“Indeed, Allah (ONLY) has the knowledge of the hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul percieves what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul percieves in what land it will die. Indeed, Allah is knowing and acquainted”. — Qur’an (31:34)
Just hours before he passed on last night from suspected cardiac arrest, the Walin Adamawa, Dr Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo, was celebrated at State House, Abuja, by the first citizen himself, who described him as the country’s worthy Ambassador.
Dr Barkindo had just returned home from Vienna. Austria, where he served on the OPEC Board for six years as its Secretary General.
My last phone conversation with him was in February this year, when I visited some European countries, including Austria, in which he apologised for not being around to host me as he was in Egypt to accept a special leadership honourary award bestowed on him by the country’s leadership.
I also missed hosting him two years earlier on a private, family visit, when I was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico. The propsed short holiday visit was overtaken by the then escalating political crisis in Venezuela, an important OPEC country, to which as Secretary General, he had to call for emergency meeting of the oil body.
The Walin Adamawa’s contribution to the global oil industry is immeasurable. He was loved and cherished by all member countries of the cartel and recieved various awards and ecolades from individual countries.
The history of Nigeria’s oil industry, in particular, will not be complete without the mention of his enermous contribution to its development. He served in the NNPC for 24 years in various managerial capacities, including the apex position of Group Managing Director (GMD) and Chief Executive.
In the heat of the political impasse in the APC after the presidential primary election on who was to become Asiwaju’s vice president, I had, in one of my serial letters to the Jagaban, recommended the late Barkindo, as that highly intellectual, detribalised and neutral Nigerian that would be a better alternative, if the governors fail to reach a compromise. I however, discarded the letter, following the Asiwaju’s choice of Masari.
Barkindo, 63, was a great philantrophist that impacted the lives of his community, including youths empowerment, the provision of water borehole projects and the construction of the imposing Modibbo Jelany (Zailani) Mosque in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
He will be surely missed, and we pray for Allah to have mercy on his soul and admit him in to Jannatul-Firdaus for eternal rest.
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’un!
