. . . He was grossly misunderstood, says Sen. Adamu

Senator Abdullahi Adamu has described the demise of 2nd Republic minister, late Umaru Dikko as a sad loss to the nation describing him as a patriot who meant well for the nation. He said the late Umaru Dikko “was more than a friend but was a guide”.

Senator Adamu, who spoke yesterday in Abuja, said the former transport minister in the President Shehu Shagari administration was an upright person who did not corruptly enrich himself while in office as many thought. He said late Umaru Dikko was a grossly misunderstood person who many out of ignorance often described as a multi millionaire.

“There’s no doubt that he was very close to Shagari during the 2nd Republic. In fact, he was the closest minister to the then President, Shehu Shagari. But he (Dikko) was just a victim of bad press because he didn’t enrich himself as the impression was widely created then.

“I have known late Umaru Dikko since the 70s, when we worked together during the 1973 census exercise and we joined the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Contrary to widely held opinion, Umaru Dikko was an astute individual who gave his all in the service of the nation and was not a corrupt politician”, he said.

The former Nasarawa state governor added that the late politician, who was last year appointed to chair the disciplinary committee of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), visited him at his Keffi residence about three weeks ago, during which they chatted about the nation’s polity.

Senator Adamu said it was clear that despite his advanced age, the former minister was still deeply concerned about the turn of events in the country, particularly the schisms that have threatened the ruling PDP.

The lawmaker, while commiserating with the family of the deceased, the people of Kaduna state and the North in general over the loss, prayed Allah to forgive Dikko’s sins and reward his good deeds with paradise.