Nigerians are not United - Alhaji Sani Abubakar

[nReporter]

Alhaji Sani Abubakar is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Danmaigari Radda Trading Company Limited. He is one of the prominent Kano businessmen in Lagos State. He has a flared for Transport industry over the years which has propelled him to be one of the sought after transporters in Nigeria. In this brief interview with Godday Odidi,he explained vividly why Nigerians are not united and other relevant issues.

Excerpts:
Can we meet you sir?

I am Alhaji Sani Abubakar and the Managing Director of Danmaigari Radda Trading Company Limited. I hail from Kano State, the home of business. I had my education in Kano State before I came to Lagos for greener pasture. Though, 75 percent of my life spent in Lagos.

Why did you venture into Transport business?

I went into Transport business as my calling. I served others before I became an owner of my company. Transport business is no longer thriving as it was before as a result of bad leadership and corruption in Nigeria. For over some months now, our transport business is not functioning because many business people cannot afford to import goods due to high tariff from the government and others.

What is your Stake towards President Jonathan's leadership?

President Jonathan's leadership is not progressive because of some bad elements intended to thwart his laudable plans towards Nigeria. The Boko Haram insurgence is being caused by certain people to see Northerners as enemies of Jonathan's government. The Northerners are good people to the core. The North is capable of ruling Nigeria without qualms. We had been in power for many years and nothing more. The problem with Nigeria is unity. We are yet to see ourselves as one Nigeria. Christians do not want to associate themselves with Muslims. It is sad that we no longer respect the Amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorate of Sir Lord Lugard. Every region in Nigeria is blessed with human and capital resources. The Northerners are peace-loving people to the core. Most of the prominent Northern leaders married Yorubas like Atiku and others. It is only the North can employ a non-tribe to serve as Executive Director or Managing Director in his or her own company. Many people see Northerners as bunch of illiterates with no creative vision but that is a wrong insinuation from some quarters. We have learned Northerners with integrity and those with no formal or Western education still excel well in their careers because of their in-depth teachings of the Islamic and nothing more. Even some Northern politicians have also failed us too. We still have good roads in the North. Whether will like it or not, the Northern region has played significant role in Nigeria's leadership. I am not in support of bad Northern leadership or division of the country but how to unite Nigeria as one. We Northerners are not illiterates as many people always described us. We know the nitty-gritty of leadership and business in Nigeria and beyond. Boko Haram is not a product of the North but politically motivated to see north as enemy of Jonathan's government. We must correct that political impression of this dastardly act of certain people in Nigeria.

Are you a Politician?

I am not a politician but a core businessman with intellectual integrity. Many people run after wealth but God's own is the best. A lot of Nigerians are not sincere in doing businesses. I have every tribe as a friend, so what else? Many faked their businesses because they want to be rich. Riches belong to God not man. As for me, I have maintained my status quo over the years to avoid unnecessary altercation. A lot of our political leaders have abysmally failed us because of greed of wealth. I don't take what does not belong to me except God's own. Danmaigari Radda Trading Company Limited is all about giving our clients the best services and nothing more.

What is the state of Nigeria business?

In fact, President Jonathan should do something urgent concerning the failing economy because many businessmen who had created jobs for Nigerians are now folding up of their businesses because of shortage funds in the country.. My trucks cannot load goods from the sea ports anymore except few occasions when the need arises. The cost of doing business in Nigeria is devastating coupled with the electricity problem and others.

Are you a Successful businessman?

Yes of course, God has enrichly blessed me because of my faithfulness in business. I don't take what belongs to others as my own. I have able to give my children the best education. Apart from that, my community in kano State has also benefitted from my God's little resources too. Every Nigerian that is wealthy should learn to make positive changes in the lives of their people not amassing wealth for themselves alone. Everybody will die one day, so what is the excess of wealth without impartation to the poor people. Can late Sani Abacha account for his wealth in the grave now? Life is all about affecting others positively not necessary yourself. Poverty is the major problem of Nigeria which is yet to be tackled by this present government. Some of the fertilizers distributed by some of the government officials to farmers are to encourage agriculture but it is for selected persons. Not everybody will go into farming.

What is the way out?

Nigerians should have the spirit of unity and togetherness. Every region in Nigeria has resource to persevered or protected. President Jonathan must wake up from slumber to fix the leadership of the country now. Every Nigerian must be sincere in doing business in Nigeria.

[Folami David]

This is the gospel truth!

[EbukaOkafor14]

That Unity must come around cos it's about time we needed it. All this division won't take Nigeria  anywhere i'm sure of that