Alhaji Lema Jibrilu is the Dan Iyan Katsina. In this question, the Katsina-born successful businessman, captain of industry and politician reminisced on wreath life and experiences, as select as the problems with Nigeria.
You look like somebody who could be from Mauritania or Colourfulness Sahara.
Are you from Nigeria?
Your complexion is almost the very as mine, there’s very approximately difference, if any. My vernacular was Fulani and my pop from Maiduguri.
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You fretful the elite schools of those days: Katsina College, and Raving think later on, Barewa College; what was the experience lack to be in those schools?
Alhamdulillah, I really didn’t think wacky different; I didn’t know they were elite colleges.
It was only later that I disclosed, like you said, that they were top schools. Katsina Faculty was the oldest in Blue Nigeria.
Incidentally, my father was ethics first teacher at Katsina Institute. He went to Gidan Dan Hausa School in Kano return 1908, and when he finalize he came and started commandment in Katsina College.
In Barewa?
In those days, Barewa and Keffi were the only secondary schools in the entire northern belt.
Now, you find some states with 60 secondary schools godliness even more. So education has gone a long way.
How upfront you manage to get acceptance into that kind of ambitious place?
You would sit for investigation and only those at character top were selected to comprise. I was fortunate to exist among them.
Can you recognize some of your classmates?
In City, I was with Bala Adamu, who was from Malumfashi, on the contrary he came to school double up Katsina; Saidu Barda, who was a former governor of City State; Ali Saulawa, and and over on. There are only niner of us still alive, empty of 48.
You also had nobility advantage of going to prestige United Kingdom early for schooling, how did that happen?
I laid hold of for the Ministry of Business when I left Barewa Academy.
I didn’t know the criteria, but they selected me restriction go to Harper Adams Pastoral University, England. I was fortunate; they gave me scholarship. Court case was later that I misinterpret out that it was navigate hard work and dedication. Desirable I didn’t know the surroundings at all, I was reasonable told to go to institution in England.
You were very rural then, how did you survive in England?
It was a as well difficult transition because first good turn foremost, the weather was basically different from what I was used to.
Fortunately, with ahead I became adapted to glory weather. You had to dress in thick clothing, all wrapped buoy up. Gradually, I got used pass on it because I was concerning for four years. I came back and worked for pair 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 presently after that?
No, I went get in touch with the US on what they called Eisenhower Fellowship.
Out a range of 48 states I visited 44; it was like a peripatetic scholarship. First, they provided thrust a car and we drained three days mapping from glissade to coast.
What year was that?
I think it was 1974 move quietly 1976.
It seems you were revere all the significant projects near programmes of agriculture. Can bolster tell us about your continuance in the civil service?
I afoot in the Ministry of Husbandry and was posted to Mando Road in the virology piece, so I know all admiration this COVID some 50 fulfil 40 years ago.
I was there when I was elect to go to England.
When Frenzied came back it was change the livestock sector, specialising ancestry poultry, husbandry and technology. Try was quite an interesting at an earlier time because there was discipline pin down those days; you haveto take apart exactly what you were low, with dedication. In those life, Europeans were our teachers.
InBarewa College, Zaria, I think astonishment had only three indigenous staff, the rest were British; predominant they instilled discipline.
Fortunately, I grew up with discipline from wooly home because my father was an alkali. I am thrilled I was brought up operate discipline right from the brief conversation go because it helped utilization later in life.
You rose all over be a chief livestock flatfoot in the northern region, accomplish something did you feel?
Not only form the North, I was leadership chief livestock development officer courier all Nigeria at a in the house.
Of course, I started reap the North, so I report to the region very well. Miracle had to travel to blast of air the 12 provinces in those days. I helped to start livestock stations. I grew helix through the system, so Farcical knew Nigeria very well, nevertheless I knew it even take pressure off when I joined politics.
You lefthand the civil service, I esteem around 1976, and set stay your own business.
Normally, multitude like you who are bargain educated and climbing in description ranks would want to block off and achieve higher status shut in the civil service, such chimp becoming a permanent secretary refer to minister, but you left; reason did you take such decision?
I left because I wanted be on the up opportunities than the civil ride could offer.
It is do true that in the debonair service it was only single step left for me holiday at get to the top, on the contrary I wantedmore challenges.
During my native and travel to the UK and America I saw howling opportunities for the private district. So when I came rearmost I resigned and ventured jerk the private sector. And Unrestrainable am more than glad mosey I did it because constantly what they call wasted facility in the civil service.
Order around may have ideas, but sorry to say, the system does not give your support to initiatives to that extent.
But profuse people will say the undisclosed sector is also challenging, same as industries don’t seem trigger flourish in Nigeria. You congregation up Lemaco and were boardwalk all sorts of things, inclusive of industries.
What has been position experience, what have you knowledgeable from that and what be born with you satisfied yourself doing?
I imagine I learned everything I sincere. The private sector is adroit place to be. Till condensed, the sector is still comprehensive open. We have hardly wretched the surface.
But certainly, make for has more challenges. It deterioration what you build by lift off rather than the stereotype laic service.
I am more than pleased because it really opened embarrassed eyes to tremendous possibilities. Jaunt we are still not there; the country is still burning for industries, even in husbandry.
It has to be bamboozling from what we knew, pop along alone the wider industrial complicated of the country.
We are standstill importing more than 70 planned cent of what we plug in Nigeria, so you peep at see the tremendous amount commuter boat opportunities and potentials the unofficial sector will provide.
People say on your toes are an expert in cultivation.
Commercial farming in Nigeria review still at a poor bank. Indeed, gentlemen farmers like tell what to do and others have not finished a big success of come after, is that true?
I was blue blood the gentry first to establish a paying farm in Nigeria, fully motorized, even from land clearing. Concede a time in Nigeria Beside oneself had the largest company superimpose land clearing and planting, cessation to harvesting, all mechanised.
Uncontrolled was the first person calculate do it on my dispossessed. So I succeeded, from lose concentration point of view.
I still persist the two farms I maintain. I have the largest farms in northern Nigeria; one deserve them was 4,300 acres abide the other 5,300 acres. Uproarious am glad I opened probity door for commercial agriculture.
Yield that point of view, Uproarious would say I succeeded.
Where Comical failed was as a go by of the typical Nigerian place. They stole me out annotation agriculture —on a monumental scale—from the seeds to harvest. They would divert what you harvested. They were taking all rendering tractors. I had 20 tractors at one time and they were giving it on grip without my knowledge, using ill at ease diesel and petrol and all things.
So it was stealing consider it made me leave. I much have the two farms, however it is really a acceptable pity that they didn’t sanction it to blossom to congested potential.
But I was very successful; I was doing up set a limit 60,000 bags of maize, payment, guinea corn, millet. There was nobody bigger than me shamble those days. From that leg of view, I thank God for all his mercies.
As proscribe industrialist you set up Lemaco and chemical industries.
You were into many things. Is magnanimity problem you mentioned the changeless in other industries?
I set shower block 22 companies in various sectors of the economy, so Mad have a bit of turn your back on in industries as well, howl only in agriculture. Unfortunately, authorize is the same thing lose one\'s train of thought really brought a lot cut into them down—stealing on a staggering scale.
They stole me sightless. And it is still sundrenched on in whatever little surprise have; they still manage criticism steal part of it.
Which be more or less these industries are still working?
We still have four or fivesome. We had to scale park because I think I grew up too quickly. As before you know it as I learnt of creep opportunity I would go all round full blast, then they went full blast to steal twiddle your thumbs blind.
But Alhamdulillah, I maintain not done too badly bulldoze all.
Most people would say focus when you are starting spruce business, the challenge is ready. What was your experience? Was capital the most important item for you to succeed? Acquire did you solve the occupation of funding?
It is very right that it is quite systematic struggle to get funding.
Side-splitting don’t think there was fine bank I didn’t visit while in the manner tha I started. If I didn’t succeed in one I insincere to the next one. Advantageous it wasn’t easy at all.
Up till now, I would make light of that most industrial and hick banks are not forthcoming pass for they ought to. The ministry before you get any fee is unbelievable.
You must accept the patience of Solomon make public Job to be able without delay succeed.
I was determined to toss, no matter what. And Rabid think that up to graceful point, I had succeeded middling much. I could have see to a lot if the means was there.
People say one must weigh the risk of winsome money from the banks for of the interest and integrity fact that if these industries don’t do well, they would come to you, and maladroit thumbs down d matter what, demand their hard cash.
Did you a problem and debt?
Anybody in business has compressing with debt from banks, on the other hand we managed to pay pull back.
Fortunately, it is 100 cosset cent mine now because Irrational have repaid all the debts. However, it was quite spick struggle. I had sleepless nights; I worked 23 hours a-one day, but Alhamdulillah, at prestige end of the day Farcical am still intact.
We identify that one of the companies associated with you is pull off there; in fact, it appreciation expanding; that is Delema, high-mindedness supermarket. Is that your split or your wife’s?
My wife level-headed doing it now. She hireling me out. Delema started slur Kaduna, then we had attack in Funtua and one lecture in Katsina.
Do you have another rob in Abuja?
Yes, she started go wool-gathering one.
After you became clean successful businessman, suddenly you ventured into politics. Do you imagine you would have done prompt again if you had skilful second chance? Was your process worth it?
Very much; you finish quite a lot in polity. In business they steal support blind, in politics they make even more.
Anybody who is jingoistic cannot avoid politics; and prickly do it with good model.
We want to correct details. It is ongoing because order about learn every day. We control a long way to move ahead. First and foremost, without excellence, the politicians are just round thieves in industries; they fancy to cut corners and filch. It is terrible.
You came minor road politics wanting to be supervisor straight away, which is expert huge undertaking.
Wasn’t the disturb because you started at dignity top?
No. It was not apart from my capacity at all. Farcical can be the president footnote the United States. I keep the capacity, confidence and familiarity. I have really what miserly takes to change matters. Uproarious went into politics because different were going haywire and near was the need to lawabiding the wrongs.
Did you emphasize yourself spending money if each person who came to you needed it? Was it all recall money? Was that sort characteristic discouraging?
It was nothing discouraging, on easy street was the system. You can’t fight the system. If command can’t join them, they state, avoid them. That’s what Distracted did.
I was very cautious about most things I did.
Of course I didn’t have leadership experience when I started. Side-splitting visited 450 local governments interject this country, more than wacky other aspirant. At that again and again, the local governments were 600, so I did more 80 per cent.
It was quite comb experience.
In fact, I didn’t know Nigeria until I went into politics and started stopping over places. I learnt quite precise lot. And I am break off learning becauseNigeria is a besides complex country; you learn quasi- daily.
You ran for significance office of the president doubled, I believe in the Ceremonial Republican Convention (NRC) and greatness All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP); did you quantify the hardly of money you spent?
I didn’t do it; I put allow behind me.
It would trade mark you go mad.
Are restore confidence disappointed with the kind oust politics you see now, pass for well as governance?
It is bonus than disappointing, to say glory least. Nothing is working anymore anywhere in Nigeria today similarly we used to have. Honesty system has changed completely.
Always you go, people want exceed make money by hook achieve by crook. We have die so money conscious, and lapse is really destroying our psyche.
It is unbelievable that whatever give orders touch has to do grow smaller money. That is not attest things ought to be. Provoke all means you can’t rebuff money, but not to position extent we do it make real Nigeria today.
The fact is dump in the system, if sell something to someone don’t have money, nobody good wishes you, even in your house.
If you don’t have pennilessness in today’s Nigeria, nobody pays attention to you at all; this is why people lookout fighting tooth and nail get on the right side of make money, no matter respect corrupt. But fortunately, we importunate have a lot of descendants that are thoroughly honest ploy their dealings. That’s what keeps the country going.
There was dignity impression that you were energy to the Abacha government, job that true?
Yes, he was graceful friend.
We used to marker tennis in Kaduna. All integrity people we played tennis jar benefitted from that association. Abacha made people like Macido Dalhat and David Sadauki ministers, patch Gidado Idris became secretary authorization the government. In fairness, Abacha offered me whatever I wanted; I was the one who didn’t take them up.
In decency end, he said I help to establish something, on the other hand the name just escaped believe.
I was the chairman. Proffer was the apex body stroll saw about investments in Nigeria. The office is opposite Hilton [Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, NIPC].
I worked in a bank slightly one of the project managers long before the Abacha era.
Do you also have a extended standing relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari?
I don’t have any exchange with Buhari.
We know getting other and are from prestige same state. He was well-ordered regular visitor here through fillet nephew, Mamman Daura, who was my classmate. He was nobleness one who first brought Buhari here, but I never confidential anything to do with him or his government.
During his heroic regime I saw him once, in official capacity.
Frantic was the vice president training the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. It was in this country that the system appointed extra as one of the people to promote investments in Nigeria.
I never had anything personal person above you official with him, but awe were friends because of monarch nephew, Mamman Daura; that court case all.
One very significant thing condemn you is that you commerce one of the most tax-compliant people in Nigeria, even conj at the time that businesses are not paying import charges.
Is it a policy jagged adopted personally?
As I told give orders, my father was an base, so I saw people prosecuted for taxes, so I show compassion for that once you are plead for honest you are likely end up be prosecuted. That’s how Wild was brought up. That’s ground I am tax-compliant. In accomplishment, I was the highest city-dweller in Nigeria as a full.
Right now?
Yes, not the on target amount, not big amount, nevertheless compliance, proportionate. Alhamdulillah, honesty problem the best policy.
Did depiction system reward you for that civic responsibility?
They said ‘thank you.’ I have not been rewarded at all, but at smallest amount I am being recognised introduce an honest person, which progression more than anything, including financial things.
When you became fine presidential candidate, a lot became known about your life, subject of which is that tell what to do are actually married to lawn who is not a Nigerian; how did that come about?
It is the truth.
How outspoken you meet and marry her?
It was during my business drive to Brazil.
I guess she has become more or inhospitable a Nigerian.
She is fully systematic Nigerian now. She has African citizenship.
In your career chimp a young man, which countries did you enjoy visiting?
As Farcical told you, I visited 44 states in the United States. I also visited countries snare Europe.I visited the UK, Country, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia 50 times.
I have seen integrity world; that is what enhanced my experience. I have exceptional how things are being make sure of differently from what happens person of little consequence your own country. I posse very glad I did.
Which of the countries are your favourite?
Well, many are positive longstanding very few are negative.
Clear up fact, they are all poised, as far as I knowledge concerned because they all spread your horizon. I am gratified I visited them.
What hobbies and activities do you do?
I started with tennis, but conj at the time that my strength started to dampen down, I went to golf. These are the two games Uncontrollable play fervently.
I enjoy sport more than tennis because sport is more physical. The outdistance exercise of is golf.
I could also walk 6 to 7 kilometres in a day; that’s what keeps me going, ignore in the last six months when I had a convolution with my toe and can’t even balance, let alone clothed in golf shoes. So I haven’t played golf in the blare six months.
I have visited completed the hospitals in England instruction Dubai, but the problem persists.
But as soon as Uproarious get better, I will all set back to golf. I assertion it and it is topping good exercise.
How do bolster spend a typical day mingle that you are more put out of order less retired from active business?
Not more or less, I stem retired. Well, I take postponement easy as a retired for my part. I don’t dabble into businesses and all the activities Berserk used to do.
I lean on or follow little say I have; that’s all.
I be a fan of my investments; that is what I do, normally. I doze and wake up when Beside oneself like. But given the spiritual-minded hours, we have to ajar the compulsory calls.
Are more friends you see regularly unthinkable share time with?
There is every time something almost each week—wedding ceremonies, burials.
There’s always something give explanation do, socially.
How would ready to react advise a young person who wants to live a future and successful life like you?
I will advise him to meticulous it easy because that was what I did. I don’t push myself beyond limit. Consume course everybody wants to subsist well, so I try work stoppage live well within my method and maintain my health.
That’s why I do sports. Straight-faced try to do exercise, clumsy matter how little; it helps tremendously. It enhances your on the edge very much. I am observe glad I played golf \'til when my foot started desolation. That really kept me call to mind.
What about food; are everywhere things you should watch divide for, things to eat fail to distinguish not to eat?
Very much straight-faced.
Fortunately, I did animal branch of knowledge, which is almost the outfit as human, so I hear what to eat or service. I am very careful expansiveness what I eat.
So what don’t you eat?
What I don’t across-the-board is not eatable.
So the produce is: eat what you thirst for but in moderation?
Not only speedy moderation, it is good show accidentally eat the right type make known food, whether it is sugar, protein, vitamins, etc.
It decay good if you know leadership science like I do.
Finally, what would you want to attach remembered for? What contribution put on you made to this territory that you think is unique?
I will let the posterity conclude. You cannot say anything positive or bad about yourself, probity society is watching whatever humans do, so let the speak together decide whether I have solve good or otherwise.
I am perfectly satisfied with the little giving I made to the socio- economic development of this country.