To every story, there is an
untold version. And most of the times, people intentionally decide to leave out
some good part in order to achive some preconceived selfish intentions.
The stories that have been told
about Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, the Chairman/CEO of A.A Group Conglomerates, are
such that paint him as a devil. Prominent among such mendacious inventions by
some hungry journalists is his supposed involvement in the Malabu Oil Deal
(which he has been vindicated).
But who is
Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu?
One wrong place to get to know the person of Alhaji Aliyu
Abubakar is online. There are several versions of him out there that say
nothing but negative about him. Virtually every blogger, reporter and
journalist has their different versions of him. But permit me to tell you what
the media will not tell you about him.
Aliyu Abubakar MFR (born 12 June 1954) is a Nigerian
business man, entrepreneur, philantropist and Chairman/CEO of conglomerates of
companies, among which are A.A OIL Company Ltd., A Group Properties Ltd., A
Group International and A-Class Foods. Recently, he acquired a big
telecommunication company in Kano State, by the name MEGATECH Networks, a
communication outfit that covers the entire nothern part of the country, and
plans are already on ground to move to other parts of the country for better
coverage. He is into big time property business, both within and abroad.
He is the owner of the imposing
edifice that sits majestically on Gana Street, Maitama District of Abuja,
adjacent Transcorp-Hilton Hotel, which was a mystery for a long while as its
ownership was shrouded in uttermost secrecy just as the structure itself, while
it was undergoing construction.
He purchased the plot of land where
the structure is erected in 2005 from an indigene of Zamfara State at a cost of
N1 billion and that he financed the building from his personal savings, as he
did not obtain any mortgage from any bank.
He was a Supervisor with Julius
Berger Plc. in Jos (1976-1978), Manager with Bathole Nig. LTD. (1978-1980),
Manager with Fugerhole LTD. (1980-1984).
One of the things the media will not tell you about
Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar is that he has made several donations to the society. Such
of those donations are building of churches and mosques in Kaduna State, his
scholarship scheme (Giwa Aliyu Foundation) at Okene, Kogi State, that has
helped several intelligent but indigent students till date, donation of
vehicles to Ikeja Police Command (Lagos State), Kaduna Police Command (Kaduna
State) and Kano Police Command (Kano State).
The media will not tell you that he has been sponsoring
students for years, because that will not make news. The media will not tell
you that he has given several cars to those who didn’t lift even a pin for him.
The media will not tell you that, out of his generosity, he has established
several people in their businesses and careers. The media will not also tell
you that he has employed hundreds of people in his companies.
There are several individuals, groups and organizations
out there that owe their positions, connections and businesses to the
magnanimity of Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu. Their stories will not be complete
without mentioning his goodness to them. But because he does not go out to laud
his achievements, he wears the garment the media has decorated him with.
Those who know and have encountered him will testify to
his kindness and generosity. He is not one who discriminates among tribes,
religion and races; whoever God brings his way is due to benefit from his
wealth of benevolence.
A man who has built successful businesses spanning
several decades now must be a genius of a kind. Every billionaire must not be
involved in shady deals to attain success. Every successful business magnate
must not be cutting corners and doing inhumane activities to achieve success.
Not every billionaire is a fraudster, even though it is difficult to believe in
Nigeria.
