Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, the 18th Sultan of Sokoto, will celebrate his 90th birthday on Tuesday. In this interview at his Miyetti Allah residence on Kabir Road, Unguwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna State, he talks about his life.
Mr. Dasuki was deposed by former military regime of the late General Sani Abacha. He has been living away from public glare since he left the throne of the caliphate in 1996 and relocated to Kaduna. Due to his age and failing health, not much has been heard from the man who once sat on the throne established by the great jihadist, Usman dan Fodio, and who was one of the most influential Nigerians in the 80s and 90s.
He was chairman of BCCI (which later became African International Bank), and he also chaired the Nigerian Railways. He was also one of the private secretaries of the former Premier of Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, and as a politician, he was one of the founding fathers of the defunct National party of Nigeria (NPN).
There is an expansive compound, a crowd of waiters, a fleet of cars of various brands, and serenity at his residence. At the ante room, guests are obliged to remove their shoes before accessing the living room. Large portraits of the patriarch of the family adorn its walls.
The nonagenarian sits on one of the sofas in the room with a walking stick by his side. There is a book on his lap. One of his sons sits on the floor at his feet.
Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki on being 90: ”Alhamdulillahi, I thank Allah for his mercy for bringing me to this age. I know it is not easy, but here I am to celebrate that age next week. How do I feel? I don’t know. I hope when you reach that age you will feel how I feel.
On the secret of his long life: ”Because I refused to talk to you [the press].
“I don’t engage myself in things that would bother me. Ask my people, I stopped giving appointment to people. Why? Because appointment is a promise. I have no business talking to anybody.”
Dasuki also does not attend public functions. Pointing at his son, he said, “No, I have no business going to any function. I send them and they will go and represent me. I don’t bother myself now. Why should I bother myself with anything?”
On the challenges confronting Nigeria: “What do you want me to say? You want me let out what I feel. I don’t bother myself about this. I don’t bother my brain.”
He, however, mused that, contrary to the popular view that the problems of the nation were caused by the the older generation, the younger generation had a huge blame to share.
“Any problem we have is from you the new breed. Don’t ask me. I retired in 1968 and I am a pensioner. So, we can talk about paying my pension. I don’t know about all these issues you are talking about, all this oil money. We don’t know about people grabbing or trying to go to different positions. We don’t know about all that.”
On what could have been responsible for his removal as Sultan: “You ask Abacha.”
On regrets: “What is the reason? Why should I regret? I have done what I did. When I was young, you can go to my record in the service and you will see: all the things that I wanted to do, I have done them. Alhamdulillahi. Whatever I did, I did it well.”
Advice for the younger generation: “Be honest in whatever you do. All I can tell you is that when you make promise make sure you fulfil it.”
Former Sultan Of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki: "At 90, Why Should I Bother Myself With Anything?"
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