Political Soldering: Mana As Military Administrator Of Plateau State

Enigmatic, astute, diligent, professional, serviceman and gentleman, suave and princely; He was aboriginal to go an exemplary person who aft soldiering became a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria successful 2007.

It was the precocious Major- General Joseph Nanven Garba who wrote the publication “Diplomatic Soldiering” and introduced the operation into Nigeria’s literate lexicon. That was an author-biography and compilation of his sojourn arsenic Nigeria’s outer affairs curate of that clip (1975-1978).

But this tribute is astir Sen. (Col) Muhammadu Mana, mss, fss, psc+ erstwhile Military Administrator (MILAD) of Plateau State which astatine that time, comprised the contiguous Nasarawa State; earlier October 1996 erstwhile it was separated by the amin8syration of precocious General Sani Abacha GCFR.

In 1994, I was appointed Director of Press AAffairs DOPA, to the Plateau State Military Administrator, Lt. Col. Muhammadu Mana arsenic helium past was. I took implicit from Sir Joseph Ntung Ari, the fluent speaking gentleman. Before past our paths with Mana had ne'er crossed. My precise archetypal brushwood with him was connected resumption of bureau arsenic DOPA. His wide directive connected that time to maine was to code the property connected the on-going nationwide petrol scarcity protestation which was biting successful the authorities with respective unfounded allegations to wit and the consequent “stay astatine home” by civilian servants of the state. I aboriginal got to cognize that helium followed the quality that evening connected the NTA Jos and the section media keenly.

Unknown to maine however, it was to further measure my suitability, quality and competence. The verdict whitethorn person resulted successful my agelong enactment arsenic DOPA up to 1996 and continued thereafter successful Nasarawa State upon creation. It was from present aft a precise little stint arsenic State Director of Information that I was appointed Hon. Commissioner of Social Development, Youths, Sports and culture, aboriginal Hon. Commissioner of Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, and eventually, the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport successful Nasarawa state, acknowledgment to Col. Mana’s mentorship.

This litmus trial was to baptize maine into the creation of representation making and media absorption astatine that precocious governmental level successful summation to my different abilities successful leadership.

As MILAD, Col. Mana ensured that isolated from the ADC past Capt. AA Jidda present retired Major General AA Jidda and the idiosyncratic doc Dr. Nimkur, the DOPA was 1 of the precise archetypal to reappraisal media reports and the day’s activities successful bid to herald the day’s regular governance request which would beryllium coordinated by Mr. Francis Bot, the foremost Director of Protocol (DOP). Col. Mana had different hands, Robert and Kabiru from the different ranks of subject service. They were utile successful connecting the remainder of america with iur brag successful hard times.

Colonel Muhammadu was unfastened to caller ideas and supportive of efforts and innovations. He was hands on. He taught america accountability by signaling successful a enactment book, (not computer), each azygous expenditure that helium apprived and intimately monitored utilization. In enactment of innovation, galore volition retrieve the travel by autobus from Jos to Awe for the commissioning of that road, the archetypal by immoderate medication successful past Plateau state. I suggested that determination arsenic a PR stunt. The Military Administrator, each the correspondents, and commissioners boarded the autobus connected that memorable trip. The breathtaking infinitesimal came erstwhile journalists were interviewed by the Administrator portion connected the travel successful the autobus to Awe. I callback the Sangarin Awe and his invited party, walking passed the autobus to the smaller achromatic authoritative cars not knowing that Colonel Muhammadu Mana, Military Administrator, was successful the autobus provided by the General Manager of Plateau Riders of that time, Mr. Manasseh connected my petition and arrangement. The likes of Dame Paulyn Tallen (Health), Dr. Jonah Madugu (Education), Dr. Ramalan (Agriculture), Alh. Rajap ( Finance), Isaacs Dimka (Attoney General and Commissioner for Justice) among others were connected that trip.

Typically, Col. Mana’s training, accomplishment acceptable and capableness was brought to carnivore successful the medication of specified analyzable but casual to govern Plateau state, a melting cookware of cultures not devoid of the currency of Nigeria’s abstraction and diagnostic recline to the mundane for advantage. He was patriotic, detribalized and  guardant looking placing unity with large anticipation arsenic the cornerpiece of advancement and maturation successful the “Home of Peace and Tourism”

He came crossed arsenic 1 who understood the nuances and persuasions of Plateau state. He was accessible to its leaders. Strict, disciplined and an organized gentleman, helium did not tolerate nonaccomplishment but helium was besides a teacher, who would not hesitate to close with the bosom and dependable of a father, mentor and leader.

He work each enactment and corrected each written piece, his instructions were wide arsenic was his signifier of meticulousness. Col. Mana it was, who arsenic MI...