By Dave McNeill
There is nothing extra ordinary about him, in fact nothing even abhorrent but George Yakubu is perhaps the most powerful man in Taraba state, Nigeria, today. He is the gate to the gate that gates the governor. As Aide d Camp (ADC), he decides who sees the governor or who doesnt. It’s a role that has conferred on him much power and much money too. He’s said to be stupendously wealthy with many mansions to his name. A sprawling edifice in the governor’s hometown, Takum, stands as a testimony to his good fortune. A low level Mobile police officer, George stands just a few feet tall, skinny but keeps a constant scowl on his unfriendly face like a man burdened by weights. Taciturn and furtive, he looks like an operative of the secret police, his probing eyes never moving. I was fascinated by the ADC phenomenon in my various voyages across government houses in Nigeria. And I’ve been to quite a few as part of European business partners on a number of investment concerns.
The ADC’s I have encountered appear to be the regular types. It’s normally a pistol weilding smiling officer who collects our phone contacts and gets to fix our accommodations on most of the trips. They probably play other unknown roles but being constantly in government house has imbued them with enormous powers, I suspect.
If I had doubted that power, I encountered it in its raw and awful form in Taraba. Jalingo, the upcoming capital of the state, was our destination in March. The first time I saw him, I didn’t make much of it as I’ve seen ADCs before. While waiting, I was drawn by a force of habit to glance around. George drifted from room to room. A ringer always takes him to see the big man. He comes out of the meeting with a grave look on his face like a man who has just encountered a deity. A man who said he was a commissioner was brashly directed to wait outside. Then came the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Jellason. He was also politely turned back. Apparently, he doesn’t have the permission to show up. Others were practically begging, cajoling him to give them a chance at stepping into glory which seeing any governor in Nigeria has become.
Later at the hotel, I inquired from our tour guide, Wali, what he thinks of the ADC. He observed me and quietly whispered, “George is powerful. From what I heard he also doubles as the governor’s chief adviser. Some big decisions taken by the governor has George’s inputs. He could even get someone sacked on his recommendations.”
Wali said many Taraba citizens who have crossed the path of George have regretted their moves. Wali said, “he can bar you from seeing the governor. With that all your proposals would not see the light of day. Everything revolves around the governor. Without his signature, nothing works. Imagine if George stops you. He makes his money from appreciation expressed by those he allow to see the governor.”
George, I learnt, was drafted to Government House after the current governor was sworn in. Today, he’s more powerful than party leaders and stalwarts who worked to bring to governor to office. He calls the shots and controls the governor’s schedule.
It is a position that takes its toll. The young man has probably lost time to be spent with family. He lives with the governor as the first person to see him and the last man standing. He goes to bed only after the governor goes to bed. But it is a sacrifice worth the pain considering that he was pining away in Bayelsa state before he got the appointment. Wali gave me the last line. He said, “George is not helping the governor by blocking politicians. He is over doing it and giving his boss a bad name.”
McNeill is a freelance writer based in London.
