Balarabe, Atta, Opadokun, Waziri, others eulogise M.D Yusufu at book presentation

NOTABLE Nigerians, on Thursday, converged on Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, to pay tribute to the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu.

Among the dignitaries at the occasion were: Chairman, Abdullahi Smith Centre for Historical Research (ASCHR), Professor Mohammed Ahmed Modibbo; the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Atta; former Director-General of State Security Services (SSS), Chief Albert Korubo Horsfall; as well as Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Opadokun and former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Abdulkadri Balarabe Musa.

Others were personal physician to late M.D Yususfu, Dr Dele Olowe; former Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Hajia Farida Waziri; Alhaji Ahmed Joda; Senator Ben Obi; Haji Khafila Isiaka Lawal from United Kingdom (UK); Alhaji Ishiaku Ibrahim; as well as Dr Lindsay Barrett and a veteran journalist, Dr Haroun Adamu.

In his welcome address, the chairman of the occasion, Professor Ahmed Modibbo said M.D Yusufu, who was the pioneer chairman of the centre from 1986 up to the time of his death in 2015, supported the centre with ideas and finances, saying he was actually making an annual grant to the centre.

According to him, “Alhaji M.D Yusufu has donated his entire library collection to Abdullahi Smith Centre and its sister organization, Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training (CEDDERT), both are located at the same building in Zaria.

“The library Collection of M.D Yusufu also includes archival materials, which are not open to public use without scrutiny. The centres are developing a very big library and had attracted rare collections of books from British High Commission, Ambassador Isa Modibbo Collection and the Library of Dr Yusufu Bala Usman among others. ” He added.

He said his biography was an educational and conventional element, pointing out that it is the duty of historians to encourage the learning and teaching of history at all levels of education

Also speaking, the former Director-General of SSS, Chief Albert Korubo Horsfall said Nigeria could still resume its greatness, if all Nigerians could work together for the interest of all, irrespective of their social, political, tribal or religious inclinations.

While urging them to put all their efforts together in making the country great, former SSS boss said: “we must regard Nigeria as our home. We must regard what we say whether a southerner or northerner. We must prove that we are all one.”

He, therefore, described the late IGP as a selfless, transparent, honest, sincere, brave, courageous and a philanthropist to the core, adding that he was an all round the clock man because his interest was Nigeria. “He was a man in the face of fire, comes out and faces any challenge until he succeeds in bringing sanity to the entire public.” He stressed.