Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed sadness on the death of it’s former Board of Trustees Chairman and Wazirin Fika, Alhaji Adamu Fika, describing him as a nationalist, towering giant of a public servant and elder statesman.
Alhaji Fika died on Tuesday at the age of 90, while on his way back from a medical trip to the United Kingdom, but ACF in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba said, “It is with deep pains that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) mourns the passing away, on 24th October, 2023, of Malam Adamu Fika, CFR, Wazirin Fika, a nationalist, towering giant of a public servant, elder statesman and indeed a man who had served Nigeria in several notable positions.
“Late Malam Adamu Fika was one of the initiators and founding fathers of the ACF, and was indeed Chairman of the ACF’s Board of Trustees (2014 – 2020) but his story was much broader than the ACF, as he was best known for far more! Late Adamu Fika was one of the early crop of young Northerners who formed the immediate post-colonial pool of well-trained, professional and dedicated civil servants that epitomised excellence in selfless service.
“He was among the erstwhile civil servants, of whom the North and Nigeria will forever be proud of, who saw to the smooth transition from regional to state administration following the very first in the series of state creation exercises following the abolition of regional governments. In this regard, late Malam Fika was in the league of such equally towering public service giants as late Ali Akilu, Justice Buba Ardo, Yahaya Gusau, Sunday Awoniyi, Ahmed Joda, to name a few.
“He would also be remembered for serving as Permanent Secretary in a number of Federal Ministries, Head of Service, Secretary to the Government of the Federation. In more than the literal sense he had mentored a number of top civil and public servants who had gone on to leave their marks in the service of the nation. In retirement, he had served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the Ahmadu Bello University. Until his death he had remained a highly respected highly revered “consultant” of sorts to those who sought counsel on how to handle intricate state matters, and known for his humility and dignified comportment.
“It was a fitting farewell to Late Adamu Fika that an overwhelming gathering of society’s very top notables and beyond-capacity-crowd turned out for his funeral rites at the Sultan Bello Mosque Kaduna, a day after his demise. His was certainly a life well-led, with an illustrious career of service, of which many posthumous tributes described as meritorious, highly principled, dedicated, forthright, bold, brave, unblemished, iconic, pivotal, exemplary, etc.
“As it mourns the painful loss, ACF therefore extends heart-felt profound condolences to late Malam Adamu Fika’s immediate and extended families and friends across Nigeria, the Federal and Yobe state governments and the Emir of Fika and the Fika Emirate Council. May Almighty God in His Infinite Grace and Mercy grant forgiveness and eternal rest in al-Jannah Firdaus to late Malam Fika, Wazirin Fika, and public servant extraordinaire.”
