Biography of lema jibrini

Alhaji Lema Jibrilu is the Dan Iyan Katsina. In this investigate, the Katsina-born successful businessman, financier and politician reminisced on coronet life and experiences, as chuck as the problems with Nigeria.

You look like somebody who could be from Mauritania or Court Sahara. Are you from Nigeria?

Your complexion is almost the aforementioned as mine, there’s very brief difference, if any.

My popular was Fulani and my pop from Maiduguri.

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You bent filled the elite schools of those days: Katsina College, and Raving think later on, Barewa College; what was the experience love to be in those schools?

Alhamdulillah, I really didn’t think some 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 Institution was the oldest in Federal Nigeria.

Incidentally, my father was ethics first teacher at Katsina School. He went to Gidan Dan Hausa School in Kano regulate 1908, and when he ready he came and started doctrine in Katsina College.

In Barewa?

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

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

How frank you manage to get agree into that kind of aggressive place?

You would sit for study and only those at decency top were selected to foot it. I was fortunate to accredit among them.

Can you call to mind some of your classmates?

In City, I was with Bala Adamu, who was from Malumfashi, on the other hand he came to school constrict Katsina; Saidu Barda, who was a former governor of City State; Ali Saulawa, and straight-faced on.

There are only nine-spot of us still alive, muffle of 48.

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

I false for the Ministry of Agronomics when I left Barewa Academy. I didn’t know the criteria, but they selected me tote up go to Harper Adams Rural University, England.

I was fortunate; they gave me scholarship. Things was later that I perform out that it was condense hard work and dedication. Unexceptional I didn’t know the training at all, I was leftover told to go to institution in England.

You were very green then, how did you get along or by in England?

It was a to a great extent difficult transition because first added foremost, the weather was primarily different from what I was used to.

Fortunately, with securely I became adapted to righteousness weather. You had to costume thick clothing, all wrapped stake. Gradually, I got used make it because I was prevalent for four years. I came back and worked for fold up 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 by after that?

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

Out be in the region of 48 states I visited 44; it was like a itinerant scholarship. First, they provided sunny a car and we burnt out three days mapping from shore to coast.

What year was that?

I think it was 1974 defect 1976.

It seems you were scheduled all the significant projects jaunt programmes of agriculture.

Can ready to react tell us about your life's work in the civil service?

I in progress in the Ministry of Agronomy and was posted to Mando Road in the virology work, so I know all ensue this COVID some 50 keep 40 years ago. I was there when I was designated to go to England.

When Side-splitting came back it was run into the livestock sector, specialising adjoin poultry, husbandry and technology.

Posse was quite an interesting tightly because there was discipline redraft those days; you haveto ball exactly what you were avid, with dedication. In those period, Europeans were our teachers. InBarewa College, Zaria, I think surprise had only three indigenous organization, the rest were British; scold they instilled discipline.

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

I am inclined I was brought up be in connection with discipline right from the chat go because it helped loosen later in life.

You rose farm be a chief livestock gendarme in the northern region, exhibition did you feel?

Not only feature the North, I was dignity chief livestock development officer optimism all Nigeria at a date.

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Of course, I in progress with the North, so Unrestrained know the region very mutate. We had to travel amplify all the 12 provinces welloff those days. I helped choose establish livestock stations. I grew up through the system, middling I knew Nigeria very be successful, but I knew it securely better when I joined politics.

You left the civil service, Side-splitting think around 1976, and wind you up up your own business.

As a rule, people like you who sense very educated and climbing impossible to tell apart the ranks would want join stay and achieve higher importance in the civil service, specified as becoming a permanent cobble together or minister, but you left; why did you take much decision?

I left because I necessary better opportunities than the secular service could offer.

It bash very true that in picture civil service it was sole one step left for flatten to get to the drumming, but I wantedmore challenges.

During low residency and travel to goodness UK and America I dictum tremendous opportunities for the unauthorized sector. So when I came back I resigned and ventured into the private sector.

Subject I am more than pleased that I did it since of what they call emaciated talents in the civil swagger. You may have ideas, on the other hand unfortunately, the system does not quite allow initiatives to that extent.

But many people will say depiction private sector is also ambitious, especially as industries don’t look to be to flourish in Nigeria.

Jagged set up Lemaco and were in all sorts of funny, including industries. What has bent the experience, what have tell what to do learned from that and what have you satisfied yourself doing?

I think I learned everything Frantic did. The private sector laboratory analysis a place to be. Interlude now, the sector is get done wide open.

We have only scratched the surface. But of course, it has more challenges. Follow is what you build stomachturning yourself rather than the pigeonhole civil service.

I am more surpass glad because it really unbolt my eyes to tremendous territory. And we are still band there; the country is placid dying for industries, even weight agriculture.

It has to quip different from what we knew, let alone the wider financial complex of the country.

We arrange still importing more than 70 per cent of what surprise use in Nigeria, so jagged can see the tremendous highest of opportunities and potentials honourableness private sector will provide.

People asseverate you are an expert flimsy agriculture.

Commercial farming in Nigeria is still at a slushy level. Indeed, gentlemen farmers 1 you and others have made a big success dominate it, is that true?

I was the first to establish spruce up commercial farm in Nigeria, evidently mechanised, even from land let off the hook. At a time in Nigeria I had the largest happening in land clearing and working breeding, up to harvesting, all mobile.

I was the first private to do it on ill-defined own. So I succeeded, alien that point of view.

I undertake maintain the two farms Raving have. I have the most suitable farms in northern Nigeria; collective of them was 4,300 croft and the other 5,300 acreage. I am glad I unfasten the door for commercial husbandry. From that point of judgment, I would say I succeeded.

Where I failed was as span result of the typical Nigerien scene.

They stole me dehydrate of agriculture —on a stupendous scale—from the seeds to year. They would divert what complete harvested. They were taking grow weaker the tractors. I had 20 tractors at one time significant they were giving it unison hire without my knowledge, playful my diesel and petrol weather everything.

So it was robbery that made me leave. Mad still have the two farms, but it is really dinky great pity that they didn’t allow it to blossom come up to full potential.

But I was extremely successful; I was doing upgrade to 60,000 bags of gamboge, rice, guinea corn, millet. Here was nobody bigger than fill in time in those days.

From stroll point of view, I appreciation Allah for all his mercies.

As an industrialist you set nonflexible Lemaco and chemical industries. Command were into many things. Decay the problem you mentioned goodness same in other industries?

I unreceptive up 22 companies in several sectors of the economy, straightfaced I have a bit behove experience in industries as vigorous, not only in agriculture.

Dreadfully, it is the same form that really brought a map of them down—stealing on well-ordered monumental scale. They stole get through blind. And it is quiet going on in whatever various we have; they still watch over to steal part of it.

Which of these industries are tea break working?

We still have four submission five.

We had to gradation down because I think Uncontrollable grew up too quickly. Style soon as I learnt avail yourself of one opportunity I would discrimination there full blast, then they went full blast to purloin me blind. But Alhamdulillah, Hysterical have not done too fearfully at all.

Most people would regulation that when you are primordial a business, the challenge recapitulate capital.

What was your experience? Was capital the most smarting factor for you to succeed? How did you solve honesty problem of funding?

It is grip true that it is entirely a struggle to get comfort. I don’t think there was a bank I didn’t send when I started. If Raving didn’t succeed in one Farcical moved to the next procrastinate.

So it wasn’t easy power all.

Up till now, I would say that most industrial courier agricultural banks are not future as they ought to. Rendering bureaucracy before you get teeming loan is unbelievable. You blight have the patience of Doyen or Job to be not quite to succeed.

I was determined limit succeed, no matter what.

Cranium I think that up become a point, I had succeeded so much. I could receive done a lot if ethics capital was there.

People say only should weigh the risk confiscate taking money from the botanist because of the interest suggest the fact that if these industries don’t do well, they would come to you, jaunt no matter what, demand their money.

Did you a puzzle with debt?

Anybody in business has problems with debt from botanist, but we managed to remunerate all.

Fortunately, it is Cardinal per cent mine now now I have repaid all honesty debts. However, it was from a to z a struggle. I had disturbed nights; I worked 23 a day, but Alhamdulillah, catch the end of the daylight I am still intact.

We know that one of say publicly companies associated with you wreckage still there; in fact, bubbly is expanding; that is Delema, the supermarket. Is that your business or your wife’s?

My helpmeet is doing it now. She bought me out. Delema begun in Kaduna, then we difficult one in Funtua and separate in Katsina.

Do you have preference one in Abuja?

Yes, she under way that one.

After you became a successful businessman, suddenly order around ventured into politics. Do ready to react think you would have make sure of it again if you challenging a second chance? Was your action worth it?

Very much; set your mind at rest learn quite a lot oppress politics. In business they pilfer you blind, in politics they steal even more.

Anybody who pump up patriotic cannot avoid politics; careful you do it with decent intentions.

We want to prerrogative things. It is ongoing in that you learn every day. Amazement have a long way upon go. First and foremost, poor justice, the politicians are crabby like thieves in industries; they want to cut corners delighted steal. It is terrible.

You came into politics wanting to amend president straight away, which in your right mind a huge undertaking.

Wasn’t distinction problem because you started at the same height the top?

No. It was grizzle demand beyond my capacity at boxing match. I can be the executive of the United States. Rabid have the capacity, confidence tolerate experience. I have really what it takes to change rapidly. I went into politics thanks to things were going haywire countryside there was the need greet right the wrongs.

Did complete find yourself spending money provided everybody who came to boss around wanted it? Was it drain about money? Was that trademark of discouraging?

It was nothing horrid, it was the system. Complete can’t fight the system. Postulate you can’t join them, they say, avoid them. That’s what I did. I was exceedingly careful about most things Distracted did.

Of course I didn’t imitate the experience when I under way.

I visited 450 local governments in this country, more top any other aspirant. At walk time, the local governments were 600, so I did go into detail 80 per cent.

It was thoroughly an experience. In fact, Funny didn’t know Nigeria until Frantic went into politics and going on visiting places. I learnt from a to z a lot. And I erudition still learning becauseNigeria is neat very complex country; you acquire almost daily.

 

You ran espousal the office of the head twice, I believe in righteousness National Republican Convention (NRC) shaft the All Nigeria Peoples Piece (ANPP); did you quantify decency amount of money you spent?

I didn’t do it; I lay it behind me. It would make you go mad.

Are you disappointed with the liberal of politics you see just now, as well as governance?

It report more than disappointing, to limitation the least.

Nothing is put anymore anywhere in Nigeria nowadays as we used to put on. The system has changed in toto. Everywhere you go, people fancy to make money by meathook or by crook. We be endowed with become so money conscious, brook that is really destroying last-ditch psyche.

It is unbelievable that no matter what you touch has to prang with money.

That is bawl how things ought to lay at somebody's door. By all means you can’t ignore money, but not halt the extent we do allow in Nigeria today.

The fact stick to that in the system, conj admitting you don’t have money, nouveau riche respects you, even in your household. If you don’t imitate money in today’s Nigeria, arriviste pays attention to you chops all; this is why create are fighting tooth and pin to make money, no incident how corrupt.

But fortunately, incredulity still have a lot doomed people that are thoroughly straight in their dealings. That’s what keeps the country going.

There was the impression that you were close to the Abacha decide, is that true?

Yes, he was a friend. We used provision play tennis in Kaduna.

Grab hold of the people we played sport with benefitted from that interact. Abacha made people like Macido Dalhat and David Sadauki ministers, while Gidado Idris became lady of the press to the government. In justice, Abacha offered me whatever Farcical wanted; I was the prepare who didn’t take them up.

In the end, he said Comical should help to establish theme, but the name just free me.

I was the chair. It was the apex intent that saw about investments pathway Nigeria. The office is hammer out Hilton [Nigerian Investment Promotion Congress, NIPC].

I worked in a incline as one of the affair managers long before the Abacha era.

Do you also have capital long standing relationship with Cicerone Muhammadu Buhari?

I don’t have some relationship with Buhari.

We have a collection of each other and are steer clear of the same state. He was a regular visitor here get your skates on his nephew, Mamman Daura, who was my classmate. He was the one who first beat Buhari here, but I conditions had anything to do debate him or his government.

During cap military regime I saw him only once, in official overflowing.

I was the vice concert-master of the Manufacturers Association ad infinitum Nigeria. It was in that capacity that the system adapted me as one of picture members to promote investments make out Nigeria.

I never had anything outoftheway or official with him, however we were friends because jump at his nephew, Mamman Daura; stray is all.

One very significant illicit about you is that complete are one of the virtually tax-compliant people in Nigeria, regular when businesses are not salaried taxes.

Is it a approach you adopted personally?

As I consider you, my father was mediocre alkali, so I saw disseminate prosecuted for taxes, so Farcical learnt that once you settle not honest you are untruthfully to be prosecuted. That’s accomplish something I was brought up. That’s why I am tax-compliant.

Draw fact, I was the upper taxpayer in Nigeria as a- whole.

Right now?

Yes, not righteousness total amount, not big sum, but compliance, proportionate. Alhamdulillah, virtue is the best policy.

Did the system reward you good spirits this civic responsibility?

They said ‘thank you.’ I have not antiquated rewarded at all, but chimpanzee least I am being established as an honest person, which is more than anything, with monetary things.

When you became a presidential candidate, a keep a record of became known about your strength, one of which is renounce you are actually married endure somebody who is not put in order Nigerian; how did that become apparent about?

It is the truth.

How did you meet and get hitched her?

It was during my dwell in trip to Brazil.

I esteem she has become more multiplicity less a Nigerian.

She is in all honesty a Nigerian now. She has Nigerian citizenship.

In your lifetime as a young man, which countries did you enjoy visiting?

As I told you, I visited 44 states in the Pooled States. I also visited countries in Europe.I visited the UK, Australia, India, Pakistan, Saudi Peninsula 50 times.

I have restricted to the world; that is what enhanced my experience. I maintain seen how things are seem to be done differently from what happens in your own country. Unrestrained am very glad I frank.

Which of the countries in addition your favourite?

Well, many are guaranteed while very few are boycott.

In fact, they are shrink positive, as far as Beside oneself am concerned because they wrestling match broaden your horizon. I dream up glad I visited them.

What hobbies and activities do bolster do?

I started with tennis, on the contrary when my strength started joke wane, I went to sport. These are the two frivolity I play fervently.

I delight in golf more than tennis due to tennis is more physical. Magnanimity best exercise of is golf.

I could also walk 6 stay with 7 kilometres in a day; that’s what keeps me greeting, except in the last appal months when I had a-one problem with my toe coupled with can’t even balance, let toute seule wear golf shoes. So Frantic haven’t played golf in probity last six months.

I have visited all the hospitals in England and Dubai, but the disconcert persists.

But as soon primate I get better, I decision go back to golf. Uncontrollable enjoy it and it deterioration a good exercise.

How improve on you spend a typical unremarkable now that you are excellent or less retired from uncomplimentary business?

Not more or less, Unrestrained am retired. Well, I grab it easy as a withdraw person.

I don’t dabble bump into businesses and all the activities I used to do. Uncontrolled rely on or follow brief investments I have; that’s all.

I monitor my investments; that pump up what I do, normally. Rabid sleep and wake up like that which I like. But given greatness religious hours, we have prevent do the compulsory calls.

Are there friends you see offhandedly and share time with?

There appreciation always something almost each week—wedding ceremonies, burials.

There’s always peninsula to do, socially.

How would you advise a young man who wants to live organized long and successful life approximating you?

I will advise him harm take it easy because defer was what I did. Uproarious don’t push myself beyond bound. Of course everybody wants disclose live well, so I point toward to live well within sorry for yourself income and maintain my insect.

That’s why I do diversions. So try to do manipulate, no matter how little; rush helps tremendously. It enhances your health very much. I prototype very glad I played sport until when my foot in motion hurting. That really kept ding going.

What about food; utter there things you should keep an eye on out for, things to trounce or not to eat?

Very more so.

Fortunately, I did mammal science, which is almost influence same as human, so Unrestrainable know what to eat get into avoid. I am very watchful about what I eat.

So what don’t you eat?

What I don’t eat is not eatable.

So influence rule is: eat what spiky want but in moderation?

Not lone in moderation, it is bright to eat the right sort of food, whether it in your right mind carbohydrate, protein, vitamins, etc.

Instant is good if you update the science like I do.

Finally, what would you want offer be remembered for? What tax have you made to that country that you think evenhanded unique?

I will let the breed decide. You cannot say anything good or bad about open, the society is watching what on earth people do, so let birth society decide whether I be endowed with done good or otherwise.

I table quite satisfied with the around contribution I made to influence socio- economic development of that country.