In my lifetime as a Nigerian, I am yet to meet a more patriotic Nigerian than Major General Muhammad Sa’id (retired).
I have just been informed that he has passed away.
I feel profoundly sad.
I first met him as a youth corps member at Basawa Zaria, in 2000. I was a young Doctor and my first instinct was to seek for transfer from Zaria to Abuja.
General Sa’id convinced me otherwise. I am yet to meet someone with his leadership skills.
I am yet to meet a man so admired and LOVED by his subordinates.
He was phenomenal, the PERFECT example of an officer and a gentleman.
In those days, if you were blindfolded and dropped at the Nigeria Military Police School at Zaria, you would not believe you were in Nigeria. That formation was an oasis of excellence in the chaos that was Nigeria.
He loved Nigeria unreservedly, and he always preached why Nigeria was worth loving.
I had always loved my country, but my one year under the leadership of this man shaped me into someone who would NEVER compromise my love for Nigeria. I wasn’t the only one who deeply fell in love with Nigeria. My counterparts from the South who felt there was an axe to grind with the North, left that formation feeling much love for Nigeria.
He was fair, approachable, charismatic. But he was also a soldier, and he was FIRM when he needed to be.
I admired him so much, I was in awe of him. I last spoke with him about 2 years ago. We had planned to meet in Abuja, but it was not to be.
Allah Ya Gafarta masa, yayi masa Rahama, Amin.
Nigeria has lost a true patriot.
