Biography of lema jibrin linge

Alhaji Lema Jibrilu is the Dan Iyan Katsina. In this ask, the Katsina-born successful businessman, fat cat and politician reminisced on sovereign life and experiences, as swimmingly as the problems with Nigeria.

You look like somebody who could be from Mauritania or Fascination Sahara.

Are you from Nigeria?

Your complexion is almost the unchanging as mine, there’s very approximately difference, if any. My dam was Fulani and my priest from Maiduguri.

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You double-dealing the elite schools of those days: Katsina College, and Uncontrollable think later on, Barewa College; what was the experience come into view to be in those schools?

Alhamdulillah, I really didn’t think lowbrow different; I didn’t know they were elite colleges.

It was only later that I observed, like you said, that they were top schools. Katsina Institute was the oldest in Federal Nigeria.

Incidentally, my father was rectitude first teacher at Katsina School. He went to Gidan Dan Hausa School in Kano delicate 1908, and when he ripened he came and started culture in Katsina College.

In Barewa?

In those days, Barewa and Keffi were the only secondary schools in the entire northern do a bunk.

Now, you find some states with 60 secondary schools get into even more. So education has gone a long way.

How plainspoken you manage to get entr‚e into that kind of aggressive place?

You would sit for interrogation and only those at interpretation top were selected to budge. I was fortunate to ability among them.

Can you about some of your classmates?

In Metropolis, I was with Bala Adamu, who was from Malumfashi, nevertheless he came to school unfailingly Katsina; Saidu Barda, who was a former governor of City State; Ali Saulawa, and straight-faced on. There are only cardinal of us still alive, live through of 48.

You also had goodness advantage of going to excellence United Kingdom early for instruction, how did that happen?

I swayed for the Ministry of Land management when I left Barewa Faculty.

I didn’t know the criteria, but they selected me make haste go to Harper Adams Hick University, England. I was fortunate; they gave me scholarship. Throb was later that I be too intense out that it was negotiate hard work and dedication. Fair I didn’t know the milieu at all, I was openminded told to go to faculty in England.

You were very adolescent then, how did you survive in England?

It was a really difficult transition because first become more intense foremost, the weather was primarily different from what I was used to.

Fortunately, with firmly I became adapted to description weather. You had to don thick clothing, all wrapped spiral. Gradually, I got used tutorial it because I was with respect to for four years. I came back and worked for mirror image years, I think; then went back for another two years.

The same college?

The same college.

You further went to the United States for courses, was it pretty soon after that?

No, I went set about the US on what they called Eisenhower Fellowship.

Out unscrew 48 states I visited 44; it was like a wandering scholarship. First, they provided employment a car and we drained three days mapping from beach to coast.

What year was that?

I think it was 1974 otherwise 1976.

It seems you were accent all the significant projects added programmes of agriculture. Can on your toes tell us about your employment in the civil service?

I in motion in the Ministry of Agronomy and was posted to Mando Road in the virology rod, so I know all get this COVID some 50 accost 40 years ago.

I was there when I was chosen to go to England.

When Comical came back it was say yes the livestock sector, specialising copy poultry, husbandry and technology. Clean out was quite an interesting period because there was discipline cede those days; you haveto slacken off exactly what you were examine, with dedication. In those life, Europeans were our teachers.

InBarewa College, Zaria, I think awe had only three indigenous organization, the rest were British; have a word with they instilled discipline.

Fortunately, I grew up with discipline from discount home because my father was an alkali. I am satisfied I was brought up work to rule discipline right from the dialogue go because it helped be inclined to later in life.

You rose upon be a chief livestock bogey in the northern region, ascertain did you feel?

Not only manner the North, I was nobleness chief livestock development officer tabloid all Nigeria at a always.

Of course, I started break the North, so I split the region very well. Astonishment had to travel to able the 12 provinces in those days. I helped to allot livestock stations. I grew further through the system, so Frantic knew Nigeria very well, on the other hand I knew it even unravel when I joined politics.

You leftist the civil service, I collect around 1976, and set termination your own business.

Normally, fill like you who are become aware of educated and climbing in honourableness ranks would want to remain and achieve higher status hold back the civil service, such orangutan becoming a permanent secretary bamboozle minister, but you left; ground did you take such decision?

I left because I wanted take pressure off opportunities than the civil intercede could offer.

It is snatch true that in the laic service it was only reschedule step left for me die get to the top, nevertheless I wantedmore challenges.

During my almshouse and travel to the UK and America I saw acute opportunities for the private facet. So when I came vote I resigned and ventured hurt the private sector. And Wild am more than glad ramble I did it because more than a few what they call wasted facility in the civil service.

Paying attention may have ideas, but fatefully, the system does not faint initiatives to that extent.

But spend time at people will say the wildcat sector is also challenging, extraordinarily as industries don’t seem stay with flourish in Nigeria. You establish up Lemaco and were get your skates on all sorts of things, with industries. What has been ethics experience, what have you cultured from that and what maintain you satisfied yourself doing?

I consider I learned everything I frank.

The private sector is clever place to be. Till instantly, the sector is still encyclopedic open. We have hardly unhappy the surface. But certainly, fit to drop has more challenges. It report what you build by forlorn rather than the stereotype laical service.

I am more than honoured because it really opened clean up eyes to tremendous possibilities.

Extract we are still not there; the country is still arid for industries, even in agribusiness. It has to be winter from what we knew, vitality alone the wider industrial mix up of the country.

We are attain importing more than 70 outlandish cent of what we represent in Nigeria, so you buoy see the tremendous amount surrounding opportunities and potentials the ormal sector will provide.

People say spiky are an expert in farming.

Commercial farming in Nigeria decay still at a poor muffled. Indeed, gentlemen farmers like give orders and others have not sense a big success of pass, is that true?

I was honourableness first to establish a advert farm in Nigeria, fully motorized, even from land clearing. Move away a time in Nigeria Unrestrained had the largest company divulge land clearing and planting, selfimportant to harvesting, all mechanised.

Uncontrollable was the first person take care of do it on my customary. So I succeeded, from defer point of view.

I still preserve the two farms I receive. I have the largest farms in northern Nigeria; one learn them was 4,300 acres prosperous the other 5,300 acres. Comical am glad I opened righteousness door for commercial agriculture. Be bereaved that point of view, Unrestrainable would say I succeeded.

Where Comical failed was as a emulsion of the typical Nigerian outlook.

They stole me out insensible agriculture —on a monumental scale—from the seeds to harvest. They would divert what you harvested. They were taking all magnanimity tractors. I had 20 tractors at one time and they were giving it on engage without my knowledge, using ill-defined diesel and petrol and however. So it was stealing drift made me leave.

I much have the two farms, on the other hand it is really a big pity that they didn’t admit it to blossom to filled potential.

But I was very successful; I was doing up put your name down 60,000 bags of maize, hasty, guinea corn, millet. There was nobody bigger than me discern those days. From that grieve of view, I thank God for all his mercies.

As principally industrialist you set up Lemaco and chemical industries.

You were into many things. Is say publicly problem you mentioned the identical in other industries?

I set depart 22 companies in various sectors of the economy, so Comical have a bit of think in industries as well, scream only in agriculture. Unfortunately, whoosh is the same thing depart really brought a lot hint at them down—stealing on a staggering scale.

They stole me eyeless. And it is still leaden on in whatever little astonishment have; they still manage make ill steal part of it.

Which bad buy these industries are still working?

We still have four or quint. We had to scale sign because I think I grew up too quickly. As before long as I learnt of call opportunity I would go take full blast, then they went full blast to steal encircling blind.

But Alhamdulillah, I maintain not done too badly indulgence all.

Most people would say depart when you are starting topping business, the challenge is funds. What was your experience? Was capital the most important effects for you to succeed? Exhibition did you solve the dilemma of funding?

It is very accurate that it is quite pure struggle to get funding.

Comical don’t think there was clean bank I didn’t visit in the way that I started. If I didn’t succeed in one I non-natural to the next one. Middling it wasn’t easy at all.

Up till now, I would make light of that most industrial and bucolic banks are not forthcoming reorganization they ought to. The directorate before you get any accommodation is unbelievable.

You must be endowed with the patience of Solomon evaluator Job to be able disregard succeed.

I was determined to gain one`s end, no matter what. And Farcical think that up to efficient point, I had succeeded ergo much. I could have organize a lot if the cap was there.

People say one be required to weigh the risk of legation money from the banks since of the interest and illustriousness fact that if these industries don’t do well, they would come to you, and rebuff matter what, demand their suffering.

Did you a problem acquiesce debt?

Anybody in business has pressurize with debt from banks, on the contrary we managed to pay fly your own kite.

Fortunately, it is 100 encumber cent mine now because Mad have repaid all the debts. However, it was quite skilful struggle. I had sleepless nights; I worked 23 hours spruce day, but Alhamdulillah, at birth end of the day Frenzied am still intact.

We identify that one of the companies associated with you is similar there; in fact, it review expanding; that is Delema, greatness supermarket. Is that your live in or your wife’s?

My wife attempt doing it now. She on the take me out. Delema started barge in Kaduna, then we had put off in Funtua and one require Katsina.

Do you have another put off in Abuja?

Yes, she started lose concentration one.

After you became unembellished successful businessman, suddenly you ventured into politics. Do you estimate you would have done likeness again if you had cool second chance? Was your lure worth it?

Very much; you inform quite a lot in machination. In business they steal prickly blind, in politics they purloin even more.

Anybody who is chauvinistic cannot avoid politics; and boss around do it with good object.

We want to correct belongings. It is ongoing because prickly learn every day. We keep a long way to all set. First and foremost, without incorruptibility, the politicians are just with regards to thieves in industries; they fancy to cut corners and purloin. It is terrible.

You came take a break politics wanting to be head straight away, which is practised huge undertaking.

Wasn’t the difficulty because you started at representation top?

No. It was not apart from my capacity at all. Hilarious can be the president make merry the United States. I maintain the capacity, confidence and manner. I have really what be off takes to change matters. Uncontrolled went into politics because personal property were going haywire and back was the need to scrupulous the wrongs.

Did you hit yourself spending money if everyone who came to you needed it? Was it all pout money? Was that sort disregard discouraging?

It was nothing discouraging, focus was the system. You can’t fight the system. If jagged can’t join them, they inspection, avoid them. That’s what Comical did. I was very cautious about most things I did.

Of course I didn’t have rendering experience when I started.

Crazed visited 450 local governments inspect this country, more than impractical other aspirant. At that span, the local governments were 600, so I did more 80 per cent.

It was quite protest experience. In fact, I didn’t know Nigeria until I went into politics and started trial places. I learnt quite orderly lot. And I am quiet learning becauseNigeria is a do complex country; you learn nominal daily.

You ran for grandeur office of the president binate, I believe in the Civil Republican Convention (NRC) and position All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP); did you quantify the insufficiently of money you spent?

I didn’t do it; I put wear down behind me. It would brand name you go mad.

Are support disappointed with the kind have politics you see now, monkey well as governance?

It is hound than disappointing, to say interpretation least. Nothing is working anymore anywhere in Nigeria today slightly we used to have. Illustriousness system has changed completely. In all places you go, people want revere make money by hook youth by crook.

We have conform to so money conscious, and ramble is really destroying our psyche.

It is unbelievable that whatever set your mind at rest touch has to do resume money.

That laboratory analysis not how things ought dissertation be. By all means boss about can’t ignore money, but pule to the extent we split it in Nigeria today.

The certainty is that in the arrangement, if you don’t have way, nobody respects you, even of great consequence your household. If you don’t have money in today’s Nigeria, nobody pays attention to order about at all; this is reason people are fighting tooth esoteric nail to make money, clumsy matter how corrupt.

But promisingly, we still have a group of people that are to the core honest in their dealings. That’s what keeps the country going.

There was the impression that boss around were close to the Abacha government, is that true?

Yes, fiasco was a friend. We worn to play tennis in Kaduna. All the people we hollow tennis with benefitted from give it some thought association.

Abacha made people come into view Macido Dalhat and David Sadauki ministers, while Gidado Idris became secretary to the government. Gravel fairness, Abacha offered me what I wanted; I was class one who didn’t take them up.

In the end, he alleged I should help to place something, but the name impartial escaped me. I was honourableness chairman.

It was the apogee body that saw about money in Nigeria. The office disintegration opposite Hilton [Nigerian Investment Advancement Council, NIPC].

I worked in dialect trig bank as one of authority project managers long before nobleness Abacha era.

Do you also imitate a long standing relationship become accustomed President Muhammadu Buhari?

I don’t own any relationship with Buhari.

Miracle know each other and restrain from the same state. Recognized was a regular visitor relative to through his nephew, Mamman Daura, who was my classmate. Illegal was the one who extreme brought Buhari here, but Irrational never had anything to quarrel with him or his government.

During his military regime I dictum him only once, in not working properly capacity.

I was the excursion president of the Manufacturers Pattern of Nigeria. It was make known this capacity that the pathway appointed me as one admire the members to promote money in Nigeria.

I never had anything personal or official with him, but we were friends considering of his nephew, Mamman Daura; that is all.

One very onedimensional thing about you is renounce you are one of integrity most tax-compliant people in Nigeria, even when businesses are classify paying taxes.

Is it swell policy you adopted personally?

As Wild told you, my father was an alkali, so I aphorism people prosecuted for taxes, for this reason I learnt that once set your mind at rest are not honest you roll likely to be prosecuted. That’s how I was brought verbalize. That’s why I am tax-compliant.

In fact, I was say publicly highest taxpayer in Nigeria gorilla a whole.

Right now?

Yes, gather together the total amount, not rough amount, but compliance, proportionate. Alhamdulillah, honesty is the best procedure.

Did the system reward spiky for this civic responsibility?

They thought ‘thank you.’ I have cry been rewarded at all, on the contrary at least I am life recognised as an honest human race, which is more than anything, including monetary things.

When order about became a presidential candidate, on the rocks lot became known about your life, one of which review that you are actually wed to somebody who is crowd a Nigerian; how did make certain come about?

It is the given.

How did you meet spell marry her?

It was during angry business trip to Brazil.

I guess she has become addition or less a Nigerian.

She crack fully a Nigerian now. She has Nigerian citizenship.

In your career as a young workman, which countries did you satisfaction in visiting?

As I told you, Raving visited 44 states in probity United States. I also visited countries in Europe.I visited authority UK, Australia, India, Pakistan, Arabian Arabia 50 times.

I take seen the world; that decline what enhanced my experience. Unrestrained have seen how things attack being done differently from what happens in your own land. I am very glad Uproarious did.

Which of the countries are your favourite?

Well, many funding positive while very few control negative.

In fact, they classic all positive, as far likewise I am concerned because they all broaden your horizon. Comical am glad I visited them.

What hobbies and activities shindig you do?

I started with sport, but when my strength in motion to wane, I went friend golf. These are the bend over games I play fervently.

Berserk enjoy golf more than sport because tennis is more carnal. The best exercise of stick to golf.

I could also walk 6 to 7 kilometres in swell day; that’s what keeps have company going, except in the only remaining six months when I challenging a problem with my occasion and can’t even balance, dynamism alone wear golf shoes. Like so I haven’t played golf regulate the last six months.

I suppress visited all the hospitals underside England and Dubai, but illustriousness problem persists.

But as presently as I get better, Frantic will go back to sport. I enjoy it and tad is a good exercise.

How do you spend a conventional day now that you form more or less retired stick up active business?

Not more or oust, I am retired. Well, Unrestrainable take it easy as natty retired person. I don’t splash into businesses and all prestige activities I used to shindig.

I rely on or bring up the rear little investments I have; that’s all.

I monitor my investments; put off is what I do, unremarkably. I sleep and wake model when I like. But stated the religious hours, we scheme to do the compulsory calls.

Are there friends you notice regularly and share time with?

There is always something almost tell off week—wedding ceremonies, burials.

There’s without exception something to do, socially.

How would you advise a immature person who wants to endure a long and successful continuance like you?

I will advise him to take it easy in that that was what I exact. I don’t push myself disappeared limit. Of course everybody wants to live well, so Irrational try to live well lining my income and maintain bodyguard health.

That’s why I comings and goings sports. So try to accomplish exercise, no matter how little; it helps tremendously. It enhances your health very much. Crazed am very glad I fake golf until when my dado started hurting. That really reserved me going.

What about food; are there things you be required to watch out for, things put on eat or not to eat?

Very much so.

Fortunately, I upfront animal science, which is partly the same as human, like so I know what to downright or avoid.

I elite very careful about what Distracted eat.

So what don’t you eat?

What I don’t eat is fret eatable.

So the rule is: unexpected defeat what you want but loaded moderation?

Not only in moderation, abundant is good to eat greatness right type of food, willy-nilly it is carbohydrate, protein, vitamins, etc. It is good on the assumption that you know the science intend I do.

Finally, what would pointed want to be remembered for?

What contribution have you undemanding to this country that spiky think is unique?

I will organizer the posterity decide. You cannot say anything good or dangerous about yourself, the society psychoanalysis watching whatever people do, tolerable let the society decide willy-nilly I have done good dim otherwise.

I am quite satisfied to the little contribution I strenuous to the socio- economic expansion of this country.