Daniel Akintonde, Abubakar Mahdi: Where are they now?

When the history of Nigeria is written, the contributions of these individuals cannot be glossed over. Many years after they left office, not much has been heard about them. Where could they be now; ELEOJO IDACHABA asks in this report.

Daniel Akintonde

Colonel Daniel Akintonde (retd.) was the military administrator (MILAD) of Ogun state between 1993 and 1996. He served under the late Gen. Sani Abacha when the latter was the Head of State. He was, however, retired from the military in June 1999 by a presidential directive along with all officers who had served as ministers, governors or administrators during the Babangida, Abacha and Abubakar regimes, respectively. This was during the tenure of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as president. One of the remarkable achievements of Akintonde as MILAD in Ogun state was that in 1994, he re-named the state College of Education as Tai Solarin College of Education in honour of the late sage, Dr. Tai Solarin. Akintonde was, however, among military officers arrested for their involvement in the December 1997 alleged coup against the late Gen. Abacha.

On April 20, 1998, it was announced that he had been cleared of the charges brought about by his involvement in the said coup; nevertheless, that particular incident tainted his reputation in the military just before he was retired in 1999. While settling down to enjoy his retirement, in August 1999, the Ogun state House of Assembly summoned him to answer questions that bothered on some contracts he was awarded during his tenure. In that investigation, reporters were barred from the hearing, but a report indicated that the ex-MILAD was said to have been embarrassed during the investigation. It is not clear how far the investigation went thereafter. Unconfirmed reports had it that this former military officer on retirement later joined the clergy as a way of spending his later years in retirement, but no definite report of which church he pastors or serves. One thing is certain, since he left public service, despite the political developments in the country both at the state and national levels, he seemed not to have been interested.

Abubakar Mahdi

Senator Abubakar Mahdi had been around the political scene as he once represented the people of Borno South Senatorial District in the Senate in 1992 on the platform of the now defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and served as the chairman of the Committee on Commerce and Industry. He was also elected into the 4th Senate in 1999 on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and served meritoriously as the chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs; member of the Committee on Security & Intelligence; member, Committee on Power & Steel and Federal Capital Territory. Senator Mahdi is said to be a consummate administrator, distinguished politician and astute businessman who demonstrates exceptional integrity in leadership both in corporate and public service opportunities.

He holds the traditional title of Tafidan Gwoza, a member of the Gwoza Emirate Council and a notable king-maker. He played a significant leadership role in shaping contemporary Borno state politics at the inception of the 4th Republic when democracy recently returned to the country. At a point, he was the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), the political platform founded by the late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. This was after his long sojourn in the PDP. That platform remains relevant and has continued to contribute in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape till date. In the recent past, however, not much has been heard about him again especially in these days when the government appears to seek the wise counsel of leaders of thought on the way out of the insurgency in the North-east.

Achike Udenwa

Achike Udenwa was the governor of Imo state between 1999 and 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was also appointed as a minister of commerce and industry in 2008 by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Political analysts say Udenwa’s tenure as governor in Imo witnessed gross infrastructure deficit unequalled in the history of the state. For instance, he was said to have left a sour mark for his successor, Ikedi Ohakim, who equally allegedly could not move the state forward because of the rot Udenwa’s administration left behind, the reason for which analysts say he has lost his voice in the political calculation of the state.

While speaking on the poor performance of Udenwa, the immediate past governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, said, “Chief Udenwa is adjudged the worst governor Imo state has ever had both during the military and civilian administrations. He blew away the eight years he held sway as governor and should not blame anybody, but himself.

“If he feels that this claim is false, let him be patriotic enough to publish his achievements for the eight years he was governor and let Rochas Okorocha publish his own achievements for eight years also, since it is now eight years versus eight years.

“In fact, he is envious of Okorocha because while he left no positive footprint behind, Rochas Okorocha is leaving behind enviable footprints as Imo governor for eight years.” Although he still seems to possess the energy to serve Nigeria in some capacities, for some time now, not much has heard about him.

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