THE Wazirin Fika, Alhaji Adamu Fika, is dead, the Danburan of Fika, Alhaji Idris Adamu Kukuri, confirmed the news to this newspaper in a telephone chat last night.
He said details of the burial arrangement of the deceased would be announced after consultations with the Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammadu Abali.
However, family sources and acquaintances said the elder statesman reportedly died last night at the age 90 while being brought back to Nigeria from the United Kingdom where he was taken for treatment.
Hassan Gimba Ahmed, who is very close to the family of the deceased, said, “He was being brought back home from the United Kingdom in chattered flight but died mid-air, may Allah grant him Aljannatul Firdausi.”
He said the aircraft landed in Kaduna, adding that a decision would be taken on whether he would buried there or in Fika, Yobe State.Born in 1933, the late Adamu Fika was a respected elder statesman and skilled administrator and was the Pro chancellor, Chairman, Governing council, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).
He attended Kaduna Government College (now Barewa College) Zaria from 1948-51 as well as the Nigerian College of Arts Science and Technology, Zaria from 1952-1953 (now Ahmadu Bello University) where he was one of the pioneer students.
He was appointed Provincial Inspector of Education, Provincial Education Officer, Zaria, 1960 and later Inspector of Education, Adamawa Province, Yola, 1962. He became the Principal, Federal Training Centre (FTC), Kaduna, 1962. Malam Adamu Fika was appointed Deputy Secretary, Interim Common Services Agency, 1968 – 1970 and later appointed Secretary, Interim Common Services Agency, 1970. He was appointed Commissioner of Finance, North- Eastern State in 1972. After serving for three years as a commissioner, Malam Adamu Malam moved to the federal civil service where he was appointed at various times Permanent Secretary in the following Ministries: Internal Affairs 1975, Commerce 1979, Public Service Department, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, 1981 – 1982; Communications 1982-1984. He was also Permanent Secretary, Police Affairs Department, Executive Office of the President; and later Federal Capital Territory and Chief Executive, Federal Capital Development Authority, Abuja, 1984.
Malam Adamu Fika was appointed Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in January 1986 where he served until he retired from the Federal Public Service in April 1988. His services continued to be sought even after retirement.
He was a deserved recipient of many honours and awards including Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the Federal Government (1992) and LL.D Honoris Causa by Bayero University in 1992.
