CLASS OF 2024: MEET RT. HON. DANZARIA; THE PRESIDENT UOFA NEVER HAD.
Sinach
Published Date:
Oct 20, 2024
Last Updated:
There are several myths in the UofA political space. One of the longest-running ones is about Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Muhammad Kabir (Danzaria).
He was the 8th Assembly Speaker of UofA and a graduate of civil engineering in UofA, seen as the best SUG president we never had. So strong is the allure of that notion that every Northerner who aspires to any political post of substance in UofA now invokes the image of the great man(Danzaria). With so many students leaders calling themselves the disciples of Danzaria. But those who have studied development in other climes have a feeling that, at best, had Danzaria become president, he would have been like Prof. Umar Kari, the Nelson Mandela of UofA, UofA's first elected and democratic president.
As a leader of the modern cast, he has left UofA standards which are indelible, standards beside which future aspirations to public leadership of our SUG can be eternally measured. He was, for a long time, the only UofA leader that enunciated principles and played down personalities. He was a brilliant political administrator and a most erudite Engineer and teacher. He not only identified himself wholly with the aspirations of the students of UofA but also he was able to convince the students of UofA that he, only he epitomised the highest point of their political aspirations and consciousness. He was loved, he was feared but above all he belonged to the people he professed to lead. At his graduation from UofA after 5 years of politicking, I had the singular honour of proposing for him this epitaph that has endured — ‘he was the best President that UofA never had.’
Many have wondered what I meant by this, but I believe the statement was clear. UofA would have benefited from his presidency because of his innate presidential qualities. UofA may continually regret that he never, for many reasons, had the opportunity to serve at the presidential level. Danzaria was a leader of great stature. He was a leader who was eminently successful. That he did not fulfill a presidential ambition cannot detract from his leadership, and many, poor many, who were not his people, must continue to regret that their own leaders had not led them as he did his people or achieved for them as he did for his people.
He perceived his job as leading the students and God bless his soul. He did a lot for them. Whenever he saw an opportunity for his people, he went for it. He had a dream for the students and was steadfast in the pursuit of that dream. He knew where he was going and he took his people with him without deceit. That is why he will remain immortal in the area of his influence.
May Danzaria Happen to Zaria.
About the Author
Sinach
A les Avocat, living with the It Begins With Me Mantra and determined to dot all i's and cross all t's for a better Nigeria.
