Nigeria has lost an exceptional statesman –– Olawepo-Hashim

A former Presidential candidate and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has described the death of Alhaji Ahmed Joda as shocking and huge loss to Nigerians.

Olawepo-Hashim described the late Joda as a great patriot who contributed innumerably to the growth and development of Nigeria from independence in 1960 till his death last Friday.

He said this in a condolence received by Nigerian NewsDirect in Abuja.

He said, “Late Ahmed Joda was a super technocrat, fondly remembered as one of “Super Permanent Secretaries” during the military era, was Chairman and board member of many ministries and parastatals, and was part of history as head of the transition committee that led to the peaceful transition of power from Jonathan to Buhari.”

He said, “last weekend Nigeria lost one of her most versatile bureaucrat, elder statesman Alhaji Ahmed Joda, one of the well trained bureaucrats who held forte in the early seventies.

“Alongside his colleagues of that era like Chief Philip Asiodu, Alison Ayida; Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji , Alhaji Damcida etc,  they were called Super Perm Secs because of their enormous influence on government.

“These tribe of civil servants relatively had higher integrity and understood what it meant not to be self-conflicted. They kept a safe distance from being business men while in service. Nigeria got value for her infrastructural investment and oil revenue was comparatively better managed that the country was able to lend the IMF some money in 1974, according to Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji who was a Perm sec in 1974.

“Alhaji Joda served as Chairman Sub committee on Poverty Alleviation of the TY Danjuma Policy Advisory committee (The transition committee of President Elect in 1999). I had the privilege of serving as Secretary of Youth and Women Development Subcommittee headed by Hajia Laila Dogonyaro.

“At the onset of the Obasanjo Administration, Alhaji Joda was appointed Chairman of the National Communication Commission and Alex Ndukwe Executive Vice-chairman. To the duo’s leadership Nigeria owes its telecommunication revolution that moved Nigeria away from a country of just 400,000 telephone lines mostly fixed lines as at 1999.

“Alhaji Joda was not just an administrator but a mentor of many business men after leaving service.”

He commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari, the government and people of Adamawa State, family, friends and associates on the death of Joda and prayed to Almighty Allah to accept him in Jannat Firdaus.”