Mallam Abdullahi Bego: The Quintessential Spokesman Takes a Bow

Mallam  Abdullahi Bego: The Quintessential Spokesman Takes a bow

From Duku JOEL

For the records, at least as far as my research has spread, no other person as Abdullahi Bego has served as far as the record time of 13 years as a spokesman for three executive governors in Nigeria.

With a humble beginning from the State owned media outfit plummeting into a  flourishing career and a brilliant focus to move to the pinnacle of the Nigeria Media industry, the Late Mamman Ali decided to harnessed the cerebral Regional Editor of The Daily Trust Newspaper who had already made his name in the space of journalism through his compelling reportage and sharp acumen for news gathering and editorial prowess.

Though his journey with late Mamman Ali came to an abrupt hurt following the demise of the governor in January 2009, the succeeding Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam retained him in the same capacity where he served for more than a decade.

STEWARDSHIP

To document a service of over a decade will amount to an endless essay but for those that took very  keen interest in the politics, government and the economy of Yobe State  will never feign ignorance to the name Abdullahi Bego in the milieu of the last administration.

With his brilliant and clever mind, Malam Abdullahi Bego maximally took control of his office.  Unquestionably, he was on top of his game creating a strong façade against negative press   around  his principal, marketing the policies and programs of the government both within and outside the shores of the state, regulating and firmly assuming full control of the media content from the government to the outside world.

 Malam Bego equally lunched an effective public relation and propaganda of the highest standard that strengthen ties from external media infiltration in the state  shielding Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam from both political and official gaffes that would have inevitably  provided oxygen for the press to feast on.

His long dexterous introductory  remarks at events which was always done in admiration and approval of his principal(Gov. Gaidam) earned him a cult figure in public speaking that many in the state believed  he is irreplaceable. Take it or leave, Abdullahi Bego was a man on top of his game who knows when, where and how to use his office. As long has he plays the right tune of music that his boss enjoys, Bego does not care whose ox is gored- admirers and none admirers alike.

While some people felt that Bego’s epic time at the Yobe Government House is over with the termination of Gov. Gaidam’s constitutional ten years as governor, events however turned dramatic and lobbyists tongues were left waging when Gov. Mai Mala Buni also announced the return of Mr. Bego as his spokesman.

Why I see no need narrating the events heralding the return of Mr. Bego for the third time, I find it expedient to reveal a private discussion that I had with him while the intrigues played out.

Bego in his office narrated to me how he was honestly bracing up for a new challenge in life after a meritorious service to the state with two former governors but he was shocked when Gov. Mai Mala called him and asked him to go and announce himself as his spokesperson, “at that point, I could not utter any word but to accept the offer. I was shocked and I thanked the Gov. Mai Mala for finding me worthy of managing his information circle,” Bego informed.

My idea of throwing this up is to underline the fact that people should be giving the benefit of doubt rather than baseless assumptions and unfounded rumors. After all, no coach changes a winning team so why should Bego  case would have been an exception. Many will argue in his favor that he is better than some of the returning appointees that are being imposed on Gov. Mai Mala Buni in his cabinet.

On another personal interaction, Mr. Bego has informed me how regimented his life has been over the last decade in the course of serving the state. His life as a family man was brutally castrated by his job. A job he did diligently without excuses yet loathe in certain quarters.

THE EXIT

After serving more than a decade as the Director of Information and Press Affairs to three governor in a roll, the exit of Bego from this office was a shocker to me especially that his reappointment six months ago was not in acting capacity. But the man who holds the proverbial Yam and Knife decided to do otherwise – his nomination as commissioner to the state executive council.

There is no doubt that the exit of Abdullahi Bego from the role of the spokesman is an end to a golden era of public relation in Yobe just as its has also thrown a big challenge for whoever will be stepping into that office in a few hours or days. I am optimistic that with Gov. Buni’s eyes for talent, his choice for the office will as well be another proven  and pragmatic professional that will jealously guard and propagate the policies and programs of the government.

HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT

At the heat of his nomination as commissioner, many went jubilating that the media gaffer will no longer hold sway. Some have also interpreted his nomination as a grand plan by Gov. Mai Mala of gradually phasing off former Gov. Gaidam aids close to him.

 With no iota of doubt, the Bego that I have worked with and known  in the last ten years is one commissioner that will be a cynosure of all eyes in Gov. Mai Mala Buni’s cabinet. His depth of ideas and contribution to the policies and programs of Gov. Buni will in my respectful opinion will make the government even more infectious outside the shores of the state.

FAREWELL

I have peeped through the social media and read avalanche of farewell messages pouring for Abdullahi Bego as he takes a bow from spokesperson and assume a new role as a member of the Yobe State Executive council. Many have wished him God’s wisdom and guidance in his  new office. There is however one message that struck me.

The message of one Hussaaini Isa Mohammed an avid critic of Mr. Bego to me is a representation of how we separate our personal grudges with political views or professional conduct. Criticism of office holder should be personal, not  character assassination, or waging campaign of calumny on the individual   but rather be issues base. Which is what Hussaini has done to his message to Bego.

 I assume he has no hard feelings as he wrote on his facebook page with Bego’s picture attached.

His post reads: “On a personal level, I have been on different page with the outgoing DG Press Affairs to Gov. Buni, Abdullahi Bego throughout his sojourn as mouth-piece of the 3 State's Chief Executives. Though the reason is not personal.

“It is with unspeakable sadness that today he's leaving the stage without addressing some of the lapses that many considered as his major weaknesses.

“But on the other hand, I congratulate him for leaving behind an indelible mark of one decade of perpetually influential and inventive work. He served the State creditably and meritoriously.

“It is to his credit that many people in Yobe have the believe that he's irreplaceable, I also partially hold similar believe because of his inimitable energy that sound like a spectacular firework rocket just as it takes off.

“I end my message by saying " ideally in life, we should go from 2 legs to having 3 in old age, but quite often as I discovered, we can go rapidly from two legs to none"

“If you do well ahead, you end up with 3 legs at the end, but if you do otherwise then........

“All the best”.

I also joined friends, family and well-wishers to congratulate Malam Abdullahi Bego and pray for God’s guidance for him in his new office.

Congratulations Sir.

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