It is exactly one year since we lost a great visionary. He was an amazing pillar of support and a great political leader and mentor. I am referring to Senator Mamman Bello Ali, former Governor of our beloved Yobe State who died on January 27, 2009 in a Florida Hospital in the United States of America. For starters, I recall my closeness to him. This closeness became even more intimate in his last three months alive.

The day before he left for the USA, he called me around 8:30p.m to meet him at his residence in Abuja. When I got there, nobody was in the compound except the policemen at the gate. I met him alone in his living room and I asked why there was nobody with him, because it was unusual.  He said: ‘I asked everybody to go, including the ADC and it is only you I would want to see.’ We discussed so many issues for about 45 minutes and he saw me off to my car. I asked him when he would return and he replied: “Mohammed, sai kun ganni” meaning: Until you see me. This was the last day I saw him.

Many knew Ali first as a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and later as the Executive Governor of Yobe State. But few people knew the quintessential Mamman Ali beyond his forays in politics. I had watched and admired Ali for a long time but our paths finally crossed in January 2007. Our relationship was based on true friendship, mutual respect, and robust intellectual interaction. Beyond the political exploits of Ali, he was a man of courage. He was purpose-driven, especially propelled by high principles which he never compromised before his death. His demise remains very painful to me and the entire people of Yobe state and his admirers all over Nigeria. But there is nothing anyone can do to stop death as Quran 29:57 states clearly: Kullu nafsin zaaa’iqatul mauti, thumma ilaina turja’un (everyone shall taste death. Then to Us you shall be returned). The best we can do for him is to pray for his gentle soul to rest in Aljannat firdaus.

The memory of his greatness however lingers in our minds. And his achievements and vision will continue to serve as the benchmark for responsible and effective governance for years to come. While in government, it was obvious to even the most cynical that Mamman Ali meant well for the state. His capacity for work was prodigious. He was not only extremely hardworking but equally devoted to his duties. Indeed, he was a selfless leader. Ali usually resumed in the office as early as 8.00 a.m. and would stay late till 1.00 a.m. or even 2.00 a.m. attending to official matters that would catalyze socio-economic development of the state. He was never selfish or vindictive in his actions.

It is said that a man will be better remembered for his legacy. What were the tangible and intangible (but highly valuable) tenets he stood for? What values stand a man out years after his demise? Such defining issues are the most memorable legacies great minds and men are remembered for. The late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunan Sokoto and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s late Prime Minister and Chief Obafemi Awolowo of Action Group and a leader in Western Nigeria and Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s former president, are best remembered today for their legacies of quality leadership, enhancement of education, national development and unflagging patriotism based on their principled stand on issues of their time.

In like manner, Governor Ali lived his life guided by some undiluted principles towards the service of humanity. Indeed, his principled view of issues underlined his actions. In his own words: “one thing that is controlling my actions is principle. You can decide to die for your principle; you can refuse to change because of your principle. It is not how old you are or how experienced you are, but how you have been cultured over life. I have been cultured to appreciate nothing more than my principle which I have built over time.” Sadly, while serving as a Governor of Yobe Sate, Mamman Ali was completely misunderstood by a lot of people. It became evident that some people expected him to lower his standards and carry on with business as usual. But he would not compromise his valued principles of transparency, service to the generality of the people and absolute uprightness.

In his 574 days in office, Ali shone like a million stars driven by principles. As a strong advocate of accountability, he sanitized the civil service and embarked on upward review of workers’ salaries. Among his most memorable projects included the construction of about 600 housing units. The late governor built 17 boarding primary schools, Yobe Turkish College and FM  radio station. He awarded the contract for the reconstruction of Potiskum-Gashua road, construction of  three ultra modern hospitals and also revitalized decaying infrastructures including, Damaturu ring road, Yobe Aluminum factory, fertiliser blending plant (in fact a great deal of effort was made to set up a fertilizer blending plant in the state). He also had his sight set on expanding the business potentials of his people by facilitating trade with neighbouring countries in the spirit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).That was the principle behind the construction of Geidam-Maina sorowa road which links the state with Niger Republic. Undoubtedly, Ali left an indelible footprint on the sands of time.

Born in Jimeta town of Adamawa State in 1958, he attended Kaduna Polytechnic for his HND and also bagged two degrees in Construction and Extension from Tuskgee University, Alabama, USA. He worked for 15 years as Senior Engineer in the Borno State Ministry of Works and retired in 1990. He also established private companies before venturing into politics. He was first elected Senator to represent Yobe South Constituency in 1999 and re-elected in 2003.

He became the 7th Governor of Yobe State on May 29, 2007. He set very high standards and targets for his administration. Senator Ali was far-sighted enough to note that Yobe was lagging behind and he made education a matter of priority. On one occasion during his campaigns, Ali noted in a manner that is today memorable that: “The major reason for our educational backwardness is the inadequacy of requisite facilities that sustain learning. These inadequacies will be gradually redressed.” He was an exemplary leader.

During his stint, he managed the state’s scarce resources very well to the extent that the state government had good liquidity position and never borrowed a kobo from any bank. He was thorough and cared very much about details.

Mamman Ali held the view and practised his conviction that it was better to teach a man how to fish than feed him daily with fried fish. That was the rationale for what his administration did in less than two years, to provide qualitative education to the youths. It is worthy of note that he regarded education as the best asset for growth and development of individuals and the society at large. To remedy the sorry state of education in Yobe, the administration more than ever before paid special attention and allocated resources towards revamping the sector; more classrooms were constructed for primary and secondary schools across the state; dilapidated structures were given special renovation. To reduce congestion and over crowding of students in classrooms and schools, new boarding primary schools were constructed; parents and students can never forget the establishment of a special college named Yobe Turkish College, where talented and promising students from different parts of the world would be admitted.

Governor Ali sent 123 indigenes of the state on scholarship to undertake degree courses in Turkey. This is aside over 400 secondary school students sponsored to Nigerian Turkish College in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano. All these students will remember him for this life-changing experience. Even while they were in Turkey the governor made it a duty to make telephone calls monthly and spoke with them one on one. During such interactions, the late governor would seek to know the background of each one of them. Because most of them were from humble backgrounds, he often encouraged them to face their studies squarely so that they could become useful to themselves, the state and the society as a whole in future. These students will forever remember such encouraging words of advice from their leader. The scholarship programme came on the heels of the strategic decision of the state government to partner with Republic of Turkey on training programmes.  In addition, all the state’s Permanent Secretaries were also sent for three months training in the United Kingdom by the Mamman Ali administration. The National Mathematical centre offered a special training programme for 100 secondary school science teachers. The idea was to update their knowledge and keep them abreast with current trends in science teaching techniques.  He had high goals and vision and was determined to get the best always.

It must be stated that his policy of encouraging sound education was achieved by allocating 26% of the state’s annual budget to the education sector. That was a move he always made in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. This, he maintained in 2008 and 2009 Yobe state annual budgets. See why I have always said he ranked high among the bright ones and the progressive -minded leaders.

One good thing about Mamman Ali was that like the legendary Sardauna of Sokoto, the late Governor never cornered or monopolized government property for his personal aggrandizement or for the sake of his relatives, close friends or political associates. In fact, he kept his family completely away from government. The diligence, dedication and vision which the late Governor brought to governance were exemplary. He has gone into history as a politician that was able to establish to a large extent a political system in Yobe state that placed high premium on honesty, integrity, genuine democracy and a clear separation between public good and private benefit. There is no doubt that before his demise, Mamman Ali had left his positive mark on Yobe and by extension, on Nigeria. The hallmark of Ali’s legacy was encapsulated   in unparalleled standard of honesty and sincerity of purpose, the attributes that are uncommon in this part of the world today. And he did everything with dedication bordering on some kind of religious devotion to duty and service to humanity which can hardly be erased from the sands of time.

Mamman Ali may be gone, but he lives in the minds of his true friends and the millions of people upon whose memory he left unforgettable marks as a progressive leader. May his soul rest in perfect peace and once again, may Allah grant him Aljannat firdaus. Ameen.

Mohammed Hassan was Commissioner for Finance during the administration of late Governor Mamman B. Ali. (08039777007)