AVM Mukhtar Mohammed [1944-2017]
The very sad death was announced on October 1, this year of Air Vice Marshall Mukhtar Muhammed (rtd), former Military Governor of old Kaduna State. He died at a London hospital after a brief illness at the age of 73. Born on November 11, 1944 in Dutse, Jigawa State, AVM Mohammed attended his primary school in Dutse, started secondary school in Birnin Kudu and later went to Barewa College, Zaria from where he joined the Nigeria Air Force. He rose to the rank of Air Vice Marshall before he retired from the service.
Mukhtar Muhammed, who was the Wazirin Dutse in Dutse Emirate of Jigawa State, was a deputy chairman, Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a delegate to the National Conference in 2014. He replaced Group Captain Usman Jibrin as military governor of old Kaduna State in 1977 and he was a member of the Supreme Military Council in 198485 during the Buhari Military Administration. Mohammed was also the no-nonsense Chairman of the Enugu Zone of the Special Military Tribunal that sentenced many politicians to long prison terms. In recent years he was better known as the Chairman, Board of Directors of Freedom Radio, Kano.
In his condolence letter, President Muhammadu Buhari said “Late Mukhtar was my friend in war and in peace. He was a brilliant Air Force officer, a good administrator and a patriot. All those who came in contact with him have recognized him as a brave man of vision and energy. These qualities he brought to bear in his service to Nigeria.” Indeed, AVM Mohammed was a detribalized elder statesman with a deep commitment and passion for Nigeria, an accomplished patriot who worked diligently for the peace, unity and harmony of his country. The death of AVM Mukhtar is no doubt another big loss to Nigeria. Scores have testified to the fact that he was a good man, sound and eloquent who always spoke on the competitiveness and need to salvage the country and the Northern region from problems of insecurity and poverty.
Obviously fired by his genuine passion for Northern Nigeria, he invested in the establishment and became the Chairman, Board of Directors of Freedom Radio, the first private FM station in Kano. He was also a loyal and committed patriot who contributed immensely to The Buhari Organization, TBO. A principled Nigerian and one of the country’s finest Air Force officers who distinguished himself in the various commands and assignments he held up to the time he left the military voluntarily, the former Governor was a gentleman to the core, who after retirement became an elder statesman.
President Muhammadu Buhari had described Mukhtar Muhammed as “one of the finest military officers who was so passionately committed to his principles and beliefs that he had to leave his military career earlier than expected on account of those principles. Very few Nigerians are ready to lose their jobs or offices on account of their beliefs, but the late Mohammed was an exception to this ugly reality of Nigeria, a society where public office holders respect power more than principles.”
The late Air Vice Marshall was instrumental in the creation of the present Jigawa State and the contribution of the deceased to the development of Dutse emirate would not go unnoticed as he was one of the topmost advisers of the traditional institution of his community. He executed that function with the same zeal and competence and will remain indelible and immortalized in the history of Jigawa State.
This is the hallmark of a military officer and gentleman that lived an exemplary life that is worthy of emulation, whose demise is a great loss. We take solace in the fact that he lived an impactful life. We pray to Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant his soul eternal rest and pray Almighty God to grant him paradise and his wife, six children and the family the fortitude to bear the loss.