THE name Mallam Yahaya Gusau in the Public Service means integrity, virtue, honesty and humility.

He was a school teacher, politician, scholar and he was the Shettima of Sokoto till he died on December 12, 2008 at the age of 94 in Kaduna. His entrance number at Barewa College in Zaria was B207. He along with Mallam Muhammadu Aminu Kano (1920-1983),Dr. Russel Barau Dikko (1912-1977) and Mallam Sa’ adu Zungur (1915-1958) formed the Jami’ yyar Mutanen Arewa  which was later transformed into Northern Elements Progressive Union, NEPU, on August 8, 1950.

Mallam Yahaya Gusau was a confidant of the Premier of the Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello and was also a teacher colleague of the late Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. I met him while he was a member of the constituent assembly in 1977 and from that time I became associated with him. It is not my friendship with him that is the subject matter, but the bold action he took.

On assumption to power in July 1966, General Yakubu Cinwa Dan Yuma Gowon (82) was not in haste to form a cabinet. He relied on the super Permanent Secretaries for guidance. I like to mention in particular Mr. A.A. Adeniran who was then the Solicitor-General, Alhaji Baba Gana, Mr. I.J. Ebong, Mr. C.O. Lawson, Alhaji Tatari Alli, Chief Allison Ayida, Chief Phillip Asiodu, Mr. M.A. Tokunbo, Mallam Ahmed Joda, Mr. S.B. Akande, Mr. Ade John, Mr. G.O. Ujwah, Mr. Gray Longe , Dr. S. Shiab and of course the Secretary to the Federal Government at that time, Mr. H.A. Ejueyitchie,an Itsekiri man in the presnt Delta state.

After much persuasion, he later brought in eminent politicians into his cabinet; and  they include the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief T.O. Elias, Dr. Okoi Arikpo, Alhaji Aminu Kano, Dr. J.E. Adetoro, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Lateef Olufemi Okunnu SAN(83), Chief Wenike Briggs, Chief Dan Ibekwe, Dr. R.B. Dikkio, Alhaji Shettima Ali Mugunnu and of course Chief Obafemi Awolowo SAN.

At that time Military Governors were members of the Supreme Military Council and also members of the Federal Executive council.

General Gowon adopted a style which made it possible for permanent secretaries to attend the meetings of the Supreme Council and the Federal Executive council. Because of his fondness for permanent secretaries, General Gowon made it possible for permanent secretaries to bypass their Ministers and send memoranda through him to the Supreme Military Council and the Federal Executive council.

For example, Chief Obafemi Awolowo had to ignore his then Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Abdul Aziz Atta (1920-1972) to get General’s Gowon approval to change Nigeria’ currency to naira. When Mallam Yahaya Gusau was appointed the Minister of Economy, Development and Reconstruction, he had a running battle with his permanent secretary, Chief Allison Akene Ayida(86). He could not see a situation where the permanent secretary had the last say in the affairs of the Ministry. He had to personally appeal to General Gowon that such an arrangement was not tidy for proper administration. When General Gowon failed to heed his calls he resigned his appointment as a Minister and went back to his farm in Gusau.

In 1979, I asked him why he took such a decision. His reply was: “it’s the most sensible thing to do”. Throughout his life, he exhibited this discipline that is uncommon in the public service of today.

On April 1 1971, Brigadier General Christopher Oluwole Rotimi(81)was appointed the military Governor of the then  Western state to succeed Major General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo (88). General Rotimi was one of the first set of graduates commissioned directly to the Nigeria Army. Others were Lt. Col. Udumegwu Emeka Ojukwu, Lt. Col. Victor Banjo, Major Olufemi Olutoye, Major  Adewale Ademoyega and Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna. Without consultation, Governor Rotimi announced Chief Richard Osuolale Abimbola Akinjide,SAN (85) as the attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for Western state. A few hours after the announcement, Chief Akinjide declined the appointment through the radio and television. After that Governor Rotimi was able to bring some of his friends into the cabinet including Mrs. Olufolake Solanke, SAN(84), Chief Gabriel Adebayo Fagbure, Dr. Adedewe Aderemi, Dr. Lateef Adegbite, Chief Bayo Akinola, Canon J. A. Akinyemi(father of Professor Bolaji Akinyemi) and Chief Olanihun Ajayi.

The other resignation was that of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The resignation letter speaks for itself.

CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO’S RESIGNATION LETTER FROM THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DATED JUNE 13, 1971 TO GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON

June 3, 1971.

My dear Commander-in-Chief,

You will recall that in a statement made by me and published in the SUNDAY TIMES of March 30, 1969, I declared, among other things, as follows:

“Even at the federal level, I have no desire whatsoever, and I certainly cannot be tempted or induced to develop one, to head, or participate in an unelected or even an electoral-college elected civil administration in a military or any setting. At the moment, I am participating in the activities of the military government because I have been invited, and I also think it is right, so to do.

I am, therefore, obliged, morally and for the purpose of keeping Nigeria united, to take part, as fully as I can, in any measure designed, in particular, to keep the Ibos as a constituent ethnic unit in the federation of Nigeria, enjoying equal and identical status and benefits with other ethnic units, and in general, to preserve Nigeria as an economic and political entity.”

I should have, in accordance with this declaration, relinquished my present offices soon after the end of the civil war in January last year. But one main matter decided me against such an immediate course of action. As you know, before January 1970, the four-year development and reconstruction plan had been under active preparation, and it had been hoped that it would be launched early in the 1970/71 fiscal year. It was my strong desire to participate in the consideration of this plan. As it turned out, however, the plan was not actually considered until August 1970.

By that time, three other factors had supervened. First, the capital estimates for 1970/71 had been delayed until the launching of the four-year development plan, which did not take place until November last year.

At this late stage, I decided that the capital estimates of 1970/71 should be incorporated into those of 1971/72.

Mr.  Eric Teniola, a former director at the presidency, wrote from Lagos.