By Hassan Salihu
Life is not judged or determined by the years that one lived on earth but by the impact and difference made on humanity.
…With a sorrowful manner and deep sense of loss today on Saturday 13th August, 2022, we received the sad news of sudden death of Hon. Bako Abdullahi; a Board Member that served two terms and capped it off as ICPC Acting Chairman. I had the honour of particularly working very closely with this man of honour that honestly served Nigeria and humanity with patriotism.
Abdullahi’s stint as head of ICPC, was remarkably impressive, which uplifted the Commission and made all of us happy. This well-mannered and clean-cut personality had respected and treated all ICPC staff with dignity and honour.
The ICPC Acting Chairman was a personality blessed with an insightful quality of grasping inner ingredients of staff positive qualities for the benefit of the fight against corruption. The amiable result-orientated personality was with special leadership skills that all staff were comfortable with to the accomplishment of all tasks.
Abdullahi was always appreciative of staff modest inputs and always encouraging them to achieving more. Thus, I recall that the Acting Chairman assigned me in pushing ICPC’s demands at the Office of National Security Adviser, that I gallantly delivered. That being so, he held my hands firmly and prayed for me. That really empowered my spirit.
Also, my friend and colleague Barr. Enosa Omoghibo of Enugu ICPC office, narrated to me how honoured and dignified he felt the day Abdullahi publicly acknowledged him for his humble accomplishment to ICPC success in a case he handled that led to his attack by armed robbers that stripped him of all his possessions.
Omoghibo, prayed that “May our good GOD remember Abdullahi for good and may He comfort his family and loved ones he left behind”.
With tears, I pray that Almighty Allah grants Abdullahi Jannatul Firdausi; and with greater fervour I pray that the Master of the Day of Judgement gives his entire family members, the ICPC Chairman, the management and entire staff, the fortitude and perseverance to bear the irreparable loss.
Salihu writes from PE & E Dept, ICPC Abuja
13th August, 2022.