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Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (retd), remember him? You dare not risk forgetting him. He is not given to frivolities, far from it. That has been established over the years.
Right from his days as a Major and administrator, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), he has been fiery and upright. And, till date, he is fearless and stubborn.
Even as he gets on with age, he remains his old self. Nothing missing, nothing broken. He cannot now become a praise singer, a do-gooder, hanger-on, sycophant or even a boot-licker. True to type, a leopard cannot change its spots, no matter its age. Umar is a classical example.
Umar was the helmsman at the FHA in the mid-1980s. He held sway at its FESTAC Town, Lagos, headquarters then. He moved on to become military governor of the old Kaduna State, between August 1985 and June 1988. His exploits in the two places were spectacular. They were periods to behold.
He is at it again. He sparingly does it, but whenever he chooses to do it, it is always with a bang. He opted to come out of his shell last Sunday. And he did it brilliantly, as was characteristic of him.
He said it as he saw it. We could not have been disappointed. He cared less whose ox was gored or even bruised. That was not his worry because it was not relevant to him in the first place. He had his target and aimed at it with all the strength in him.
His pronouncements were profound and cogent. He went for the jugular and made the best use of the opportunity. He did not waste space neither did he mince words. He detests ambiguity with a passion. He is clear in his mind and in his utterances.
He took on the Federal Government headlong. He literally called it out for war. His grouse is the continued detention of Col. Sambo Dasuki, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s National Security Adviser (NSA). He meant every word he uttered:
“The only explanation one can find for Dasuki’s lengthy detention without trial is that he belongs to the wrong camp.” Not only that:
“He has the misfortune of having served as NSA to the much-vilified Nigerian President of Ijaw extraction.”
He rated Jonathan very high, as: “An honourable and patriotic Nigerian who conceded defeat … even before INEC declared the final results.”
He opined that Jonathan had an option: “He could have held on tenaciously to power as it is the norm in many Third World countries,” so he praised him for not trodding that bumpy path.
Umar was visibly angry and he exhibited it. He claimed that Jonathan “has been rewarded with utmost disrespect and derision by the APC Federal Government.” He insisted that: “Jonathan is the most maligned Nigerian former Head of State. Dasuki is paying dearly for his loyal service to this patriot.”
But it was not all knocks for Buhari. He said: “The decision to suspend the SGF (Secretary to the Government of the Federation), Mr. David Babachir Lawal, and DG (Director-General), NIA (National Intelligence Agency), Mr. Ayodele Oke, while being investigated, is a welcome development in the war against corruption.”
Why did he say so? “This is a welcome departure from the prevailing anti-democratic process by which accused persons, particularly from the opposition camp, are unlawfully detained pending the commencement of investigations, or refused bail granted by law courts.”
Umar closed his case this way: “There is national unanimity in support of the war against corruption, which is expected to be non-discriminatory and waged by a meticulous adherence to the rule of law.
“For the war to be meaningful and sustainable, it must be elevated beyond a President Buhari personal struggle to a national one.”
Umar’s outpouring is balanced and fair-minded enough. It brings out the best in him, honesty and patriotism. Those are his enviable character traits. Nobody can take that from him.
He showcases these traits at every given opportunity. He has proven himself over time as a completely detribalised Nigerian. He displays it in his actions and inactions. He can hardly be faulted. He cannot be easily taken to the cleaners.
It was certain that Umar’s remarks would roughen some delicate feathers. So it was no surprise when the Presidency promptly picked “big” holes in the outburst. It vehemently registered its misgivings through Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity. The effect was not lost:
“This comment coming from Col. Umar is highly disappointing, because he is not in a position to label accusations. He should, instead, allow others to do it.” Why? Shehu did not explain but chose to forge ahead:
“All the agencies involved are allowed freedom to carry out their responsibilities, without any interference whatsoever from the Presidency.” He saw frustration somewhere, somehow and cried out:
“The Buhari administration has offended so many of our greedy elite by plugging many of the holes through which our country’s resources were looted by a few. Naturally, these elite are frustrated. But we shall not allow them to frustrate the war against corruption.”
All the same, we should endure not to throw away the dirty bathwater with the defiant baby.
Let us take a sober second look at Umar’s pronouncement. Give this a thought, it may be worth the trouble. You may be glad you did.
You never can tell.
