Honorable Mohammed Nasir Yunusa is a kogi born politician and a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN). Thus, the origin of his fondly called name-Pharm Nasir. He is the former chief of staff to kogi state governor and his sway was during the administration of Capt Idris Ichala Wada. He is unequivocally a controversial man. Not controversial by his conducts but based on people’s opinion about him. An astute leader, a national figure, icon of servant leadership, devote humanist, embodiment of selfless service, loved by many and admired by even those who oppose his interests due to his reserved and persevering nature.
As a matter of fact, during his reign as Kogi state chief of staff, he was highly impactful and accessible thereby setting an egalitarian public service code for generations to emulate. Whereas times has passed after his exit from office, his one for all attitude is something that has made it so hard to believe he is no longer charged with a public trust as his magnanimity grows with sunrise and his heart of God charity continue to know no bounds.
During his recent birthday celebration, as I read the encomiums and accolade he was receiving from family, friends and well wishes in commemoration of his birth anniversary, I kept reflecting on his legacies, lessons and the inspirations he has given me overtime. In fact, having met him through an online image shackling of Captain Idris Wada’s administration as at that time, Pharm Nasir seem and have remained a forgiving man whose understanding (in forgiveness) does not interchange with the consequences of his misrepresentation. Even though he has occupied several highly exalted offices, he is not power drunk and this justifies the simplicity and exemplary nature of his lifestyle.
By divine arrangements, I am not one of those whose background made easy for to reckon with people of highly placed social status but Pharm Nasir made it a reality for me to sit on the same sit commissioners, board chairmen, visiting governors and VIP emissaries sit to hold executive sessions without any recourse or attached benefit for himself at a very early age of my life. Furthermore, I can never forget how he picked me out of visiting crowds, brought me into one of Kogi state’s most sensitive office and asked a commissioner for information as at that time to hold on while he holds an intransitive talk focusing on a great cum prosperous kogi state with me.
Of all the many good times, the memory is still very fresh hearing him say on one of my visits that “not minding your age, you are special in your own way with brilliant ideas and if Allah permits; we have been joined for life…….this office is temporal, whether we win or lose election, I will not be here forever but our meeting is by God’s grace forever”. Upon depicting the undertone wisdom and meaning of these words, I got ignited with passion and stronger commitment but then; upon a second thought, I couldn’t hold tears due to the inexplicable reality in these words.
I must say here that Pharm Nasir is a man I never saw anything good in at first but suddenly turned to my mentor, teacher, guider, father, friend and of course; “mannest man”. It even became more interesting as I realized overtime that his case with me is similar with almost everybody who met him on long runs.
The acquaintance is so strong that I always have a feeling like Pharm Nasir is someone I grew up with while most of the things I know about him are the testimonies that greet my ear from other people’s confessions about him.
Evidently, Pharm Nasir does not give a damn on whatever impression anybody has about himfor as long as he doesn’t offend god or compromise natural norms but I choose to celebrate and talk about him at any given opportunity so that history and posterity tales will have a documentation of his good side as there is no way he is not been slandered by naysayers. Thus, it is my resolve that his goodness are not left to dwell only in the heart of his colossal beneficiaries.
At this juncture, I want to state without any fear of favour or future contradiction that Pharmacist (Alhaji) Mohammed Nasir Yunusa is the best example of how to conduct in and after public office. His life represents an existence devoted to equal services for the rich and poor. He gives hope to the downtrodden, struggles to comfort the weak, upholds truth against all odd and has set a categorical standard that-no matter how anybody utilizes or abuses any worldly status, it is temporal and your exit is just but a matter of time tick. His antecedents have explicitly shown that his core desire is developing others and that is also the ultimate goal of his determinations.
Finally, no matter our privileges, diversity and various belief systems; It is important that we embrace the human values and concepts of a man like Pharm Nasir. No doubt, he has his own impersonations but then fallibility is a natural human instinct and therefore his imperfections should not form the basis of ascertaining his concepts.
By Comrade A. M. Nasir
naadejohs@gmail.com
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