Sitting comfortably on my number 10 is Hon. Haruna Gana Muhammed. Fate brought me together with this Niger State-born wonderful soul when I joined the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Engr. Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, CEng, MIMechE, FNSE as his Special Assistant, Strategy & Communications shortly after the latter was appointed in 2023.
In a very short time, the relationship between Hon. Haruna and myself blossomed to the chagrin of many, sometimes leading to hush-hush gists more like ‘side talks’ within the environment. He was always advancing my cause before the Director-General of the ECN, who equally is nice soul and a friend of his.
He hardly would come around without checking up on me or asking about me once he noticed I was not in my usual ‘cocoon’. Of course, I enjoyed my privacy working with the Director-General, a very down-to-earth brother, too.
Hon. Haruna took me by a surprise twice when, at some point, I needed a bailout during a very challenging moment. I was flabbergasted when he went all out to approach his elder brother, whom I had not met in person then, to access some financial assistance for me. To him, such large-heartedness may be too miniature for me to be superfluous in appreciation, but I am one man who does NOT joke with GRATITUDE. He probably did not know I was going to write this because I did not discuss it with anybody even till this moment.
Hon. Haruna again got me completely dumbstruck and discombobulated while I was in far away Lagos. The announcement was made for the appointment of Dr. Daniel Bwala as the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications (State House) on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Without telling me ahead, I received an alert of N200,000 in his name.
I put a call across to him and asked what the money was meant for. He simply said, ‘That was your flight money to return to Abuja immediately’. I was as dumbfounded as astonished. I said to myself, ‘How could a man be this concerned about others’ affairs?’ Of course, he knew back then that I shared a very special and deep relationship with Dr. Daniel Bwala having seen me accompany him to the Presidential Villa the very first time he (Bwala) met with Mr. President after the latter was sworn in as the Commander-in-Chief.
I remember you not only sent me flight money, you also came in company of another brother and a very good friend of mine, Alhaji Abdurrazaq Danjuma to the airport to pick me up to go and meet with Dr. Daniel Bwala, my oga in his Transcorp Hilton hotel then.
Ever since then, Hon. Haruna Muhammed (as he is fondly called) has become a part of my story – my history. He is a man who always wants the best for me. He wishes me well and often tells me, ‘My brother, I don’t know, you are even supposed to be a Chief Executive o’. We would always laugh it off.
Today, I want to thank Hon. Haruna, for being a very compassionate soul, a nice dude, and a man who always wants the very best for those around him.
Dear Haroon (like I prefer to call you), you will continue to increase in leaps and bounds, in sha Allåh. You are indeed a brother from another womb. Thank you for all you do for me. I do not take it for granted.
I pray Allåh’s endless rahma and protection on you always.
Thanks a zillion.
OMOLUABI OMOGBOLAHAN (O’CZAR)