Encomium galore for Former Chief Security Officer, CSO, to late Nigerian former military Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha as Friday marked a historical day for the official recognition of Hamza Al Mustapha Reform Team HART. The principal Al Mustapha was honored with a life time accomplishment award, at the University of Jos, Plateau State, alongside the National President of HART, Hon. Anselm Sedi.
The event which took place at the Multi-purpose Hall at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Jos came alive with several applauds for Al Mustapha as he has obviously risen in defence of Nigeria.
Al Mustapha in his key note speech at the Faculty Reunion program traced the history of the country from the First Republic to the Fourth Republic and concluded that leadership was the bane of Nigeria’s development.
He opined that the major problem of the country is the Discovery of oil in commercial quantity, adding that those charged with the responsibility of leading Nigeria lacked the requisite skills and dexterity needed to move the nation forward.
The Yobe-born Army Major, who was the key note speaker noted that from 1957 till date Nigeria has had numerous presidents and leaders who impacted the country positively.
According to him, “every president of Nigeria had an opportunity of presenting himself, the mission and vision before him, which is the yardstick of our substance after leadership.
“With their lofty promises made, hopes of the country and the confidence of people were given but when the time came for it to be Resuscitated, when it was time for history to be written, there are two types of history that our country recorded. Sponsored content of history and realistic aspect of our history.”
While talking about leaders that left outstanding legacies behind he first mentioned Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s name.
He said, “Nnamdi Azikiwe in his major speech was concerned about the future of Nigeria. Part of his speech that is relevant to now and the future is just a sentence.”
‘Let us bind the nation’s wounds and let us heal the breaches of the past so that in forging our nation, there shall emerge on this continent a hitch free, fear free and greed free people.’
He postulates that, as Azikiwe’s foresight and mission, he further said if Nigeria had maintained and built on that legacy, Nigeria would have been a role model for other countries.
He emphasized by saying, when you look at seasoned Nigerians who provided good leadership to Nigeria from 1957 till date, it is a difficult thing to call them failures. According to him, “they did their very best. But then, one may ask what happened? “No leadership is complete without a structure that provides avenues for managers”, is it the leaders that fail or the managers? Each government that came had members of different councils but the question is if we are to articulate and bring to the fore one may say how much was spent from 1957 till date? have we rightly invested, can we touch that? How much was stolen, how many hope promises were given, how many hopes and confidence of the people were raised up to the sky only to see nothing at the end of the day and how many of such attitudes and routine are still going on? Is it enough to say I’m vying for office whereas deep into yourself you know don’t the capacity.
“Leadership requires a lot more in times of qualities, now if you are to look for qualities of those who should aspire for offices. They are enormous. Few years back qualities of those who aspire for leadership were around 27 but today science has taken us forward into getting them to about 40 something that exist.”
Al-Mustapha who is particular about investing and creating opportunities for Nigerian youths, women, the poor and people living with disabilities, to actualise their potentials, emphasized on the future and development of Nigeria and what should be done to make the country worthy of emulation.
He advised the students to eschew tribalism, ethnic division and religious bigotry and embrace unity, harmony, tolerance as the bedrock to cementing the nation’s diversity.
Attendants were thrilled as Al Mustapha rewarded winners of the dancing competition with over hundred thousand naira.
The Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Shedrach Best thanked Dr. Al Mustapha and other guests for enriching the knowledge of the students with their resourceful speeches as he promised to sustain the program.
One of the elated speakers noted that Al-Mustapha is capable of taking decisions that will favor Nigeria at any point in time.
According to him, “He had the capacity to take over leadership upon the death of his boss, Late Gen. Sani Abacha but he opted to letting his appropeiate superiors to take over.” He further said Al-Mustapha is an intelligent Nigerian that can take decisions for the best interest of the country.
Another speaker in his welcome speech thanked Hamza Al-Mustapha for coming to the faculty of social sciences which is referred to as “the heart beat” of the university of Jos.
His words; “Thank you for not going to any other faculties, but chose to visit the science faculty, which has department of sociology, political science, psychology, economics and upcoming department of Criminology and security studies as well as many others within the social science faculty which is known to be the faculty of life, the fountain of knowledge and where the students are critical about everything that has to do with the development of the society.”
The event which was tagged SOSSA RE-UNION was hosted by Samson Konon Usman, SOSSA President and chaired by Amb. G.Y Gorton, founder Pantil Football Academy. Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos, Member Rep. Jo’s South/Jos East Federal Constituency. Mr. Chris Wigwe Chukwuka, Prof. Gozie Gray Ejikeme, Acting VC.
Plateau state was wowed as Countless journalists and media houses including AIT, Radio stations and print media from Lagos stormed the University of Jos for the breath taking event which took place on Friday 23rd of July 2021.