By
Tom Garba
It’s commonly said, “Leaders are born”. Before now I found this as an ancient English and odd to the 21st century Queens English. It’s distinctively different now as anybody can be a leader through dint of hard work. I’m forced to reckon with the wisdom in this wit after a careful and a close watch of Adamawa Born eclat personality of great respectability, Barr Boss Mustapha, the present Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). In him are found attributes and threads of not only a born leader, but he is also a made leader through a successful drive of hard work, building through his proven integrity. A lifestyle he adopted in the interest of all Nigerians.
His story of building a successful political style of life over three decades is more than a nobleman making deliberate efforts in his good contributions in building a Nigeria of our dreams. This has been the passion of Boss Mustapha. In Nigeria, of course, the Northeast, his name continues to ring louder bells for utilizing tacit knowledge, such as the ability to network, seek resources, and spot local talent to develop young Nigerians to places of leadership.
My Boss leader, your exceptional political career and service have inspired millions. People like us you modeled from a distance by the cupidity and strong emotion of wanting a greater Nigeria out of what it is. For this, I see you as a leader of leaders, a political strategist, and an astute administrator.
Boss has over three decades of active roles in the politics of Nigeria impacted many lives and greatly contributed to improving the polity. This is where every good eye has seen his enthusiasm and yearnings that Nigeria deserves better leaders.
In him also discovered one reality of why we exist as humans. The essence of humanity’s corporate existence is to be our brother’s keepers. Boss’s style of leadership has recalled my life to sacrificing for others to live. This man is most sacrificing, there is nothing he cannot let go of. He is the most kind-hearted. There is nothing he cannot give. He is the most altruistic, he considers others before himself if in the ultimate it is for the greatest good of the greatest number.
The Boss leader, while fighting among others is always the engine room, the visionary. And while fighting alone, is always THE ONLY AND THE LAST MAN STANDING. In all the battles, either with others or as one Man standing, he has always come out triumphant. This is the Boss leader I have known all these years.
To crown it all, he has done what multitude thought impossible, unachievable. A strong armor-bearer and front runner who help in Leading the opposition to rescue power from the incumbent. He is like millions of men in one. His vision, calculation, planning are out of this world. In endurance, I score him above others. In the vision, he has no match. In sacrificing he towers above others. In generosity, nothing is regarded by him as too huge to part with. Huh! What a selfless leader I have known.
It is therefore never a mistake, or a miss-placed of an award by Leadership Newspaper as the Public Service Person of the Year. It is a more than deserved Award. It is never a surprise and I will consider the honor done by this great man timely and a morale boaster to serve Nigerians the more
Boss Mustapha has always taken all moment to be usually for men with balls, not boys without liver when it has to do with the love of humanity, this giant strides achiever can go to any length to proffer immediate solutions to Nigeria, our land of heritage whenever duty calls. This I constantly see how he workaholic himself in the office of the SGF. Most of the time retiring home at 2-3 am every day.
Thanks to all people and the Leadership Newspaper for finding him worthy of this special recognition. Your thoughts of award of excellence as the 2020 Public Service Person of the Year and for Presidential Steering Committee as 2020 Public Agency of the Year during 2020 of the company’s Conference and Awards ceremony at the International Conference Centre (ICC) on Thursday, 9th September 2021 in Abuja has made you the eagle with the sparrow’s eye in appreciating selfless service to men who are serving Nigerians with a true heart of Service. May the glory of this newspaper never dim out. Leadership Newspaper will continue to lead others. This my sincere prayer will never go in vain.
Thank you leadership Newspaper for making Nigerians know there is a Man in the saddle of affairs of this nation who is handling well the office of SGF in the interest of the nation. Boss is a man that will always walk tall even during bad times to see things are going well with the country. Indeed, I see him as a stallion and in fact, a lion.
I have taken a cursory examination of unfolding developments in Adamawa State, I admire the guts of Boss and his talented leadership skill. I agree this moment calls for utmost sobriety, the sublime characteristic of leadership is expedient when the world will consider people like Mustapha to trust them with responsibility for the sake of humanity.
Boss, is a huge asset to Nigeria, a gift to this nation that his experience and wealth of knowledge are giving the nation a good and promising leadership. Thanks to you Sir, for availing yourself of this noble work.
Dr. Agoso Bamaiyi has once said this in his perception of who Boss Mustapha is and I quote him:
“We must begin to build this nation together and be willing to share the fruits, in a just and fair manner. We must promote our common humanity above parochial interest and blind zealotry. We must promote human knowledge, for human good, above intolerance and divisive rhetoric and practices. We must stand together, for one another, against those who use religion, ethnicity, and ignorance to divide us.
“You need to understand that I am not your enemy just because I believe differently, worship differently, speak a different tongue, belong to a different culture or ethnicity and love human education and respect human rights. Those who teach you contrary and urge you to hate me for being peacefully different are the real enemies. The time has come that we unite and stand against such people. Together – Christians and Muslims and all ethnicities in Nigeria – we are stronger than all forces of tribalism, religious bigotry and obscurantism, put together. Now is the time to stand up for tolerance, understanding, order, and the rule of law. Now is the time to move Nigeria forward. Come out of your comfort zone and speak against tribalism, bigotry, and obscurantism.”
“The hallmark of a great leader is not measured in Castle and materials, but in his ability to groom and lead successful discipline. Like a colossus in the jungle of life, your ability to identify, nurture and engage talents is unequaled, your life has been a testimony of human capital development in an unrelenting struggle for a better life. This is what I see in Boss, humility, and tender in heart, a liberator of the oppressed.”
Congratulations Boss Mustapha, I see you a better Nigeria. Nigerians see you as a radiant hope of the nation where peace and justice shall reign.
Tom Garba, FIMC, FMBD
Yola-Adamawa State
08030525759
tomgarba5@gmail.com
