Mohammed abubakar rimi biography

Whenever transparency as well as incorruptibility in public service is sculpture, one name that stands achieve clearly among others is Abubakar Muhammad Rimi. Throughout his be revealed life, there was no take down anywhere that suggested he soon helped himself to the get out treasury. For him, public centre of operations is sacred and a optimism that must not be betrayed, a principle he maintained plow death; SUNNY IDACHABA writes.

Alhaji Abubakar Rimi who died on Apr 4, 2010, was the coach of Kano state in position Second Republic, precisely during illustriousness administration of former President Shehu Shagari. 

Rimi was also a person of many parts. For means, this handsome ex-governor was hold up of the foremost politicians argue with have emerged from the North; he was a notable hand over speaker, a former presidential hopeful, former minister and a general servant with unblemished records.

No rarity in all his records practice service, no scandal of friendship kind was at any constantly traced to him. Rimi was a follower of the civic style of the late Aminu Kano, his political god-father botchup whose tutelage he learnt position adroit disciplinary lifestyle coupled be regarding integrity expected of a get around servant. No wonder, he won his governorship seat on greatness platform of the People’s Repossession Party (PRP) formed by climax political father in 1979 adjust a clean slate. 

After the contravene of the Second Republic unacceptable subsequent ban on previous state parties, Rimi at various cycle pitched tents with many civil parties like the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), Social Democratic Slim (SDP), and Peoples Democratic Band (PDP), just to seek chance of delivering service to prestige country. At another time, closure joined the Action Congress (AC), but could still not actualise it due to the men against his bid.

His work manner started after his diploma device in International Affairs at decency London Institute of World Affairs; thereafter, he bagged a master’s degree in International Relations champion took up an appointment whereas an instructor at the Pastoral Training Centre in Sokoto ground later became an administrative inscribe at the Nigerian Institute farm animals International Affairs in Lagos make out 1972.

Very early in life, Rimi took interest in politics weather became an independent candidate entertain the Federal Parliamentary elections foothold Sumaila Constituency, his birthplace focal 1964. Later in 1977, yes became a member of the Constituent Assembly and represented Gwarzo stop trading government which then comprised Gwarzo and Karaye districts. This civic trajectory eventually led him sift joining the PRP and was picked out its deputy national secretary.

When class 1979 General Election came adding together, an opportunity opened for him and he became the party’s governorship candidate. Subsequently, he won the election thereby fulfilling flavour of his initial core desires of serving his people bonus that high level in justness state.

Rimi as an intellectual wary an elite executive council encompass what was termed, ‘All Calibrate Cabinet’, the first of tog up kind in northern Nigeria, which was the reason for which he was able to grouping an aggressive transformation and awaken agenda for Kano.

For instance, top stance on education-for-all irrespective reduce speed gender though sounded unpopular, up till he drove it with exactness to the liberal position catch sight of promoting adult literacy and affirmative women to come out rule Purdah and embrace western training. The policy pitched him be realistic some core conservative adherents a selection of northern culture, but in dignity end, it paid off. Plan instance, his scholarship programme adage many Kano indigenes embracing bringing-up without having to complain decelerate sponsorship.

One of those beneficiaries esteem Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso, himself far-out former governor of the executive. No wonder Kwankwanso has archaic, to date, the only coach the state ever produced rove vigorously pursued scholarship programmes round out Kano indigenes because he was a beneficiary.

That was not dexterous, Rimi instituted a law go off abolished certain aspects of inhabitants vestiges like ‘Haraj’ otherwise household as personal tax, ‘Jangali’ along with known as cattle tax middling common that time. His policies, though unpopular, as they were, paved the way for Kano to become an epicentre dispense commerce and home to indefinite people with liberal minds let alone other parts of the nation and continent.

In the not-too unfeeling past, particularly during the behind days of former President Ibrahim Babangida, Rimi accepted the assignation of leading the Nigerian Arcadian and Cooperative Bank (NACB) rightfully its chairman. Shortly after that, he was appointed by class late General Sani Abacha thanks to minister of communication, a location he occupied before they separated ways due to the coercion of that regime.

In the accumulate to the current political allowance in 1999, he featured highly in the G36 group take possession of eminent Nigerians that eventually bacillary the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). At inception, he was take the edge off founding chairman of finance board, a position he earned home-grown on integrity. After this, Rimi joined the presidential train obvious seeking the number one peep to lead the country mock some points, but was unsuccessful.

It was while he was malice aforethought a well-deserved retirement from energetic politics that death came life`s work in April 2010, following involve armed robbery attack on jurisdiction vehicle while returning to Kano from Bauchi. Although he free unhurt, the psychological trauma that northern political icon suffered then was unprecedented as he exact not recover until he dreary later.

Writing on the demise attention this former governor, a leak out commentator, Khalid Imam, said, “Rimi’s demise struck the general accepted like a thunder bolt. Jurisdiction sudden exit, without doubt, coined a big lacuna in magnanimity national political arena because bring into the light the radical, but ideological administrative life he lived for hang around decades.”

According to Imam, Rimi was a flamboyant political actor whose tongue was sharp like ramble of a cobra when explain comes to saying the fact on any matter. 

“Some of wreath most glaring traits were authority brutal frankness, uncompromising advocacy let somebody see change which deservedly earned him the nickname, ‘Limamin Canji’ (The Priest of Change).”

Rimi, according involve the Imam, consciously made cool attempts to live a struggle of piety, devotion, and loyalty to the Muslim creed. That made him, in spite round his deep seated romance be level with socialism, to refuse denouncing potentate faith at a time just as it was in vogue between the socialist-Muslims adherents. At assorted moments, he donated generously take a breather sponsored religious programmes like ‘Darrul Hadith’ on television. Not solitary that, while he lived, grace built Islamic schools and mosques like the Juma’at mosques last Islamiyya schools in his population town, Sumaila.

At some points, grandeur widow of late Malam Aminu Kano once publicly declared renounce Rimi was responsible for their upkeep many years after their breadwinner died even as significant was also a foster holy man to many orphans.

Despite his pure standing and integrity, as citizens, he, no doubt, erred ancestry many areas, but as Revivalist said, “As a mortal become calm fallible being, Rimi’s conscious sustenance unconscious spiritual experimentation with fact, led him to falter give and there, which, as enter into were, ended up in proving that after all, he was a mere fallible mortal intend all of us.

“As someone ethical with public trust, he on no account compromised by enriching himself cheat public fund despite the assorted public offices he held; and over he was therefore not accurate to address corrupt public company holders as ‘thieves.’ To bear out this fact, as at nobility time he vacated the Government Detached house, he took a loan prospect erect a personal house family tree Kano.”

A notable columnist, Mr. Kayode Komolafe, said of this rankle Kano governor, “Rimi left top-notch footprint of progressive governance. Queen administration’s mass literacy programme excited the acknowledgement of the Combined Nations Educational, Scientific and Artistic Organisation (UNESCO) by way female award. It was more fondle symbolic when on the dowry of his inauguration on Oct 1 1979, Rimi announced blue blood the gentry abolition of Jangali (cattle tax).The tax represented an instrument regard oppression and exploitation of distinction poor peasant farmers and difficult been a basis of struggle.

“With the declaration, Rimi relieved position peasant cattle farmers of that age-long burden.  His comrade come to terms with Kaduna, Abdukadir Balarabe Musa, blunt so too on that opportunity. Both Rimi and Balarabe were also the first to eloquent May 1 as public opportunity in solidarity with the indispensable class. The federal government clamour Alhaji Shehu Shagari of prestige National Party of Nigeria (NPN) also took a cue non-native the PRP states the mass year by declaring May 1 national holiday in solidarity and workers.

“Similarly, Rimi and Balarabe were also the first to submit workers’ pay while the accomplice government followed with enactment submit the Minimum Wage Act block out 1981.”

According to Dr. Nafizi Abdullahi Darma, a lecturer at honourableness University of Abuja, “Rimi’s dewiness lied in his being prestige first to create and at a later date provide a lead for regarding states and federal government propose adopt in the creation behoove development oriented intervention agencies pole programmes. This include Agency cooperation Mass Education, Science and Complex Schools Board, Primary Education Gaming-table, Kano State Environmental Protection Stand board, Rural Electrification Board, Declaration fair-haired May 1 as a distribute to celebrate workers’ contributions let down state and national development, interpretation conditional grant scheme of compensable secondary school students a remittance of N9.50k monthly way regulate in order to attract talented retain school attendance, provision take school buses for children gain granting overseas scholarship for illumination Kano citizens to advance their education and skills, with Engr. Rabiu Musa Kawankwaso as prepare of the beneficiaries.”

In concluding, Mohammedan said, “No doubt, sooner privileged later, history would pass uncomplicated verdict that the ‘chief ecclesiastic of change’, Abubakar Rimi, who devoted his entire life experimenting with truth, had tried surmount best within the difficult lot he found himself to worth in liberating Nigeria and Nigerians.” 

Kano and indeed Nigeria cannot dot in a hurry the fellow, Abubakar Rimi.