By Abdulkarim Adubi Abdulmalik
As published by Greenbadge Reporters (September 3, 2014)....
On Monday, September 1st, Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of
Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), turned 51. His associates had
wanted to give him a Birthday bash but he quietly turned it down. Last
year, he did the same thing.
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| Bello Adoke, SAN |
I could recall that
when in June, 1979, we completed our secondary education and were busy
packing our baggage, he came from his hostel, Clark House, to my room in
Oduduwa House and said, after exchanging pleasantry with me: “Adubi,
here is a copy of my photograph for you. Find a space for it in your
album so that you will continue to remember me in the event that we do
not meet again.” That was a good sense of humility and attachment that
only a few would do.
We parted ways. He grew to become a Lawyer
while I became a Journalist. We did not meet again until 1991 when I was
working at the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc, Lagos. One day, I was at the
domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos to take a flight (Hold
Trade Air) to Sokoto on an official assignment when we met. He had also
come to take the same flight to Kano. We reconnected warmly. He took me
to the VIP lounge and entertained me. He introduced me to some of his
friends among who was the then Chief Executive of the Intercontinental
Merchant Bank. When we were airborne, he relocated to the next seat to
my right and did not leave me to join his friends until he alighted in
Kano.
Less than six months after, we met at the Falomo, Ikoyi
head office of the bank where I had gone to see one of the directors in
the cause of my nosing for news. As the receptionist was trying to
interrogate me, Adoke appeared, greeted me with a slight bow in
recognition of age seniority. Promptly, he asked if I was having problem
accessing the person I was there to see so that he could assist. I told
him no even though I had not been cleared. He left me and went away.
And for his sake, I was cleared by the receptionist who had earlier told
me that it was not a visiting day. In the same vein, when I did my
wedding on December 26, 1992, he attended despite the short notice and
his tight schedule. That time, he was already making waves in his
private legal practice. Since then, we had had occasional phone
contacts, especially when I was General Manger, Zuma Radio, Abuja.
Currently a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Adoke has
refused to jettison his simplicity and humility. One day, I went to his
office to see him and he was very busy. After waiting for about two
hours, he sent for me. When I entered, he was still at a meeting; he
apologized for keeping me that long and asked me to take my seat while
he concluded the meeting. On another day, I entered his office and he
observed that I was down cast for obvious reason. I remained standing
while he was sitting down. He said: “Adubi, today, you are standing and I
am seating down; tomorrow, it could be the reverse.”
So, he
appealed for my patience. It is also important to mention that whenever
he was busy and I could not see him, I would, like many other visitors,
wait outside. And whenever he comes out, he would breach protocol to
attend to me. Each time we met, he would always ask of our other class
mates; especially Murtala Lasisi (aka Ochapaniko) and Musa Yusuf. He
remembers these people he has not seen for over 34 years as if it was
yesterday.
He has never ignored his old friends. He extends this
rare gesture to many others amidst his quiet charity as no fewer than
100 favour seekers throng his office weekly. His personal aides are also
wonderful in assisting him to manage his time between his official
responsibilities and his many visitors. Given the above, I wish to also
attest to his humility, charitable spirit and rare gift to live for
others. He is though temperamental, Adoke forgives easily and he moves
on with his purpose driven life.
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