Features
Majidadin Gombe: A Pragmatic Political Technocrat
By Ahmad Muhammad Danyaro
History is full of testimonies, promises and antecedents that many important people across the world have been remembered for various reasons, and for becoming outstanding in human affairs, some for their simplicity, others for their generosity, many more for their compassion and still others for commendable act.
Engr. Saad Abubakar (Majidadin Gombe)
There is no doubt that many aspects of development by individuals and nations have been fired and propelled by vision which is regarded as an indispensable ingredient and catalyst in the dynamics of human existence.
No one doubts, personality is no substitute for intellect, not only simplicity, but leader’s intellect alone is useless without a personality. It is in this light that I bring you the immediate past Chairman Governing Council of Federal College of Education Okene and Federal Commissioner of Code of Conduct Bureau, Engineer Saad Abubukar Abdullahi (Majidadi Gombe)who is always willing to serve, rather than to be served. I mean to serve the humanity despite the fact that the way is thorny, slippery, narrow, dusty, but easy, having in mind people like Engr. Saad .
A man whose impeccable disposition ,simplicity and openness earned him the good old days when action speaks louder than words .
Saad is one of the top public officials who stood firm to ensure that they are not swallowed by the position they occupy, or the power they muster, the chance they got, the excuses they may give, the financial status they may possess, and the institutions they may have as defenders .Many others in his shoes, got intoxicated by the unlimited paraphernalia of power and ultimately got swallowed shrewdly by their positions thereby, forgetting their roles as servants and accountable public officials .well, the path of what is thorny ,only those minded positive spirited individuals who can forsake the world for posterity .Those who believe simplicity is found not only in theory but also in practice.
Abdullahi a trained engineer as well as a business administrator of repute was born n on 25th December 1952 at Gombe from a respectful royal family.
He attended Pittsburg State University where he obtained B.Sc. Technical Education and M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering in July 1986 and May 1987 respectively. In order to compliment his engineering/qualification and make him a sound professional he got admission into the University of Ibadan and obtained MBA, a Master of Business Administration (Operations Management ) degree in 1991. Thus, squarely equipping for challenges in the pursuit of his career. His other qualifications are HND in mechanical Engineering as well as OND in the same field from Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna. He also, holds a Higher Technician Diploma of City and Guilds of London institute.
After the mandatory NYSC, Engr. Abdullahi took up appointment with the Bauchi State Water board in 1977 as Mechanical Engineer and rose to Senior Mechanical Engineer of the Board.
In pursuit of more challenging assignments Engr. Sa’ad Abdullahi gained the services of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation where he served as depot Manager in various NNPC Depots across the country. He was promoted to the rank of Area Manager and served in this capacity in Gombe and Port Harcourt Area Offices. He retired from the services of the Corporation in January 2003 in the exalted position of the Corporation’s Head of Materials Management Department.
Even while in retirement the governments of the day considered him fit and proper for engagement, albeit not on full time basis. Thus he was appointed as member, Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos in January 2006 and similarly in 2009 he was appointed member, Governing Council, Federal University of Technology, Akure.
His interest in politics manifested early enough since his student days where he participated actively in students unionism. With the return of multiparty democracy in Nigerian and upon retirement, Engr. Sa’ad Abdullahi got actively involved in partisan politics and contested for the Gombe North Senatorial seat in 2011. And in the 2015 General elections he served as the Gombe State Coordinator of the General Muhammad Buhari Campaign Organization.
Upon assumption of President Muhammadu Buhari into office, he saddled him with the appointment as Chairman Governing council, Federal College of Education, Okene in 2017 to pilot their affairs. Subsequently, Engr. Abdullahi is currently a Federal Commissioner of the Code of Conduct Bureau under the Presidency.
As his engineering and business background does not allow for idleness, he registered a company, Gareji Intercontinental Ltd to keep him occupied while on retirement. He was the pioneer Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company.
Engr. Abdullahi is a member of Society of Manufacturing Engineers, USA and a recipient of Dean “A” Roll Award, Spring and Summer 1986 Pittsburg University and Certificate of appreciation, International Students Association of the same University as well as fifteen and twenty years meritorious long service award by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Majidadi Gombe combines a rare academic capability with administrative and organizational ability. This is evident in the many strategic administrative positions and challenges he had been given over the years in his public life and he has discharged with fortitude and uncommon success.
Despite his international status as a Nigerian Public servant who has put the country on global map through his visionary and exemplary public service , he was and is still community champion in his Gombe State .Majidadin Gombe has an enduring disposition to the welfare of the needy in the society .This has informed his philanthropic works and contributions over the years and personal sacrifices for the education of the poor and underprivileged in the society as well as securing an army of unemployed graduates job opportunities across private and public sectors.
Leaders , especially the cerebral and the professionally oriented ones, tend to be influenced by their background and professional training in dealing with specific issues in governance .They find it more expedient providing solutions to their challenge through their professional windows, and oftentimes .it has worked for them because they are playing in a turf where they are masters. This is an unprecedented case of the Alhaji Saad , an engineer of repute and manager of people and resources of unique standing.
Danyaro wrote in from Abuja and be reached on ahmaddanyaro2017@gmail.com