Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Obadiah Mailafia, is dead. The celebrated economist, until his death, was one of Nigerian Tribune’s notable weekly columnists. He would have been 65 on December 24, later this year.
Three years ago, Mailafia’s first piece in his column, Veritatem, was published by the Nigerian Tribune, on Monday, October 1, 2018, with the title: ‘Seek Ye First the Economic Kingdom.’ As a widely celebrated columnist with the Nigerian Tribune, he was read devotedly by a large audience. His column oscillated between Nigeria’s socioeconomic realities and the larger African contraptions. Since then, he regularly engaged his readers. But for his demise yesterday, today would have been another opportunity for him to engage with his audience. His passing has continued to generate a flood of reactions.
How Mailafia died, by Middle Belt Forum
The Middle Belt Forum bemoaned that the loss of Mailafia dealt a deadly blow on ethnic nationalities of not only the Middle Belt but the country at large.
According to a statement by National Publicity Secretary, The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr Isuwa Dogo, the health issues that led to Mailafia’s death began on September 12, upon his arrival in Abuja from Akure, Ondo State.
His wife was said to have noticed that Mailafia was not feeling well and showed signs of suffering from malaria.
After three days of treatment without signs of improvement, he was taken to the CBN Hospital, Abuja, on Friday.
Not long after arrival at CBN hospital, Obadiah’s wife was said to have complained about shabby treatment of her husband.
The statement said it took the intervention of a senior medic who immediately placed Mailafia on oxygen and admitted him.
Dr Mailafia was later given the option of choosing three hospitals: Gwagwalada Hospital, National Hospital and EHA Clinics, and his wife opted for the third choice.
After few hours of treatment, the EHA Clinics told the wife that it was expedient to transfer the former CBN Deputy Governor to Gwagwalada, as the clinic was not fully equipped to handle the case.
Though his wife initially opposed the decision of taking her husband to Gwagwalada, she succumbed upon assurance that nothing bad would happen to him.
According to Dr Dogo, Obadiah was transferred to Gwagwalada hospital on Saturday, and the wife was asked to pay N600,000 as deposit. The deceased complained over his breathing problems, demanding to be placed on a ventilator, a demand Dr Dogo alleged the doctors refused.
“Even after the doctors declared Dr Mailafia dead, foreign consultants who were brought into the matter through his son who is living abroad had directed a family member who is a medical professional, with the wife of the CBN deputy governor, to mount pressure on his chest for resuscitation and thereafter placed him on a life support,” Dogo further alleged.
The forum said it still awaits the actual cause of his death.
However, the group praised Mailafia’s dedication to the emancipation of ethnic nationalities from the clutches of oppression, adding that he was never afraid to speak truth to power just as he remained committed to the enthronement of justice and equity to all citizens across ethnic and religious divides.
National Consultative Front promises investigation
National Leaders of Conscience under the auspices of the National Consultative Front has promised to investigate the circumstances behind his death.
The front, especially, praised Mailafia’s commitment to constantly advocating a fair, just and equitable governance of Nigeria.
The front noted that Obadiah showed no sign of illness, last week, when he gave a positive feedback to the National Secretariat of the NCFront on a tactical task given to him by the movement towards ensuring cohesion and stability in the North Central and Middle Belt region ahead of the people’s constitutional dialogue in the region.
In a statement by Ms Rukaiya Muhammad, the NCF wrote: ”Mailafia until his unbelievable demise today was a member of the National Steering Council and the North Central Facilitator of the NCFront, who raised the bar of commitment to the tasks of the movement, constantly advocating a fair, just and equitable governance of Nigeria, therefore becoming a Frontline member of the National Constitutional Dialogue Committee initiated by the movement to stem the heightening constitutional crisis and political agitations and insecurity traceable to the inherent flaws and pit falls of the Nigerian Constitution foisted on the country by the Nigerian military at the outset of current troubled democracy in 1999.
“In demonstration of his huge commitment to the movement, Obadiah Mailafia last week gave a positive feedback to the National Secretariat of the NCFront on a tactical task given to him by the movement towards ensuring cohesion and stability in the North Central and Middle Belt region ahead of the people’s constitutional dialogue in the region, showing no sign of illness.
“Memories of his various endeavors and contributions will be remembered and honoured by the NCFront during the 2nd National Rescue Summit being planned by the NCFront to commemorate Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary on 1st October, 2021.
“The movement however wishes to commiserate with the family of its departed leader, Obadiah Mailafia, praying for the repose of his soul.”
Nigerians mourn Mailafia’s death
The news of his death was received with sadness by the larger public space.
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) expressed shock over the demise of Mailafia, describing him as a vibrant activist and advocate of better Nigeria.
Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, the national president of the Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu, said Obadiah would be greatly missed by every Nigerian that cherished justice and abhorred injustice.
Furthermore, the forum praised Obadiah’s dedication to humanity, adding that he was one of the formidable voices in the Middle Belt and Nigeria.
“When it comes to fighting for justice, the late Dr Mailafia cannot be intimidated, he was a symbol of justice, equity and fairness. He lived a selfless life that cannot be forgotten in a hurry, he is a great nationalist, passionate leader and champion of a true Nigeria that would work for every citizen,” Pogu said.
Also, chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Plateau State chapter, Mr Bawa, who was the head of Dr Mailafia’s legal team during his travail with the Department of State Services in Jos, Plateau State, described the deceased as a strong critic of the economic policies of the present administration and canvassed the idea of restructuring, fiscal federation.
According to him, before his death, he consistently condemned activities of criminal killer herdsmen terrorising the Middle Belt and other parts of the country.
Bawa said the legacy he left behind would continue to be a shining light and beacon of hope for other activists and prayed for the protection of the family.
Senator representing Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, Senator Danjuma La’ah, mourned the loss of a detribalised Nigerian and a man of integrity.
The lawmaker said the death of Mailafia was a great loss to the people of Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria, and beyond, praying for the repose of his soul.
The Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) also described the death of Mailafia as a great loss to humanity.
Spokesman of SOKAPU, Luka Biyinnat, while speaking with Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, said the umbrella body of the Southern Kaduna was shocked over the news.
Biyinnat noted Mailafia’s exploits in development economics, where he cut a niche for himself and touched hundreds of lives as a scholar and astute administrator.
Early life and education
Mailafia, whose father, Baba Mailafia Gambo Galadima, was an evangelist with the Evangelical Reformed Church of Central Nigeria (ERCC), was born on December 24, 1956, in the village of Randa in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State. While being raised as a missionary child, his parents were later transferred to Murya, Lafia, in Nasarawa State, where he grew up.
He had his primary education at Musha Sudan United Mission School between 1964 to 1969 and proceeded to Mada Hills Secondary School, Akwanga, from 1970 to 1974. For his A ‘Levels, he attended the School of Basic Studies (SBS) at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, between 1974 and 1975. He graduated top of his class at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1978 with a B.Sc. Honours Social Sciences degree (Politics, Economics and Sociology). He also has a M.Sc from the same institution. He subsequently won a French Government Scholarship to France, where he earned a Certificate in French Language and Civilization from the University of Clermont-Ferrand in 1985.
Compelling career
From 1990 to 1995, Mailafia was resident tutor and lecturer in the economics and politics of developing areas at Plater College Oxford, at the time an associate college of the University of Oxford. During the period 1995 to 1996, he was an assistant professor at New England College, Arundel, the foreign academic programme of New England College.
From 2001 to 2005, Mailafia served as a chief economist in the Strategic Planning and Budgeting Department of the African Development Bank Group.
From 2005 to 2007, Mailafia was recalled home from the African Development Bank to serve as deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In this capacity he served a member of the board of directors of the bank and was principally responsible for managing monetary policy, economic policy, research and statistics and liaison with regional and international bodies, including the IMF and the World Bank.
Irritated by Nigeria’s declining community of good leaders, Mailafia ran for president in the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Till his death, he was an ardent critic of the socioeconomic and political realities of Nigeria.
In August 2020, he alleged, during an interview, that a serving northern governor was a Boko Haram leader. According to him, “Some of us also have our intelligence networks. I have met with some of the bandits; we have met with some of their high commanders – one or two who have repented – they have sat down with us not once, not twice.
“They told us that one of the northern governors is the commander of Boko Haram in Nigeria. Boko Haram and the bandits are one and the same. They have a sophisticated network. During this lockdown, their planes were moving up and down as if there was no lockdown.
“They were moving ammunition, moving money, and distributing them across different parts of the country.” Mailafia’s statements unsettled the nation thereafter, culminating in multiple invitations by the security agencies compelling him to repudiate his claims.
Barely two weeks to his death, he was reported to have lampooned Nigeria’s leadership, saying, “The economy is collapsing. There is a collapse of the institution. Police, university’s standards are low. Corruption has taken over in the country. What else do we need to say Nigeria is a failed state? Nigeria has been designated as a failed state. We may not say it is a failed state, but it is certainly exhibiting the features of a failing state in terms of the kind of violence we are witnessing.”
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