By Adagher Tersoo
The Nigerian anthem was beautifully composed. The composer must have been a great thinker. In the lyrics of the anthem, he has consciously drawn the attention of citizens of Nigeria to patriotism. A part of the first stanza summarises it all. It heralds; “to serve our fatherland with love and strength and faith…”
To serve one’s country with love is the peak of patriotism. There is no greater service one can have for his or her country other than to serve with love. Of course, many people have served Nigeria beginning from the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in 1914, throughout the colonial era and since 1960 that Nigeria got independence, uncountable people have served Nigeria.
Despite the many people that have served Nigeria, the big question is, how have they served Nigeria? Have they served with love? Have they served with strength and faith? What difference have they made? Have they left their place of service better than they met it?
While you are thinking and searching for such Nigerian, do not think further and do not search further, think of Dr Liman Ibrahim Alhaji, the immediate past Controller General of Fire Service whose pull out parade was held on February 10, 2022. Under his watch as the CG of Fire Service, the service witnessed enviable development in both the infrastructure and humans. The developmental prowess with which he brought to bear on his job was not lost on his supervising minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbosola, the Honourable Minister of Interior of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The pull parade that had the minister as the keynote address presenter, had the screaming title of “THE DILIGENT FIREMAN PULLS OUT.”
For a superior to describe a subordinate in such kind words tells a lot about the person. Ogbeni did not only stop at describing his as a diligent man but took time to highlight the remarkable achievements of Dr Liman. Ogbeni elaborates that “It gives me great pleasure to be at this special occasion, the pulling out ceremony of Dr Liman Ibrahim Alhaji, the immediate past Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) after three and a half decades of meritorious service to fatherland and humanity as a fireman.
“We are also here to celebrate a service that has grown in leaps and bounds and being of invaluable national service since its resurrection, so to speak, in 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari mounted the saddle of national leadership.
“Dr Ibrahim is a fantastic person in all ramifications. Our paths crossed when I assumed office as Minister of Interior. He is one of the great people that have made my job easy. In the course of our interactions, I have known him in two capacities – as a professional, then as human. He scored excellent on both counts.”
The foregoing quoted text as contained in the speech of the minister is an excellent description of a man who has served his fatherland with love and strength and faith.
It is important to buttress that it was not only the minister that paid glowing tributes to the diligent fireman. The man in the saddle as the CG of Fire Service, Samson Karebo also did not lack words to commend the work of his predecessor, Dr Liman. On his part, Karebo stated that “I had looked forward to this day so I can officially tell our esteemed guests and indeed the world that among all the bosses that I have been privileged to work within the Federal Fire Service, Dr Liman stands out…”
Dr Liman changed the face of operations of the fire service. He introduced a lot of innovations. As a result of these new ways of doing things, the scorecard of the Service for the year 2021 recorded 2,845 Fire Calls, 260 Rescue Emergencies,587 lives saved, 136 lives lost, an estimated property saved 18,996.47 Trillion, estimated property lost 3,045.27 Trillion.
This kind of prudent administrator and diligent personality should not be allowed to vanish in solitary in the name of retirement. He has served the country with love and strength and faith for three decades and a half. He has garnered a lot of experience that should be tapped by the younger general of Nigerians and fire service personnel. Just as the recently retired defence chiefs are actively engaged by the federal government, it won’t be out of place to also engage Dr Liman Ibrahim Alhaji to continue serving his fatherland diligently, with love and strength and faith. This opinion is to corroborate that of the minister of interior that “I don’t think he (Dr Liman) should just quietly slip into the anonymity of retirement. He should find some ways for his experience, industry and energy to be deployed for service, in a new life. I wish him God’s best and fulfilling and enjoyable new life in retirement.”
Adagher Tersoo, a Public Affairs analyst writes from Abuja.