Abacha saved me, but died day he promised seeing me – Aishatu Gidado Idris
•Recounts marriage to Shagari’s first son
•Reveals how ex-President’s family struggled after Buhari coup
Aishatu Gidado Idris is the daughter of the late Secretary to Federal Government, SGF, during
the regime of the late General Sani Abacha. She was also married to Captain Bala Shagari,retd, the first son of ex-President Shehu Shagari. In this interview, she shares her story as a daughter of former SGF, wife of President’s son, and notedly how Abacha helped her survive challenges arising from the collapse of her first marriage. Aishatu also provides insider information on the plight of the Shagari family in the aftermath of December 31,1983, coup by then Major-General Muhammadu Buhari.
Can you tells us about your background?
My name is Aishatu Gidado Idris, I was born in July 9th 1960. I am a writer from a Fulani background of the Gidadawa lineage, with ties to the Mallawa family of Zaria. My great-grandfather migrated from Sokoto to Zaria due to a family disagreement, but we still maintain strong connections with our Sokoto relatives.
Although I left university in my second year while studying law, life has been my greatest teacher. I am a proud mother and grandmother.
As a sociable person, I enjoy meeting people, fostering friendships, and exploring life’s challenges, particularly through social media. I find great fulfillment in relationship counseling and taking on difficult tasks. My friends often describe me as funny and engaging, though I try to remain modest. I deeply value friendship and the people around me.
My hobbies include writing, influencing, and counseling.
·
What was it like being a daughter of the late elder statesman, Gidado Idris?
I take pride in being my father’s daughter, not because of his high status, but because he was a good and caring man. He personally oversaw my upbringing, teaching me lessons traditionally taught by mothers and guiding me with wisdom I didn’t fully understand at the time.
As his eldest daughter, he gave me special attention—making my box, taking me to the hospital, and visiting me at school. He was so fond of me that his boss, the Sardauna of Sokoto, once requested to see me and even gifted me gold coins. However, our relationship changed over time, as life took its course.
To those close to him, my father was a sympathetic and generous provider who loved his family deeply, though he often showed tough love. While he was impatient with indecisiveness, he valued honesty and directness. I am proud to have been his first and closest child during those early years..
He was known as an astute public servant, who served under Abacha as SGF. What can you about him and his time in the Abacha government?
Not much but thanks for asking. All I know is that he has been a very hardworking man, since his days as the principal private secretary to Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto.
Given some not so good records of the government that emanted after Abacha’s demise, can we know if your dad had mixed feelings being part of the administration?
Well, I am not a politician and I have never been part of government. But all I know is that my father is a professional, and people will hold different views on any government. However, my personal experience with Abacha has informed me of the kind of person he is. It was an experience of a lifetime.
Can you share with us your experience with him.
Why not? As a strong-willed daughter, I faced significant challenges with my father over my first marriage. The tension stemmed from the generational gap and our differing views on the expectations of a dutiful daughter. While my father was an enlightened man, he was also deeply rooted in traditional values.
At the time, I felt he seemed indifferent to the emotional toll my crumbling marriage was taking on me. Being married into a big an extended family in Sokoto came with its own set of complexities. The situation eventually became so unbearable that I had no choice but to leave. However, my decision had nothing to do with any form of abuse by my husband personally, it was the circumstances surrounding the marriage that made it impossible for me to stay.
To address the issue, I exiled myself to Dubai because I felt alienated by almost everyone. The city wasn’t as big and beautiful as it is today, but it was rapidly developing. My aim was to escape my sorrow and the stigma of being a maverick.
To cut a long story short, to my biggest surprise, news had reached General Sani Abacha about my plight and how I had become stranded and almost helpless in Dubai. Things had gotten so bad for me that the Arabs who knew me jokingly nicknamed me “Aisha miskin,” meaning Aisha the poor lady.
One day, as I was walking in a market, my phone kept ringing. It was a call from the State House. I was tracked down to my location, where I had found shelter with some kindhearted Chadian people who were sympathetic to my situation. A staff member from the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait was sent to clear my overstaying issue, which had cost about $20,000. Through all this, God had been listening to my silent prayers, and I finally felt relieved.
It was deeply satisfying to see the same people in the community who had once called me “miskin” now literally lining up to get my phone number and address after realising I was not really a miskin (laughter). It was a funny turnaround. I was received at the airport by staff from the State House and lodged at the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja. I was made comfortable, and all my needs were taken care of.
Soon after, I received a call. The caller introduced himself as Sani Abacha. I wasn’t sure whether to believe him or not, and he laughed heartily at my surprise. He told me to rest and think about when I would come to the Villa to discuss my situation.
Those were days I will never forget in my life. I woke up the next day knowing that God, in His infinite mercy, was handling my case. There was nothing more I could ask for.
The following day, he called again and asked when I would come to see him. I told him “tomorrow.” Three days after my stay at the Sheraton, I was driven to the Villa by State House staff.
I was taken to a sitting room to wait, and I can never forget how he suddenly appeared, dressed in a blue kaftan (tazarce). I was quite nervous and obviously star struck. He inquired emphatically about my children and laughed as I recounted stories of being duped in Dubai, where crooks had taken advantage of my naivety. He looked at me with deep sympathy.
After I explained my predicament, he told me he wanted to help me, but first, I had to go and apologise to my father for my actions and receive his blessing, without which I cannot succeed he added. He gave me a fatherly lecture, and I spent about an hour with him before departing for my father’s residence.
I went to my father, asked for his forgiveness, and we reconciled. He gifted me some money, and I returned to the hotel. Soon after, I received another call from General Abacha. He congratulated me and asked me to lay down plans for what I wanted to do with my future, inviting me to see him when I was ready. He treated me as though I were his own daughter. I’m still trying to grasp the depth of the lessons God has taught me during that process.
I chose a date to see him, but unfortunately, he called to cancel, saying he was going to receive Yasser Arafat. He promised I could see him the following day. But that day never came, it was the day he died.
This is the Abacha I know. My very own earth angel. He will always be in my prayers.
You got married to the first son of ex-President Shehu Shagari in 1980, tell us about the presidential wedding…
It was a grand wedding for its time, though not as lavish as weddings today. Many notable figures were part of the organising committee, including Sultan Saad Abubakar, then my husband’s colleague in the army, who handled accommodation.
The wedding was simple yet memorable, with several parties thrown on our behalf. It began in Zaria with the crossing of swords, as my husband, Lt. Bala Shagari, was an instructor at the Nigerian Army Depot. It was mostly attended by family and friends. Senators and dignitaries didn’t fly in or charter planes. In fact, the President had instructed his ministers not to attend, preferring a low-key event, though that wasn’t entirely possible.
The ceremony was colourful, and we received many goodwill messages, presents, and offers of travel to the Holy Land. However, gifts weren’t extravagant like they are today. My most treasured gift was a diamond and sapphire bangle from King Hassan of Morocco, which stood out in my wedding photos.
When we arrived in Sokoto, I was taken to my ancestral home, the residence of Waziri Junaidu, where I reunited with some family members for the first time. It was simple, grand, and unforgettable.
What are some of your fond memories of your marriage?
I lived my dream life, becoming the center of attention and attracting many friends, both genuine and fake. I had the privilege of traveling extensively too. We attended events, one of them a polo match at Windsor Castle, where my husband who is an enthusiastic polo player was in a tournament alongside the then Prince Charles, now King. However, the trip I will never forget was flying on the celebrated Concorde plane to Florida, where we were hosted by my husband’s friend, the late Ahmed Aruwa, a pinnacle of luxury at the time. From there, we proceeded to New York, where a welcome party was held for us at Tarrytown. These are memories I will always cherish.
Where were you on January 31,1983, when Gen Muhammadu Buhari toppled the democratically elected government of then President Shehu Shagari?
We were in Minna, Niger State at the barracks, my then husband Capt Bala Shagari, had just been posted. I was out in the market when the news was broken to me. I was surprised how the news came to me. I overheard some women shouting hysterically all over the place saying “Shagari has been toppled. I didn’t get jittery, confused or too shocked, I was a young woman only about 24 years of age. I drove home and soon my husband came home and asked us to start packing and go to Sokoto.
Can remember any particular incident in your family following the announcement of the coup?
Well there wasn’t any incident worth remembering except that everyone was nervous on what the outcome would be, and the wherabout of Mallam as we fondly call the President, my inlaw. But few days later , my husband was also summoned and detained. He explained to us that they saw him as a security threat since he was an army officer.
How did your family move on in the post-coup time?
Well it wasn’t that easy. After the coup, they forced my husband out of the army and made him jobless. We came back to sokoto and started afresh. The President’s family also came back and settled in sokoto too, but there was no plan on how anyone would survive. It was a trying period, because no one really had anything, we were living from hand to mouth within that period. But later on, my husband started trying his hands on business and even politics. He started Hamadah shipping with Aliko Dangote and other friends we later went to Abuja in 1988 when he became a member of the constituent assembly, things began to get better.
What inspired you to start writing?
My experiences and my interests in observing people. I like to express myself. So writing books has been a way for me express myself and share my life experiences. I have written five English novels and five Hausa novels.
What is your most valuable lesson in life?
Nothing is certain in life, not suffering, not enjoyment. Therefore, there is no point putting too much value in material things. I have seen people rise, I have seen people fall. I have seen people come, I have seen people go. And whatever turn your life takes, there is wisdom behind it, if you trust in God enough, and rely on Him, you will reap the rewards of faith and patience.
