Exclusive Excerpt from Femi Adesina’s new book: ‘WORKING WITH BUHARI’)
Inauguration Day, May 29, 2015. I flew into Abuja to attend, and promptly went back to Lagos. I had been in a true fix as to how I would respond if I was invited to serve in the new administration. So what I did after that call in the wee hours of April 1, was to stay completely away from the President-elect. My thinking was that if he did not hear from me in any form, he would peradventure forget I was there, and would not ask me to come into government. I could then support from outside, which was my preference.
But I was living in a fool’s paradise. Things were going on behind me, as the team for the impending government was being composed. And on May 21, about a week to inauguration, ThisDay Newspaper published that I had been pencilled down for the position of Special Adviser, Media and Publicity. Knowing the penchant of Publisher of the newspaper, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, for ferreting out exclusive stories, I could not completely discountenance the publication. My phone almost exploded from countless congratulatory calls and text messages, from dawn to dusk. It lasted for many days. At a point, it became futile for me to continue explaining that I knew nothing about the appointment, and neither had I been contacted.
I attended the inauguration at Eagle Square, and flew back to Lagos, minding my business. Then on May 31, a Sunday, at about 5:00 pm, my phone rang. It was Alhaji Ismaila Funtua Isa again: “We are announcing you as Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity tonight. Should we go ahead?”
I paused for a split second and said: “You can go ahead sir.” Why did I not dither? Because between the time of the ThisDay publication, and that May 31, I had turned the matter round and round in my mind. Since 2003, I had been selling Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians, as somebody who was honest, transparent, and who could make a difference in our country. Now that ‘come had come to become’ (apologies K.O. Mbadiwe), would it not be hypocritical of me if I declined to serve in the same government I had projected as good for our country? In fact, I could not count the number of people who had been swayed to vote for Buhari, after reading my articles. So I had convinced myself that I had to serve, willy-nilly. It would be my own sacrifice and contribution to the growth and development of the country. I knew government would never be able to pay me what I then earned, but it turned out worse than I had thought. They just divided my salary as SUN MD into three places, and gave me one part of it. Scandalous, for a regular person like me, who would not chase money or business. How would I survive?
The second consideration was my family. I had been married for 24 years then, my son had already qualified as an airline pilot with specialization on Boeing 737. My daughter was a year three student in the university. My wife was a hospital matron in Lagos. So it was not a young family that one could just move to Abuja. Lonely days and nights were surely ahead.
My appointment was lead story on NTA Network News by 9:00 pm. I was the first appointee by President Buhari, and the announcement included my friend of many years and professional colleague, Garba Shehu, who was appointed Senior Special Assistant, making him the number two person in the media department hierarchy. Ambassador Lawal Kazaure was appointed as State Chief of Protocol (SCOP).
The deed was done, and so the next morning, I flew to Abuja. The President was still operating from Defence House, having not moved into State House yet, due to ongoing renovations. He lived somewhere on Aso Drive as temporary accommodation. I went to meet him at home, as I had got to Abuja by 8:00a.m. Before then, we had only seen twice. First in 2009, when the eminent virologist, Prof. Tam David-West was launching a book, ‘16 Sins of Muhammadu Buhari’ at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos. The former head of state was there, I was the Master of Ceremonies, and it was a delight for us to formally meet, and shake hands, after years of telephone conversations. The second time was in August 2013. My mother had sadly passed on, aged 75, and we were having a commendation service for her in Lagos. I had invited people across all walks of life, and I had also sent an invitation letter to Ismail Omipidan, then The Sun Bureau Chief in Kaduna, asking him to drop it in General Buhari’s house in the city. I did not expect him to come, doing it for just courtesy and formality sake.
On the day of the event, which held in Alausa area, I was at the gate, welcoming people as they came in. It included serving governors and former ones, representatives of two former heads of state, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, many newspaper publishers, including the revered Sam Amuka-Pemu (Uncle Sam) of Vanguard, editors, top media chiefs. It was a full house. I was at the gate when a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) drove in. I followed, to welcome whoever was inside. As he opened the door, flashing his usual winsome smile, I screamed: General! It was, indeed, Muhammadu Buhari, who had come all the way to pay my mother the last respects. It was a Christian ceremony, and he stayed through it. So much for a man they had dubbed a religious bigot. I never forgot and will never forget that good gesture.
So I went to his house on the morning of June 1, 2015. I was ushered into the living room, and few minutes later, he came out to see me. “Chief Adesina, welcome to Sambisa House,” he said, and we both burst into laughter. Chief? I was not, though I would later get two titles in succeeding years. Nwanne di Namba. (A brother from another mother) of Mmaku Kingdom, Enugu State, given by Igwe Cyril Nevobasi, and Ugomba (Eagle of the Community) given by Eze Nelson Nmerengwa of Isieketa Community) given by Eze Nelson Nmerengwa of Isieketa Community, Isiala Ngwa, Abia State.
I thanked the President for appointing me as his media adviser, but added that since I had a subsisting job, I would need a week to tidy up, disengage, and hand over properly. He consented and said he looked forward to having me around full time. He then said some things that I considered quite fundamental: “Adesina, one thing I want from you at all times is the truth: Tell me the truth at all times. In this kind of position I am now, they can keep the truth away from you completely. So, tell me the truth always. Again, I am a General. So, I may argue. But please argue with me. If your argument is superior, I will turn round to agree with you. Another thing: do not let anybody stop you from seeing me. Anytime you want to, either in the office or at home, just come. I will always see you.”
Those fundamentals were to guide our relationship in eight years, though I tried as much as possible to stay within my area, unless he broached something different with me. I will then state my opinion as frankly as possible. And he usually listened.
From the President, I went to see my Publisher, Chief Orji Kalu. Of course, he already knew everything. He listened to me pensively, shook his head and said: “President Buhari would never know the sacrifice I am making by letting you go. You have run my business honestly, and we have made the kind of profit we never saw before in the history of the company. Apply for a leave of absence. You may get into government, and do not like it, you have a job waiting for you. Or you may serve for four years, or even eight years, you have a job waiting for you.”
I thanked him and left.