THE Late Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima was one of the people I revere. He was not perfect. No human is. But he was an epitome of the leadership qualities I admire. Strong character, principled and incorruptible, the former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) was also an excellent communicator.
Reporters like me in those days accepted him for who he was. No brown envelope culture with him. Expect only smile and respect, and of course, a headline under your byline if you were lucky.
My relationship with this quintessential sports administrator began during my tenure as a correspondent for THISDAY Newspaper in Kano State. Galadima was holding sway as the NFA boss, struggling to establish its independence against the norm, ubiquitous ministry’s interference.
I can recall one of the major incidents that conspired to hamper Nigeria’s outings at major tournaments during the period. Galadima, with the help of FIFA, had secured the service of Brayan Robson as the new Technical Adviser for Super Eagles. The minister of sports then had a different choice. The appointment never saw the light of day.
In Kano, out of concern, I led a demonstration in support of Galadima. I mobilised like-minded Super Eagles supporters to protest the Minister’s interference. We carried placards and marched to the Kano State Government House, where the Director of Press, Alhaji Sule Yaú, received us on behalf of Governor Ibrahim Shekarau. The story went international as the AFP correspondent, Aminu Abubakar, was on the ground to cover it out of solidarity.
There was no input from Galadima on what we did. We just felt he was a good man who deserved our collective support. He never tried to buy his way into our hearts. He earned every bit of the high esteem we held him.
During Nigeria 99 FIFA tournament in Nigeria, Galadima was the head of the Kano Local Organizing Committee (LOC). That was the only LOC in the country that returned all unspent money to the coffers of the Federal Government.
That’s the kind of reputation he built in the public service circle. He would not use the brand new Pugeout 406 beyond office hours or schedule. At home, then, Galadima was comfortable with a fairly used Passat Jetta, even when reporters like me were driving more expensive cars.
Galadima, one of the brains behind the creation of Kano Pillar Football Club, was born on 14 June 1951 in Kano. He devoted his life to public service and sports development. He chaired the Kano State FA from 1977 to 1979.
He also served as Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council from 1981 to 1983.
In 1984, he joined the caretaker committee of the National Sports Commission.
He was Commissioner for Social Welfare, Youth, and Sports. He later served as Commissioner for Works, Housing, and Transport in Kano State.
As we mourn the great man, our prayers is that his gentle soul is eternally reposed in the hands of the Lord Almighty, Amin.
- Musa, a former presidential aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, writes from Kano.