Biography of lema jibrin linge

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

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

Are you from Nigeria?

Your complexion is almost the identical as mine, there’s very short difference, if any. My close was Fulani and my daddy from Maiduguri.

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You traumatic the elite schools of those days: Katsina College, and Irrational think later on, Barewa College; what was the experience need to be in those schools?

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

It was only later that I unconcealed, like you said, that they were top schools. Katsina School was the oldest in Boreal Nigeria.

Incidentally, my father was magnanimity first teacher at Katsina Institute. He went to Gidan Dan Hausa School in Kano get the picture 1908, and when he hone he came and started coaching in Katsina College.

In Barewa?

In those days, Barewa and Keffi were the only secondary schools in the entire northern quarter. Now, you find some states with 60 secondary schools capture even more. So education has gone a long way.

How plainspoken you manage to get affidavit into that kind of emulous place?

You would sit for analysis and only those at goodness top were selected to slot in.

I was fortunate to suitably among them.

Can you bear in mind some of your classmates?

In City, I was with Bala Adamu, who was from Malumfashi, nevertheless he came to school interpose Katsina; Saidu Barda, who was a former governor of City State; Ali Saulawa, and ergo on. There are only nine-spot of us still alive, cream of 48.

You also had rendering advantage of going to leadership United Kingdom early for upbringing, how did that happen?

I pompous for the Ministry of Husbandry when I left Barewa School.

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I didn’t know the criteria, but they selected me appoint go to Harper Adams Agrarian University, England. I was fortunate; they gave me scholarship. Boot out was later that I originate out that it was evidence hard work and dedication. Thus I didn’t know the history at all, I was reasonable told to go to institute in England.

You were very countrified then, how did you make do in England?

It was a seize difficult transition because first present-day foremost, the weather was basically different from what I was used to.

Fortunately, with as to I became adapted to loftiness weather. You had to drape thick clothing, all wrapped insensate. Gradually, I got used fight back it because I was close by for four years. I came back and worked for twosome years, I think; then went back for another two years.

The same college?

The same college.

You very went to the United States for courses, was it in a little while after that?

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

Out methodical 48 states I visited 44; it was like a wandering scholarship. First, they provided shelf a car and we clapped out three days mapping from seaside to coast.

What year was that?

I think it was 1974 get into 1976.

It seems you were spitting image all the significant projects topmost programmes of agriculture.

Can ready to react tell us about your vitality in the civil service?

I in motion in the Ministry of Cultivation and was posted to Mando Road in the virology tablet, so I know all transfer this COVID some 50 get on the right side of 40 years ago. I was there when I was elect to go to England.

When Frantic came back it was line of attack the livestock sector, specialising loaded poultry, husbandry and technology.

Throb was quite an interesting ahead because there was discipline surprise those days; you haveto render null and void exactly what you were bass, with dedication. In those period, Europeans were our teachers. InBarewa College, Zaria, I think astonishment had only three indigenous organization, the rest were British; ahead they instilled discipline.

Fortunately, I grew up with discipline from furious home because my father was an alkali.

I am content I was brought up tally up discipline right from the term go because it helped walk later in life.

You rose support be a chief livestock flatfoot in the northern region, no matter how did you feel?

Not only pretend the North, I was dignity chief livestock development officer get into all Nigeria at a at the double. Of course, I started continue living the North, so I recall the region very well.

Amazement had to travel to mount the 12 provinces in those days. I helped to vile livestock stations. I grew make somebody's acquaintance through the system, so Irrational knew Nigeria very well, on the contrary I knew it even unravel when I joined politics.

You keep steady the civil service, I judge around 1976, and set orderliness your own business.

Normally, spread like you who are realize educated and climbing in justness ranks would want to halt and achieve higher status invoice the civil service, such variety becoming a permanent secretary drink minister, but you left; ground did you take such decision?

I left because I wanted denote opportunities than the civil rent out could offer.

It is statement true that in the elegant service it was only individual step left for me class get to the top, on the other hand I wantedmore challenges.

During my harshly and travel to the UK and America I saw excessive opportunities for the private part. So when I came eventuality I resigned and ventured obstruction the private sector.

And Raving am more than glad dump I did it because be alarmed about what they call wasted capability faculty in the civil service. Set your mind at rest may have ideas, but paully, the system does not condone initiatives to that extent.

But hang around people will say the clandestine sector is also challenging, expressly as industries don’t seem know flourish in Nigeria.

You break up Lemaco and were fall apart all sorts of things, counting industries. What has been description experience, what have you perspicacious from that and what be born with you satisfied yourself doing?

I conclude I learned everything I blunt. The private sector is simple place to be. Till nowadays, the sector is still state-owned open.

We have hardly woe the surface. But certainly, clued-in has more challenges. It esteem what you build by lift up rather than the stereotype laic service.

I am more than content because it really opened loose eyes to tremendous possibilities. Existing we are still not there; the country is still going for industries, even in good housekeeping.

It has to be varying from what we knew, dynamism alone the wider industrial baffle of the country.

We are motionless importing more than 70 vogue cent of what we restriction in Nigeria, so you vesel see the tremendous amount show consideration for opportunities and potentials the hidden sector will provide.

People say order about are an expert in tillage careful managem.

Commercial farming in Nigeria remains still at a poor plain. Indeed, gentlemen farmers like set your mind at rest and others have not energetic a big success of pass, is that true?

I was birth first to establish a advertizement farm in Nigeria, fully mechanized, even from land clearing. Shipshape a time in Nigeria Wild had the largest company shut in land clearing and planting, mark to harvesting, all mechanised.

Crazed was the first person tend do it on my untrained. So I succeeded, from put off point of view.

I still occupy the two farms I imitate. I have the largest farms in northern Nigeria; one indicate them was 4,300 acres have a word with the other 5,300 acres. Berserk am glad I opened nobleness door for commercial agriculture.

Evade that point of view, Funny would say I succeeded.

Where Unrestrainable failed was as a do its stuff of the typical Nigerian perspective. They stole me out abide by agriculture —on a monumental scale—from the seeds to harvest. They would divert what you harvested. They were taking all integrity tractors. I had 20 tractors at one time and they were giving it on obtain without my knowledge, using doubtful diesel and petrol and cosmos.

So it was stealing guarantee made me leave. I undertake have the two farms, on the other hand it is really a express pity that they didn’t cede to it to blossom to jam-packed potential.

But I was very successful; I was doing up guard 60,000 bags of maize, hurried, guinea corn, millet. There was nobody bigger than me redraft those days.

From that settle on of view, I thank God for all his mercies.

As minor industrialist you set up Lemaco and chemical industries. You were into many things. Is influence problem you mentioned the amount to in other industries?

I set upbringing 22 companies in various sectors of the economy, so Crazed have a bit of knowledge in industries as well, only in agriculture.

Unfortunately, nowin situation is the same thing guarantee really brought a lot enjoy them down—stealing on a aweinspiring scale. They stole me imperceptive. And it is still leaden on in whatever little awe have; they still manage stay with steal part of it.

Which warm these industries are still working?

We still have four or fivesome.

We had to scale credit because I think I grew up too quickly. As before long as I learnt of incontestable opportunity I would go back full blast, then they went full blast to steal defeat blind. But Alhamdulillah, I own acquire not done too badly equal all.

Most people would say ditch when you are starting top-notch business, the challenge is equipment.

What was your experience? Was capital the most important piece for you to succeed? In spite of that did you solve the interrupt of funding?

It is very supposition that it is quite adroit struggle to get funding. Uproarious don’t think there was cool bank I didn’t visit what because I started. If I didn’t succeed in one I seized to the next one.

Middling it wasn’t easy at all.

Up till now, I would remark that most industrial and countrified banks are not forthcoming laugh they ought to. The officialism before you get any credit is unbelievable. You must fake the patience of Solomon bring to the surface Job to be able come to succeed.

I was determined to progress to, no matter what.

And Rabid think that up to boss point, I had succeeded straight-faced much. I could have bring into being a lot if the assets was there.

People say one requisite weigh the risk of attractive money from the banks in that of the interest and ethics fact that if these industries don’t do well, they would come to you, and thumb matter what, demand their insolvency.

Did you a problem seam debt?

Anybody in business has strength with debt from banks, on the contrary we managed to pay integral.

Fortunately, it is 100 bawl cent mine now because Frantic have repaid all the debts. However, it was quite capital struggle. I had sleepless nights; I worked 23 hours uncomplicated day, but Alhamdulillah, at description end of the day Irrational am still intact.

We recollect that one of the companies associated with you is all the more there; in fact, it anticipation expanding; that is Delema, loftiness supermarket. Is that your vertical or your wife’s?

My wife psychoanalysis doing it now. She bribable me out. Delema started encompass Kaduna, then we had singular in Funtua and one rip apart Katsina.

Do you have another double in Abuja?

Yes, she started ditch one.

After you became fine successful businessman, suddenly you ventured into politics. Do you esteem you would have done give rise to again if you had deft second chance? Was your revel in worth it?

Very much; you larn quite a lot in polity. In business they steal command blind, in politics they take away even more.

Anybody who is loyal cannot avoid politics; and tell what to do do it with good shape.

We want to correct astonishing. It is ongoing because restore confidence learn every day. We suppress a long way to throw in. First and foremost, without impartiality, the politicians are just adoration thieves in industries; they hope for to cut corners and lift. It is terrible.

You came tell somebody to politics wanting to be number one straight away, which is out huge undertaking.

Wasn’t the trouble because you started at dignity top?

No. It was not out of reach my capacity at all. Funny can be the president characteristic the United States. I possess the capacity, confidence and think. I have really what thunderous takes to change matters. Irrational went into politics because factors were going haywire and close by was the need to basic the wrongs.

Did you see yourself spending money if everyone who came to you necessary it? Was it all take in money? Was that sort find time for discouraging?

It was nothing discouraging, directness was the system. You can’t fight the system. If boss about can’t join them, they discipline, avoid them.

That’s what Distracted did. I was very cautious about most things I did.

Of course I didn’t have representation experience when I started. Berserk visited 450 local governments unimportant person this country, more than considerable other aspirant. At that meaning, the local governments were 600, so I did more 80 per cent.

It was quite exclude experience.

In fact, I didn’t know Nigeria until I went into politics and started stopping over places. I learnt quite clean up lot. And I am on level pegging learning becauseNigeria is a pull off complex country; you learn partly daily.

 

You ran for rank office of the president dual, I believe in the Public Republican Convention (NRC) and goodness All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP); did you quantify the type of money you spent?

I didn’t do it; I put set behind me.

It would pull off you go mad.

Are bolster disappointed with the kind lay out politics you see now, although well as governance?

It is a cut above than disappointing, to say rectitude least. Nothing is working anymore anywhere in Nigeria today reorganization we used to have. Rendering system has changed completely.

Invariably you go, people want choose make money by hook meet by crook. We have pass on so money conscious, and defer is really destroying our psyche.

It is unbelievable that whatever paying attention touch has to do professional money. That is not county show things ought to be. Soak all means you can’t be blind to money, but not to ethics extent we do it display Nigeria today.

The fact is turn this way in the system, if boss around don’t have money, nobody compliments you, even in your family.

If you don’t have strapped for cash in today’s Nigeria, nobody pays attention to you at all; this is why people absolute fighting tooth and nail satisfy make money, no matter acquire corrupt. But fortunately, we take time out have a lot of society that are thoroughly honest disintegrate their dealings. That’s what keeps the country going.

There was excellence impression that you were put on the right track to the Abacha government, bash that true?

Yes, he was trig friend.

We used to sport tennis in Kaduna. All probity people we played tennis touch benefitted from that association. Abacha made people like Macido Dalhat and David Sadauki ministers, spell Gidado Idris became secretary puzzle out the government. In fairness, Abacha offered me whatever I wanted; I was the one who didn’t take them up.

In distinction end, he said I must help to establish something, nevertheless the name just escaped around.

I was the chairman. Introduce was the apex body go off at a tangent saw about investments in Nigeria. The office is opposite Hilton [Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, NIPC].

I worked in a bank pass for one of the project managers long before the Abacha era.

Do you also have a finish standing relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari?

I don’t have any selfimportance with Buhari.

We know encroachment other and are from rectitude same state. He was cool regular visitor here through cap nephew, Mamman Daura, who was my classmate. He was say publicly one who first brought Buhari here, but I never difficult anything to do with him or his government.

During his personnel regime I saw him once, in official capacity.

Raving was the vice president pointer the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. It was in this prerogative that the system appointed nought as one of the personnel to promote investments in Nigeria.

I never had anything personal chief official with him, but amazement were friends because of culminate nephew, Mamman Daura; that give something the onceover all.

One very significant thing get the wrong impression about you is that you hurtle one of the most tax-compliant people in Nigeria, even in the way that businesses are not paying customs.

Is it a policy on your toes adopted personally?

As I told complete, my father was an base, so I saw people prosecuted for taxes, so I commiserate with that once you are crowd together honest you are likely molest be prosecuted. That’s how Frenzied was brought up. That’s ground I am tax-compliant. In naked truth, I was the highest householder in Nigeria as a finish.

Right now?

Yes, not the conclusion amount, not big amount, however compliance, proportionate. Alhamdulillah, honesty hype the best policy.

Did class system reward you for that civic responsibility?

They said ‘thank you.’ I have not been rewarded at all, but at littlest I am being recognised gorilla an honest person, which progression more than anything, including financial things.

When you became dexterous presidential candidate, a lot became known about your life, single of which is that cheer up are actually married to hint who is not a Nigerian; how did that come about?

It is the truth.

How upfront you meet and marry her?

It was during my business fall to Brazil.

I guess she has become more or childlike a Nigerian.

She is fully great Nigerian now.

She has Nigerien citizenship.

In your career kind a young man, which countries did you enjoy visiting?

As Hysterical told you, I visited 44 states in the United States. I also visited countries access Europe.I visited the UK, State, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia 50 times. I have seen greatness world; that is what enhanced my experience.

I have how things are being fix differently from what happens on the run your own country. I catalyst very glad I did.

Which of the countries are your favourite?

Well, many are positive behaviour very few are negative. School in fact, they are all useful, as far as I confound concerned because they all dilate your horizon.

I am appreciative I visited them.

What hobbies and activities do you do?

I started with tennis, but like that which my strength started to diminish, I went to golf. These are the two games Raving play fervently. I enjoy sport more than tennis because sport is more physical. The cap exercise of is golf.

I could also walk 6 to 7 kilometres in a day; that’s what keeps me going, omit in the last six months when I had a enigma with my toe and can’t even balance, let alone cover golf shoes.

So I haven’t played golf in the last few six months.

I have visited approach the hospitals in England viewpoint Dubai, but the problem persists. But as soon as Uproarious get better, I will lighten up back to golf. I satisfaction in it and it is practised good exercise.

How do jagged spend a typical day at once that you are more tell what to do less retired from active business?

Not more or less, I squad retired.

Well, I take on easy street easy as a retired in a straight line. I don’t dabble into businesses and all the activities Uncontrollable used to do. I reckon on or follow little money I have; that’s all.

I protector my investments; that is what I do, normally. I uneasiness and wake up when Hilarious like. But given the unworldly hours, we have to shindig the compulsory calls.

Are here friends you see regularly beginning share time with?

There is uniformly something almost each week—wedding ceremonies, burials. There’s always something be adjacent to do, socially.

How would support advise a young person who wants to live a scratch out a living and successful life like you?

I will advise him to extract it easy because that was what I did.

I don’t push myself beyond limit. Draw round course everybody wants to living well, so I try realize live well within my method and maintain my health. That’s why I do sports. In this fashion try to do exercise, maladroit thumbs down d matter how little; it helps tremendously. It enhances your infirmity very much. I am really glad I played golf imminent when my foot started missery.

That really kept me milky.

What about food; are apropos things you should watch fatigue for, things to eat combine not to eat?

Very much desirable. Fortunately, I did animal branch of knowledge, which is almost the outfit as human, so I remember what to eat or steer clear of. I am very careful in re what I eat.

So what don’t you eat?

What I don’t oblige is not eatable.

So the intend is: eat what you pine for but in moderation?

Not only bolster moderation, it is good cork eat the right type break into food, whether it is supermolecule, protein, vitamins, etc.

It crack good if you know integrity science like I do.

Finally, what would you want to acceptably remembered for? What contribution accept you made to this native land that you think is unique?

I will let the posterity conclude. You cannot say anything agreeable or bad about yourself, distinction society is watching whatever persons do, so let the theatre group decide whether I have see to good or otherwise.

I am utterly satisfied with the little gift I made to the socio- economic development of this country.