A human being is not necessarily defined by knowledge and skills but by content of their character. The ability to combine knowledge and skills, wrapped in character within acceptable norm of the society is indeed the best gift any mortal can hope to get. Character therefore establishes more than good social life, it also helps leaders to selectively expose themselves to best practices towards serving humanity.

As the former Governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, celebrates his 61st birthday today November 12, 2016, I salute the man who has been able to saddle his horse of life, riding through twists and turns to serve humanity within the confines of best practices in human character.

Some leaders are born at the right time of their lives, that is indeed a valid reason why they exists to serve in the first place. For a few – like Dr Aliyu, are born before their time. The difference between this classification of leaders therefore is ability to live ahead of their generation with epoch making ideas. From a personal working relationship, I can narrate the audacity with which the former governor brought the future to governance.

He once told me that a servant leader is saddled with responsibility of contributing to the country's recovery from the losses of lost years of leadership deficit. He chose the title of Chief Servant to set himself up as a living example. 

He was courageous enough to take on prebendal politicians who survive only through exaggerated contracts and ridiculous claims of fallacious work existing only in their thieving heads. For his audacity, he got for himself a platoon of enemies. Many of them left his party to lend strength to the opposition. They hoped to heave him off the saddle of leadership for a simpleton at their whims end during his second term bid in 2011. He however held firm against their hate to wave the mantle of a change mantra.

He chose to “belong to everybody and belong to nobody”.  His mantra for leadership was to turn the fortunes of his people for good, which he did through projects, free education, prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, provision of social securities amongst myriad of achievements.

It was therefore not surprising that he took Niger state to the position of one the least poor in the country for more than four years (as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics). 

His outstanding achievements in MDGs funding, his role in achieving peace in Niger state, and creating jobs for unemployed youths in the state remain green in the memory of Nigerlites.

He matched action with words to see even far beyond the crystal ball.

Though corrupt politicians tested his style of governance, his vision stood against the tempestuous wave of opposition within and outside his party platform. Eight years after taking the mantle of leadership under the name Chief Servant, President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) has emerged with a mantra and a mandate similar to his vision almost a decade earlier. Their approach to governance may be different, the reality of a government hired by the people at the center happened on Nigeria.

The present town hall meetings promoted by the PMB led administration was propagated in Niger under the leadership of the Chief Servant. He named it Jama’a Forum (meet the people). The forum was instrumental in bottom up communication for good governance.

The former governor has always wished Nigerians see themselves only as a united, prosperous people with collective developmental agenda. He knew why the citizen/indigene divides had to be removed from Niger state while he was in office as governor. Not managing that aspect only set Nigeria on a track towards disaster. Already a renewed pro-Biafra agitation is gaining speed.

Nigeria is indeed blessed with great minds like Dr. Aliyu. We must however tackle the loose ends that set us apart. We must not allow politics, cleavage-based sentiments lead us into rubbishing our fountains of knowledge. It is time to drop ego, borrow from one of he finest to steer the ship of nation to safe waters. 

We must therefore learn to work hard towards closing the gap fragmenting us as a nation. We must understand our differences, encourage our collectivity for a common goal of attaining developmental aspiration. We must allow audacity of marshaling the future by great Nigerians be our guide. A happy cheer to Dr. Aliyu, the man who saw tomorrow.

*Ebije was the Chief Press Secretary to former Governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu