CPL.UMAR DESERVES A PRESIDENTIAL HANDSHAKE
CPL.UMAR DESERVES A PRESIDENTIAL HANDSHAKE
By:
Nurudeen Dauda
August 1, 2019
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To begin with, the story of Aircraftman Bashir Umar a member of the NAF Mobile Air Defence Team (MADT) deployed for airport security at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport who found €37,000 (N15m) in Hajj Camp Market Kano and returned it to the owner is worth celebrating and sharing .
In my suggestion , President Buhari should host him In the presidential Villa in order to give him a presidential handshake for his display of high level of honesty. What he did is very rare, very few would have done that! In a society where honesty is rare being honest should and or must be rewarded in order to encourage others. In my view, he deserves a National Honour Award.
This is even more so as just few days later after his highly celebrated act Daily Trust Newspaper of 15th July, 2019 reported that the Nigerian Army has commenced investigation into the case of five absconded soldiers on Escort duty from Sokoto to Kaduna who allegedly carted away a consignment containing cash amounting to millions of naira. Other newspapers reported that the amount carted was between N400m to N1billion. It was further alleged that the cash belong to the GOC of Division 8. A billion naira might not have been legitimately earned as salary by a General throughout his career.
However, ACM Umar found the money in a parcel while on a routine patrol with some of his colleagues. He didn't let them notice it. Fortunately too, there was a phone number and a name written on the parcel which he called, and eventually handed over the package to the owner.
Being a non commissioned officer the money is said to be his salary of about 20 years at N65,000 monthly. He even turned down a "cash reward" by the owner of the cash having told him that he is being paid salary by his employer. Interestingly too, it was neither him nor the owner of the "cash" that escalated the incident. It was his room/coursemate who overheard him having conversations with the owner of the cash on phone that escalated the it having got the full story.
But, I was shocked to hear that he was mocked, insulted, and even called names by some morally bankrupt people around because he returned the money . Some had even shamelessly told him that he would never be rich in his lifetime. What a shame on them!
In my thought, the best way to achieve an honest society is by a sound "character" building of it people . For our society to get it right, the culture of patriotism, honesty and integrity must be injected in our compatriots.
In my view, for us to become a society with little or no corruption we must work hard in injecting patriotism, honesty, and integrity in our citizens. The government should and or must begin to think on a best way to engage families and religious institutions for sound moral upbringing in the society. There should also be an appropriate system of "reward" for honesty, and integrity and an adequate "sanction " for dishonesty and corruption .
ACM Umar who was born in 1995 in Maiha LG of Adamawa State was enlisted into The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in 2016. He got double promotion from Aircraftman (ACM) to Corporal (Cpl). He also received a letter of commendation from the Chief of Air Staff (CAS).
He attributed his high level of honesty to his upbringing by his parents. He singled out his father whom he said taught him about three things : (1) Not to touch what does not belong to him,(2) Not to womanize, and (3) Warned him about intoxicants .
Accept my congratulations Cpl.Umar, more blessings will certainly come to you.
May God bless Nigeria!