This write-up is a Posthumous Tribute to commemorate our Late leader, Alhaji Abdulazeez Abu, popularly known and called, DG, who passed on peacefully to the Great Beyond on the 24th February, 2006 in his Okene resident of Kogi State. This personality had lived a fulfilled life whose adventure needs to be given the desired cognition at all time. He hails from Ukpake Town in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Alhaji Abdulazeez Abu was a pacesetter; political strategist; Peace Ambassador; a leader of impeccable character and above all, a builder of men; who believe in building and promoting future leaders and not followership.
Of no mean order, the Late Alhaji Abdulazeez Abu became a household name among his contemporaries. He was able to prove that if a man must live, man must be seen to be functional. So, as a genre in the midst of his contemporaries, the Late Elder Statesman meant conspicuously well and differently for that matter, to distinct people. He was radically principled and courageously vehement in all his wheeling and dealing irrespective of the situation in which he found himself.
Late Alhaji Abdulazeez Abu, DG, lived a fulfilled life at the ripe age of 67. He was consistently courageous and courageously consistent in his fight against subjugation, oppression and suppression irrespective of wherefrom. His role in this struggle of emancipating and liberating of his people from socio-political oppressors, speaks volume and stands him out because of his steadfastness with which he championed the course of his people. This is contrast to those who believe in Machiavellian Spirit of “The end justifies the means”, whereas, in our assessment of him, he posited the idea that “The means justified the end”. Though dead, Alhaji Abdulazeez Abu DG’s memory lingers on because he remained an epitome of wisdom, courageous, freedom fighter, throughout his days.
Late Alhaji Abdulazeez helped in its policy formation and execution premised on his bravery and oratory towards what the society should be and not what it was, which he vehemently displayed during the course of Ajaokuta local government developmental blueprint. He was very categorical and vehement, thus earning himself the desired reliability, confidentiality, brilliance and no-nonsense posture and status among his peers. He later exhibited these qualities as Director General in the Kogi State Local Government Service Commission that always earned him accolades from the Government and the generality.
Discipline, they say, is a way of life. The Advanced Learner’s Lexicon, defines Discipline as the practice of training people to obey rules and orders, and punishing them if they do not. It also posits each as a method of training your mind or body or of controlling your behavior. It suggests that it is the ability to control your behavior or the way you live and etc, etc. From these submissions it is suffice to say that no one can succeed in life without unalloyed and unfretted discipline. It is a moral burden of positive responsibility.
So, for a personality and an icon of his time like Alhaji Abdulazeez Abu DG, the Spartan life he lived was hinged on thorough discipline. He did not live beyond his means because he knew the consequences thereof. This was the doctrine he exhibited during his days as a public servant in Kogi State Civil Service. This also the virtues he taught his children hence, their successes in their respective endeavours today.
My immediate reaction when I heard the death of our Political Mentor and Bridge-builder, Alhaji Abdulazeez Abu DG, was that; “Death is indeed a bastard and a coward for coming to snatch you through the back door from us; that if it (Death) would have come physically in human form, we would have wrestled with it until you are rescued and brought back to life, unfortunately, the Creator (Almighty Allah) who made it (Death) in a way that no soul on Earth can resist its dreaded power, hence we surrender to the wish of the Creator.”
But, why DG? a man of the people, who have been touching the lives of many in Ajaokuta Local Government and beyond. Your landmark achievement in human and community development would remain indelible in our memory. Alhaji Abu, ‘DG’s Philanthropic gesture also stands him out as a man of a rare humanitarian Profile in our community. Indeed, he was a man with MIDAS TOUCH!
Late Abdulazeez Abu DG, was blessed with awesome children, which include Hon. Jibril Abu, the current Director of Protocol to the Kogi State Deputy Governor
Adieu !!!
To our Political Mentor, Late Alhaji Abdulazeez Abu DG,
We pray Allah to grant you everlasting peaceful rest Ameen.
WRITTEN AND REMEMBERED BY:
COMRADE IDRIS ITOPA ISAH
AREWA TRUST NEWSPAPER, ABUJA