Professor Fassy Yusuf is a person of many elements, who has traversed totally different fields of endeavour and is now within the pinnacle of the educational career. He has had a hand in Policing, Advertising, Public Relations, Administration, Tradition Promotion and Regulation. He clocked 70 in the course of the week and had a chat with GBENGA SALAU. Excerpts:
Are you able to give an perception into your life journey as you mark 70?My mom, who continues to be alive, is from Itsekiri, Deghele Island within the Benin River, about 50 nautical miles from Warri in Delta State. My father was a jeweler and businessman in Warri, the place he spent over 55 years. He married my mom when she was about 15 years outdated. In these days, I used to tease him by saying, ‘Daddy, if it had been now, you’d be charged with baby abuse.’ My mom had me when she was 16 and half years outdated, and my youthful brother adopted quickly after. I used to be born on January 3, 1955, and my youthful brother was born in 1956. My mom is the one baby of her father, and she or he was extremely pampered in her residence. Her father was the top of Deghele Island, which I discussed earlier. When my youthful brother turned sick, my mom determined to provide him Itsekiri tribal marks, maybe hoping it might remedy his sickness. However when she introduced him to Warri and my father noticed him with the marks, he requested, ‘Are you positive that is my son?’ He threatened to cut off my mom’s head if she didn’t take him again to the place she acquired him from. That was the tip of their marriage. My mom returned to her father and being his solely baby, she was deeply favoured. My grandmother, realising the scenario, got here to select me up earlier than my mom may return to her village. On reflection, I think about {that a} smart determination. If I had stayed with my mom, I might need ended up being concerned in bunkering, fishing or one thing else within the village, which is way from Warri. To today, Deghele Island is just accessible by sea or air.
The place did you begin education?I used to be taken to Ijebu Ode, the place my grandmother, a businesswoman and a princess, lived. Her husband had a settlement in Agosasa close to Idiroko, and from there, we moved to Ilaro, after which to Mamu, the place my grandmother’s husband owned a cocoa farm. Mamu is a border city between Ogun and Oyo states. This was the place I began major college. Nonetheless, my aunt, a businesswoman in Mamu, fell unwell, and we needed to depart searching for therapy, inflicting me to overlook a yr in class. Once I finally needed to restart, we had been advised it was already late for admission that yr; so, I missed one other yr. So, I misplaced two years in complete. Regardless of these setbacks, I used to be lucky to start out major college at simply 4 or 5 years outdated, at Ansarudeen Major Faculty, and continued from Major Two. I left major college in 1967 at age 12 and went on to Muslim School, leaving in 1972 at age 17. That is regardless of shedding two years of education. This journey of shifting from one place to a different, with neither of my dad and mom round, didn’t maintain me again in my training. I caught up rapidly. In 1972, the navy authorities determined to nationalise all secondary faculties within the Western states. At the moment, the Larger Faculty Certificates (HSC) we had been finding out for turned virtually computerized for us. We’d transition straight from secondary college into the HSC class.
You had been as soon as within the Police Pressure; how did you be part of and what made you permit early?At one level, I don’t know what came visiting my father; maybe he was disillusioned. However he advised me to go to Lagos to fulfill my elder brothers. I had three brothers there, and the eldest was a chartered accountant who was like a mentor to us. Nonetheless, I didn’t like Lagos at the moment. Primary; that was the interval Gowon stated we had a lot cash as a rustic that we didn’t know methods to spend it. Secondly, the nation had simply come out of the civil conflict and the financial system was booming, with efforts at rehabilitation, reconstruction, and reconciliation. Issues had been shifting quick, and Lagos was chaotic. Additionally, the one accessible room in Lagos was at my brother’s home, the place eight folks shared a single room. I had grown up in a room and parlour setting as a secondary college scholar and couldn’t think about becoming into that crowded atmosphere. So, I made a decision to return to Warri however my father didn’t approve. He thought my mom had influenced me to pursue her personal agenda. Regardless of my appeals, nothing modified and I turned annoyed and despondent. So, the admission I acquired, I misplaced. And at the moment, there was no centralised admission system. I had three totally different presents, together with for faculties of training. Regardless of my frustration, I nonetheless believed in pursuing additional training. I even sat for the doorway examination into the Defence Academy. When the outcomes didn’t come rapidly, I reached out to my father’s associates – one, the performing Commissioner of Police in Benin, Mr. Oshodi, and one other, Mr. Fajano, the OC Mopol. They helped me apply to affix the Police Pressure, believing my father had despatched me. I had the required {qualifications} and was prepared to affix as a constable, although it was far beneath my tutorial degree. Ultimately, the day they got here to select me up for the Police School in Ikeja, Lagos, my father, pondering it was only a common go to, was shocked when he discovered I had joined the police. They’d already signed the paperwork, and there was nothing he may do however pray for me. My coaching on the Police Coaching School in Ikeja wasn’t academically difficult, however the bodily calls for, just like the parade and taking pictures vary, had been powerful. At occasions I feigned to be sick. I used to be a member of the press membership once I was in secondary college. So, I found that there was a possibility within the Public Relations Division of the Police as a result of the division was newly created.
The primary particular person to move that division was a journalist. They’d {a magazine} and so they inspired these of us – the brand new recruit who may write – to contribute. I used to be writing and so they had been being printed. Thereafter, I noticed an advert in Every day Occasions newspaper concerning the Public Relations Institute in London and registered as a scholar. I took tutorial programs and sat for the examination.
By this time, I had accomplished my coaching. Then the police had been implausible. After my coaching, I used to be posted to Calabar, the place I used to be given the place of station author on the Divisional Police Headquarters. Later, I used to be posted to the Nigerian Ports Authority in Calabar, the place I used to be on everlasting evening responsibility. Throughout this time, I earned a certificates in Public Relations and a Diploma in Journalism by 1975. Nonetheless, my time within the Police Pressure wasn’t lengthy. As I neared my promotion to ASP, I made a decision to go away. Later, I used to be posted to the Public Relations Division and I found that my boss didn’t like me merely due to my {qualifications} and youthfulness. They defaulted me as soon as. And in these days, should you had been defaulted twice or thrice, you had been in your means out.
So, I didn’t need that. And it was nearing my third yr; I used to be ready for my promotion as ASP. I stated I didn’t need to anticipate that. They stated, please wait. I stated, no. These days, you’ll signal. So, I left. The second I left, I joined Rock Publicity. And this was once I really felt the reward of my training. My first wage at Rock Publicity was a major improve – N250 – from the N50 I used to be incomes within the Police. This was life-changing. At Rock Publicity, I labored with the legendary Sunny Okosun and promoted “Papa’s Land” across the nation. Later, I joined King and George Nigeria Restricted. I used to be appointed the editor of Sporting World and I used to be additionally the publication supervisor of the corporate. The corporate was into pool betting and publication of sports activities newspapers. It was additionally into transport, haulage and the remainder. They later established a printing press. Then I acquired my {qualifications} in Promoting and Advertising. There was a time I went to the UK in 1981 to obtain an award as the most effective scholar. Through the awards ceremony, some universities got here to exhibit and admit college students. A few of the universities had admission alternatives for M.Sc in Advertising, Promoting and all the remainder. After which I noticed one course, Masters in Enterprise Administration (MBA). That was the time MBA was simply approaching board. So, I simply determined, out of fancy, to enroll for an MBA. However then I used to be working with Adebowale Group of Firms. It was then one of many largest indigenous corporations distributing numerous home items – fridges, freezers, tv units, radio, and so many different issues. Nonetheless, once I got here again, I advised my chairman concerning the MBA admission. I used to be in a position to persuade the chairman to permit me return to the UK for the MBA programme although he stated it might be tabled earlier than the board. Someway, once I was given the letter, what I noticed was that the corporate has reviewed the scenario and has not seen a cause for me to embark on an MBA programme. And that what the firm may do was to show me to their companions overseas within the means of which I may attain any place. Initially, I used to be devastated however I stated no; as there’s nothing stopping a keen thoughts.
So, once I stated I was going to go, I used to be advised to resign in addition to vacate the firm flats. I used to be additionally advised to give up the official automotive. Then my private automotive, I ought to offset the mortgage or return the car. I simply determined to return the car. They stated, oh, why? I stated no person was keen to purchase a second hand automotive. After they noticed that I used to be critical, the chairman known as me privately. He gave me a cheque for 2,000 kilos. Then my late pal, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, gave me 1000 kilos. I additionally offered a number of the issues I had then and I journeyed out. After finishing my MBA, I returned to Adebowale Group, however issues had modified. In 1985, I ventured into personal enterprise, establishing a advertising communication agency and importing digital merchandise. When the enterprise struggled, I dusted off my certificates and utilized for a managing director place at one of many Ibru subsidiaries. My MBA gave me the sting, and I used to be employed. In 1988, I turned the Secretary-Basic of NIPR. Later, I served as a director at TBS for 9 years. I used to be eliminated after I campaigned for the discharge of Basic Diya, and I turned the goal of an assassination try.
What would you’ve gotten finished in another way trying again? Trying again, I consider that God’s steerage has been pivotal. I don’t know what I’d have finished in another way, as a result of I belief that every little thing occurred for a cause. Regardless that I could not have reached the wealth of figures like Dangote, Otedola or Adenuga, I’m content material with what I’ve achieved.
Are you able to communicate extra to the assassination try on you? It was Diya that appointed me commissioner in opposition to my want and want. I used to be doing my job and was blissful working for him. When he requested that I work for him, I advised him that if he needed me to work for him, I didn’t thoughts being his Chief Press Secretary. He stated together with your measurement, you need to work for me and you’ll be towering above me and folks will likely be asking who the boss is amongst us. He then requested that I ought to get somebody to work as Chief Press Secretary for him. I contacted some individuals who did a Masters of Science (M.Sc) diploma with me on the College of Lagos. After the CPS was appointed, Diya stored asking what I needed and I stated I simply needed to be round him since he rejected me being his CPS. Later, I advised Diya that I needed to be chairman of a neighborhood council and he felt I used to be silly as he felt I used to be greater than that. He then reported to the Awujale that many had been lobbying to be commissioners however I don’t intention to develop into one. Ultimately, I used to be appointed commissioner and I used to be naturally given the portfolio of Commissioner for Data, Youth, Tradition, Group Growth and Social Welfare. Not lengthy after, I used to be appointed chairman of Sketch Press, Ibadan.
However once I noticed the intrigues within the Presidential Villa, I attempted to warn Diya that there have been indicators. I additionally advised him that I’d be leaving the federal government. He then advised me that if I depart, I’d be branded NADECO and that I’d die. I used to be working with Col. Akintande then and later Ewag, a Wing Commander. And lots of of my associates had been Generals due to being a director at TBS. So, my boss, Ewag, was not snug seeing me with the Generals. He went to the Chief of Employees and stated that he needed to dissolve his cupboard and he was advised that earlier than he got here, Fassy had already come to say he needed to go away his cupboard. The cupboard was dissolved and I left however they began staging press conflict in opposition to me. Even after the cupboard was dissolved, I used to be nonetheless going to see Diya in his home and the motion round Diya, particularly by Bamaiyi and co, made me uncomfortable. I attempted to warn Diya however he rebuffed me. However one Saturday, we simply heard that there was a coup try and that they had been on the lookout for Diya and he had run to certainly one of his visitor homes. However he by no means knew that that they had mounted spies round him. So, they introduced him. Unknown to him, after they had been having a gathering with him, the discussions had been being recorded. And the plan was for Diya to guide the coup, assassinate Abacha and for Bamaiyi to assassinate Diya. Diya thought that Bamaiyi and co liked him as a result of they had been telling him he was the most effective factor that ever occurred to the navy. That was how they arrested Diya. When the navy tried him, it was Victor M that sentenced him to dying. They had been transferring him from one place to a different and finally he was stored in Jos jail. So, after they handed the judgment, it was me, Diya’s youngsters and siblings that mounted the press marketing campaign for his launch or dedication to jail time period. One of many journalists that coated a briefing on the Shomolu NUJ Press Centre mistook me as the primary son and it was printed as a entrance web page. That was the start of my ordeal and so they began working after me and I needed to go underground. The very first thing they did was to take away me from the TBS board as director. However thank God that they didn’t succeed.
You may have crisscrossed totally different sectors; what had been the propelling elements?The worry of failure, as I don’t need to be a failure. It’s why I proceed to try and wrestle. One factor in life is that if you don’t pursue additional objectives, you develop into rustic and complacent, which kills initiative. Earlier than I left as a commissioner, I had registered to learn Regulation and folks had been making mockery of me, questioning how a commissioner can be going to the classroom to learn however I knew what I needed. It’s because I used to be taking a look at after leaving as a commissioner would I am going again to be a journalist or apply PR? And it is because we stay in a society that’s paradoxical; should you steal, you’re in hassle; if you don’t steal, you’re in hassle. In the event you didn’t steal, they may say, ‘have a look at him, former commissioner commuting in public transport’; and should you steal, they may declare his grandparents had been armed robbers too. So, I registered for Regulation as a pathway to a greater life after being commissioner. After the Regulation programme, I went to Regulation Faculty and I’ve been practising. Additionally, I used to be an adjunct lecturer and when the NUC stated anybody that should lecture should have a PhD, I put in for my PhD programme, which I accomplished inside 4 years. I used the PhD to mark my sixtieth birthday and as God will do it, Hallmark appointed me professor not too long ago, which I’m utilizing to mark my seventieth birthday.
