TRIBUTE: Alhaji Ibrahim Maina Damcida Just Like Yesterday

TRIBUTE: Alhaji Ibrahim Maina Damcida Just Like Yesterday

By: Barrister Musa Adamu

It is exactly 10 years ago when we missed Alh Ibrahim Maina Damcida, one of the most quintessential and illustrious sons of Biu to the Dana crash, but his memory still lingers with us. May ALLAH grant Alhaji Damcida eternal rest in Al Jannatul Firdaus. We have sorely missed his gentle smile, his kindheartedness, generosity, patriotism, empathy and  good leadership qualities. We always feel the vacuum amongst the people of Biu where he came from. 

He was always a beacon of hope to the extent that whenever there was any difficult and crucial decision to be taken, his ruling on such issues always became binding. ALLAH has continued to bless and protect his immediate family who has faced the reality of the loss of their dear father and husband.

When he initiated the stationing of the Nigerian Army Barracks at Biu, many did not see the strategic foresight and reason behind such a move, as it turned out later that the Biu Barracks was one of the many reasons why the Boko Haram were unable to penetrate Biu. A  very committed family man who loves his family and anyone that comes into contact with him, he respected and appreciated people, particularly those who he saw as enterprising, and gave his support to people with great ideas. 

His commitment to his friends  knew no bounds. He boarded the ill fated Dana Airline after attending a book launch of his bosom friend Professor Shehu. He had a midas touch that whatever he touches turns into prosperity. As a civil servant, his era heralded the golden age of public service, when he and his contemporaries were referred to as the Super Permanent Secretaries.

As an investor, his investment acumen stood him out in the corporate world. For this reason, most of the blue chip companies considered it a privilege to have his name on  their board. He kept watch on politics and was a strategic influencer from time behind the scenes. 

During the first republic he played a very vital role towards the election of Alh Ibrahim Biu. During Shagari’s era in the second republic, he was a key foundation member  of the NPN but refused to take any political office. He was content to be appointed Chairman Nigerian Agricultural Bank because of his belief in the strategic importance of the Bank to the economy of Nigeria. He together with Alhaji Aminu Dantata were members of Ajiya Investment, a foundation outfit of NPN which consisted mainly of men of honesty and integrity.

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The loss of great men like Alh Damcida is a big loss to this country, the north and Borno State. The leadership vacuum is one reason for the exacerbation of the  persistent security problem of Boko Haram in the North East and banditry and kidnapping in the North Central and North West. Those problems degenerated to the present state because of the paucity of leadership with high strategic approach in the North as most are now self-centered.

We pray to ALLAH to grant his wife, children, the people of Biu, Borno and Nigeria the kind of leadership to overcome the loss of this illustrious man. 

He was very close to then President Obasanjo but refused to participate in partisan politics. He was Federal Permanent Secretary Works while Obasanjo was his Federal Commissioner.

He was a member of the royal family of Biu who ancestor was Yamtra oula the founder of the dynasty of Biu. He was very supportive to the throne and contributed financially and politically to the dynasty. Despite that, he continued doing what he cherished most, business and entrepreneurship.

At the same time, it is with deep sorrow that we mourn the death of Hajiya Falmata Kur Mohammed, Kaltum Sanusi and other passengers who lost their lives in the ill fated Dana Airline crash. Like we pray in Hausa, ALLAH ya ji kan magabatan mu.

Musa A. Adamu ESQ 

is a principal partner of Musa Nazifi and Co.

Fair Trade Business Complex 

Suite A202 

Kigoma St

Wuse Zone 7 

Abuja .

TRIBUTE: Alhaji Ibrahim Maina Damcida Just Like Yesterday