Alhaji Ibrahim Biu1922-2002 (Wazirin Biu), Unsung Hero

By Godwin Mopah

I was going through a book makers of Northern Nigeria and particularly picked interest on a certain gentleman by name Alhaji Ibrahim Biu from Biu Local Government Area of Borno State. I picked interest in this gentle man because I wondered why despite his achievements and contributions particularly to northern Nigeria, he remains an unsung hero. He was not immortalised like even juniors with lesser achievements whom the nation has recognised. I then went further to probe and research on him online and through publications in Arewa House, Kaduna.

I read through his speeches and his defence of Sardauna’s policies of the then Nothern Region. In the process i stumbled across a book written by Dr Haruna Yerima titled Humility And Service. After reading the book I became more interested about this man whom I see as a hero, a mentor worthy of mention and emulation. I continued asking questions about this man and later realised despite his service, honesty, integrity and humility, he was never celebrated by his country, state or even his native Biu people and I asked myself what is wrong despite all the feat this man has achieved. Are we truly sincere in celebrating honesty, dedication, humility and service to the country? The elder statesman died a hero but was never immortalised.

Late Alhaji Ibrahim Biu was a man that supervised and ensured the  building of schools, dispensaries, markets, roads and other public structures in the whole of the Biu division which covers the present day Biu, Kwaya- Kusar, Shani, Bayo, Hawul, Askira/Uba and Garkida in Adamawa state. In recognition of his hard work and record of public service, the late Emir of Biu then sent his name to the Kaduna Regional Government for approval as a member of the Biu Emirate council in 1955. Biu then was appointed a Parliamentary Secretary (equivalent to Junior cabinet Minister) to the Ministry of Works in September 1957. That appointment made him to be visiting the entire North- monitoring and commissioning projects.

Alhaji Biu was thereafter elevated and was appointed by the late Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello as the first indigenous Minister of Information for the Northern Region on the 1st of October 1960. He publicised and defended the governments policies so well that this endeared him to the late Premier, Sardauna. Because of his competence and outstanding performance as the mount piece of then government, wherever the Sardauna went, he made sure he went with the Waziri of Biu. During his tenure, he sponsored and defended the bill to establish the Broadcasting Corporation of Northern Nigeria, (BCCN). He was also appointed by the Sardauna much later, precisely in 1964 as the Minister of Water Resources and Community Development. Biu was a minister in that ministry until the military coup of 1966 that resulted to the killing of Sir Adamu Bello.

Alhaji Ibrahim Biu was also appointed as the first Commissioner of Education North Eastern states comprising of present day Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba states from 1967 to 1975. Institutions like the North East College of Arts and Sciences (NECAS), which formed the nucleus of the present University of Maiduguri was established in 1970, other institutions like the Maiduguri Technical College (Ramat Polytechnic) and so many schools in the present North East geo-political zone were established during his tenure as the Commissioner of Education North Eastern States which has produced many prominent personalities in the North east geo political zone.

Sadly, all this feat did not earn him even a honory docrate degree from the University of Maiduguri, not a single immortalization in his home state of Borno or in Biu his native town in Borno State. Even the Federal Government did not do anything to immortalised or recognised him. I further learnt even the title of Waziri of biu which he inherited from his father was taken away from his family after is death. It was given to somebody that doesn’t have family lineage with the Biu royal house or the Waziri family.

And to my greatest shock, the immediate past governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima just before his exit as governor has named the mega schools he built after prominent personalities in Borno state not a single school was named after the late Alhaji Ibrahim Biu. Virtually all those that were recognised by the then Borno State Government were by far juniors to late Alhaji Ibrahim Biu and did not achieved and contribute a fraction of what the Wazirin Biu achieved. There exist only a street in the Gwange a suburb in Maiduguri with the name Alhaji Ibrahim Biu street named by Alhaji Mohammed Goni, the first executive Governor of Borno State. He also has a street named after him in Kaduna Unguwan Sarki G.R.A and a drive in gate 1 of the University of Maiduguri. Alhaji Ibrahim Biu should be a reference point to our leaders, politicians and adminsistrators.  He lived a simple life and I learnt has never lobbied for any position. At death he had only two houses, the one he inherited in Biu and the one the state government sold to him in Maiduguri, with only one car he bought in 1973.

Alhaji Biu died in 2002. He was a very close associate of late Sir Kashim Ibrahim. He would have embezzeled public funds and become the type of creame de creame of the society we celebrated this days but he chooses to serve his people and Nigeria to ensure that the leaders that are parading themselves today as leaders are where they are today by the grace of God.

The question is why was Alhaji Ibrahim Biu never recognized despite his feat? What lesson is our society trying to teach the younger generation? That humility and honesty is not worth it? I strongly call on the our leaders particularly President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to correct the wrongs of the past, it is never late to celebrate. If lately the likes of late Chief MKO Aboila and even our elder Ambassador Babagana Kingibe will be honoured and be celebrated, why not a humble personality, a statesman like Alhaji Ibrahim Biu?

From what I gathered through the books of history. Alhaji Ibrahim Biu a one time Supervisor of Works in Biu Division. One time Member of the Biu Emirate Council, one time Senior Councillor, one time member Nothern Nigeria House of Assembly, one time Parliamentary Secretary (Junior Minister) to the Ministry of Works, first indigeneous Minister of Information Northern Nigeria, Minister of Water Resources and Community Development, first Commissioner of Education North Eastern States, one time Federal Electoral Commissioner of the FEDECO, chairman of the Borno State Civil Service Commission, Chairman of the Public Complains Commission, Borno State, Permanent Commissioner of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Chairman Asset Declaration. Yet the people and government of Borno State in particular are silent on him.  I would have expected every Minsitry of Education in north east to have his name as No 1 commissioner in their nominal before any other name. This is call to our Northern governors and the Federal Government as well.

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Mopah writes this piece from Abuja. You can also reach him through text message only on 0805 8574886