Tribute: Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa: A gentleman bows out

GUEST COLUMNIST BY Simon Shango

A few weeks ago, I had a deep heart to heart chat on WhatsApp with my late friend, Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa. The discussion revealed his concern about the way things are happening in the northern part of the country and indeed the whole country. 

Alhaji Bashir Tofa was a quiet politician and a man of very few words. As a matter of fact, very few Nigerians knew about his existence until he contested the Presidential elections on the platform of National Republican Convention (NRC) against MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in June, 1992.

Although my discussion with him on the 30th of September, 2021 was private, I have the urge to reveal this discussion to the public so that they understand the thinking and concerns of this great Nigerian, 

“Hello, Simon.

I hope you and family are all well.

Please, Simon, let me know why the Benue delegates to the ABUJA ROUNDTABLE are not showing interest lately.

Since the first meeting you, yourself have not shown up again. 

The Rt. Hon. Sister is no longer coming.

Earlier, the other leaders from Benue have never shown interest. Have you, Benuens, taken a collective decision that you are no longer interested in what we do in the North? People are asking the same questions.  As your old time friend, I am sure you will be candid with me. Hoping to hear from you soonest.

Thanks and good morning!

-Bashir Tofa

My reply was as follows, 

“My Dear Alhaji Bashir,

I am sorry that I have not replied your message because I only saw it yesterday.  

I was down with serious Cough but thank God I am now better.

 As a friend, I will be as frank as possible with you about the Abuja Round Table. 

 As you know I am a northerner to the core having attended school in Kaduna and worked for many years with the New Nigeria under the supervision  of the late Malam Adamu Ciroma and Malam Mamman Daura. 

As you are aware the New Nigerian was the conscience of the North at that time. I am a beneficiary of the Northern System as my election as National Publicity secretary of the NPN and my appointment as director of Daily Times were both facilitated by Northern leadership.

 I believe it was in view of my background that the conveners of the Abuja Round Table invited me to be part of that meeting.

 Today I am one of the elders in Benue state that have not joined the PDP  leadership to preach hatred against the North. 

I am a staunch member of the APC and indeed the Chairman of the elders council of the party in the state and also serve on the board of a Federal parastatal as Chairman. 

On the other hand, the other person’s you invited to join the Round table, are those whose stock in trade is to preach hatred agents the North.

 When I attended the first meeting, I did not understand what direction the meeting was taking. As speaker after speaker spoke more like a pressure group that saw nothing good in what was happening in the country at the moment.   

As you know Alhaji Bashir, I am over 70 years now and father of 7 children and 9 grandchildren and I cannot afford to join a pressure group just for the heck of it. 

I have always loved to do politics with you as you will recall when you started a political movement years ago, you invited me and I joined you to become the pioneer secretary of that movement. My preoccupation at the moment is my farm in the village and if I have to take three days off from the farm, then I have to have a very good reason for doing so. Perhaps as a friend you may wish to tell me the mission of the Abuja Round table and if it fits my belief I will gladly join you. 

Yours Sincerely 

Simon Shango.” 

His reply and final communication with my late friend went thus: “Simon, my dear brother and friend, for upward of 40 years.

I am also just recovering from an infection, and thank God, for our lives and continued health. You are right about our two brothers from Benue . They were invited by Gov. Sule Lamido. They and Dogara never turned up for any meeting. In fact, some of those PDP elements we started out with have drifted away. We suspect it is because they found that their hidden agenda has vanished, as the vast majority of those in attendance are genuinely concerned about the situation in the North, as against any other agenda to advance the fortunes of a few individuals. And, probably, my nomination as the chairman broke the camel’s back as there is no way they can use me.

The main agenda are those 5 committees formed. We left all their names in, until they gradually withdraw by themselves. They are not more than 10 of them, out of almost 100 with many more patriotic Northerners (including those of much younger age) wishing to be part of constructing the future of the North.

Whether anybody likes it or not, Benue State is a key integral part of the North, a Central figure that has contributed immensely to what is the North today.

Simon, many of us on the Roundtable are in our 60s and 70s. Nothing much is left for us to do than to help pay back and re-erect the Northern foundation for the younger generations. That will, at least clear our conscience. No one is going anywhere, even without Nigeria. At least, I believe so.

Yours most sincerely.

Bashir. “

Alhaji Bashir Tofa and myself were elected national officers at the Kano convention of the National party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1980. He as National financial Secretary and I as National Publicity Secretary. As the youngest members of National working Committee of the party at that time (he was born in 1947 and I, in 1946) and we became friends. 

Today I am the only surviving member of that National working Committee. The chairman Chief Adisa Akinloye, the National Secretary Alhaji Uba Ahmed, the Deputy National Chairman North Shetima Ali Mungonu, Chief O.B Lulu Briggs Deputy Chairman South, Chief  Maduege Odje (SAN), Legal Adviser and others are now late.

Alhaji Bashir Tofa while alive represented the conscience of the group and did everything to keep the ideals of the group alive. In his last days he worked through the Abuja Round Table to advance the unity of the North and the indivisibility of the Nigerian Nation State. 

Alhaji Bashir Tofa was a contented man, he never sought patronage in Government by way of contracts or appointments. He quietly preached about the unity of the North and the indivisibility of the Nigerian Nation. Nigeria will miss his wise counsel and family will also miss a caring father, husband and patriarch of the Othman Tofa Dynasty.