Dad’s stern stare instilled discipline – Alimi Abdul-Razaq
Dr. Alimi Abdul-Razaq, a legal practitioner and Chairman of Bridge House College, Lagos is the first child of Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Abdul-Razaq, SAN, OFR, Northern Nigeria’s first lawyer and former Attorney General of the Federation. He speaks about his fat
Daily Trust: When you think about your father, what are three things about him that immediately come to mind? My father’s work ethic, his generosity and his being a stickler for neatness strike me most. You can hardly catch him without a book, journal or newspaper. There’s never a dull moment. I guess my mum Hajiya Raliat caught his reading bug. Till today at 87, she buys at least four newspapers daily. He dresses well and impeccably sartorial when in robe. Also, regardless how clean a restaurant is, my father would take his napkin and deliberately give the cutlery, plates and cup a good rubbing before eating.
DT: What is one memorable incident with him in your teenage years that got you into trouble?
I don’t recall ever getting into trouble as l don’t recall ever being hit by my father. I can only recall accidentally breaking a very expensive marble coffee table at age six and l tried gluing in together but to no avail. I really thought l was in big trouble, but l guess when he found out that l had at least tried to fix it, we all had a laugh about it.
DT: What kind of a man was he, while you were growing up?
While l was growing up he was very encouraging and supportive of my education. I looked forward to holidays as we travelled by road and train to different parts of Nigeria during which he would tell us stories about landmarks and the history peculiar to towns we passed through. He is a very good family man. He always creates quality time for all of us his children. He’s very kind, conscientious and protective. I recall my first year in university, when power bikes were the rage amongst the privileged few students. He simply refused to buy one. A year later l got a great surprise present of a small Daihatsu car. Looking back now he probably didn’t want a kamikaze end for his son on a Suzuki power bike.
WM: Your father has played different roles. In which of these do you most admire his capacity?
l admire his advocacy as a lawyer, most. The utmost regard and respect his clients and colleagues at the Bar especially had for him also struck me. Needless to say, these factors also influenced me to become a lawyer.
It was no coincidence I became a lawyer! Dad deliberately groomed me to become one. I was encouraged to go with him to court and Bar conferences right from age 12 when on holidays. I also recall filling my Ahmadu Bello University admission form which gave us three undergraduate course choices, l filled in Law, Architecture and Political Science in order of preference. My dad was so shocked that he told me to erase the choices and write Law, Law, Law as my three choices thus giving the university no choice but admit me to the Faculty of Law!
WM: Did you feel pressured to live up to his status, outdo it or do you feel like you were in his shadows?
Naturally, it is a challenge to live up the status of any high achieving father but l really see it more as an inspiration. He has set several pioneering records. He established the first private secondary in Kwara State - some say in Northern Nigeria - in 1967 called the Ilorin College Ilorin (ICI).That inspired my wife and l to establish Bridge House College, Ikoyi, Lagos. My brother Isiaq and his wife also established the Regents Schools Abuja.
DT: Your father was born in Onitsha and had his early childhood there. How did this shape him? My father’s growing up in Onitsha was fortuitous as he had the opportunity to embrace Western education early. Had he been brought up in llorin, his access to Western education may have been kept it abeyance in preference for Arabic and Quranic education. Nevertheless, he also had lessons on the latter at home after school in Onitsha. He excelled in both and was admitted as a pioneer student of University of Ibadan before proceeding to Trinity College University of Dublin for his undergraduate and post graduate Law degrees after which he was called to the Inner Temple in 1955.
DT: Growing up, what did you flaunt the most about being the child of Northern Nigeria’s first lawyer?
As a child, such achievements as being the first lawyer or minister never struck one. l was blissfully unaware of his status and professional achievements until probably when l got to secondary school. By then he had been an ambassador and federal minister. I guess the manner in which we were brought up, made us blind to such gilded facades. We were encouraged to chart our own courses w ell sort of, but preferably in law. (laughter) So It is not surprising that his brother late Mallam Abdulmumeen Abdul-Razaq the Coroner of Zaria, two of my siblings - Senator Khairat Razaq-Gwadabe and Isiaq Abdul-Razaq and four first cousins including Professor Taofeeq Abdul-Razaq are also lawyers. My mum ensured we were grounded. At St Gregory’s College Lagos, l was a boarder but on my exeats l would gleefully jump on and off ‘molues’ and ‘danfo’ buses to go home. It was fun.
DT: What was his most used disciplinary tactics for his children and would it have been easier if he beat you instead?
My parents have never hit me. But my father’s stern stare was enough to instil discipline and deter you from being naughty. DT: What are his indulgences?
Indulgences? I am afraid he has none except for what some say ‘spoiling ‘ his kids. Well, if he did, l think it was a good thing since my siblings and l have not disappointed him. You know the cliché about the “carrot and stick?” Well he used the carrot and spared the stick. His only other indulgence is tea. He simply loves his tea and of course a teetotaller to boot.
DT: He turns 90, on Monday. Does he share with you what this means to him and what has kept him going thus far?
Alhamdulilah that he is 90 years on Monday In Sha Allah. He constantly gives thanks to the Almighty Allah for his good health and long life. His favourite lifetime prayer is for contentment and l believe that looking back he is contented.
DT: Your parents have been married for about 60 years. How has he made it work this long?
Yes they’ve been married for 63 years. I sincerely believe that they both have the gift of extreme patience and a common concern for the under privileged. My mum has brought up very many children and adolescents in our home while father has mentored many professionals. Of course their common interest in the progress of their own children is a bonding factor as well. I think my father also secretly admires my mum’s skills, selflessness and how she endears herself to her constituents. She was the first female local government councillor in Kwara State in 1969/70 and also the first woman to drive a car in the North in 1957. I attended Capital School Kaduna from 1962 to 1967 as a boarder. She would occasionally drive me to school from Zaria to Kaduna on one lane tarred roads and occasionally wait for wild animals to cross.
DT: What is your father’s earnest desire to achieve in life?
I sincerely believe he has probably exceeded his own expectations considering the twists and turns of his life and must be thankful for a really great innings whilst praying to score a healthy century, In Sha Allah.