abdulraheem
I think it was on his seventy-fifth Birthday, five years ago, that
Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Folorunsho Abdulrazaq, give me a very
extensive interview, which was published as star interview in
the centre spread of DAILY TRUST. On Tuesday, November
13th, 2007, the venerable old man turned eighty years. Alhaji
A.G.F. Abdulrazaq has made truly remarkable contributions to
the history of Nigeria. He is the first lawyer from Northern
Nigeria and he played a distinguished role in the lead to Nigeria’s
independence as well as being the legal mind of the Northern
People’s Congress (NPC) and in the immediate post-
independence period, he was also and Ambassador of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. Alhaji Abdulrazaq was the quintessential
politician at a time when politics meant genuine service to the
people of the community and the country. A very proud and
beloved son of Ilorin, he nevertheless grew up in the Eastern
Nigerian City of Onitsha, and therefore speaks Yoruba, Igbo and
Hausa very fluently.
Alhaji A.G.F. Abdulrazaq is also remembered as an educationist
in Ilorin, having founded one of the earliest community schools
in the town, the Ilorin College (ICI) which later became
Government High School, Ilorin. He went on to serve at very
high levels in these multi-faced contributions; he never lost his
sense of community. He holds the traditional titles of Muttawalin
Ilorin and Turakin Zazzau. It is equal important to underscore the
fact that he also excels in parenting, producing children who are
making their marks in the development of Nigeria. Dr. Alimi
Abdulrazaq; Senator Khairat Gwadabe; AbdulRahman
Abdulrazaq, the intrepid Businessman; Isiaka Abdulrazaq, the
bureaucratic with the legendary spirit of community; to mention
a few. A major aspect of the AGF Abdulrazaq, is his beloved wife
(MAMA to my generation of young men from Ilorin). We have
all been inspired by Alhaji A.G.F. Abdulrazaq’s exemplary life
and with him more years of healthy life and useful labour for our
country.
