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First time I listened in person to PMB speak was at Chatham House,2011. He told the story of a 1961 UK Summer Holiday Trip awarded by the Shipping Co. Elder Dempster —he was in Form 6, & got the single slot allocated to Northern Nigeria.This week I came across a photo of the trip 
I recall him saying how surprised he was that he, with no influential family members, got that single Northern slot, when he had classmates like the late Shehu Yar’Adua, whose father was a Federal Minister. “That was when there was social justice [in Nigeria],” he said.
The Elder Dempster Prize was to reward selection in what was a nationwide competition. (Not sure what the contest involved exactly). At the time the Northern Elite typically sent their children to Barewa College; he was in Katsina Provincial Sec School, where he was Head Boy.
Another rare photo of @MBuhari. Last man standing. Not sure what year exactly but I think it’d have been early 1960s. Ibrahim Bako died in the 1983 coup (he was I believe a Brig Gen then), Umaru Salihu died in the late 1960s, during the Civil War.
1962 — first year in the Nigerian Army.
I want to write an essay on how PMB’s greatest asset is that he’s perpetually UNDERRATED — even by people who should know better. This happens for a number of reasons. Wait for the essay.
But first we have elections to win 🤣
But first we have elections to win 🤣
