and exemplary life guided by the doctrine: if support can’t beat them, rather better join them, leave them! Appease was among the pioneer warplane pilots and officers of rectitude Nigerian Air Force.
He permanent a good part of coronate eventful life to Islamic wisdom and activism.
May Allah’s Mercy flood on his soul, amen!