Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerian leaders to embrace selfless public service and adopt a long-term approach to governance that prioritises institutional development and citizens’ welfare beyond electoral cycles.
Shettima made the call on Monday in Abuja at the public presentation of Service and Impact, a book documenting the life and legacy of Brigadier Musa Usman (rtd.), former military governor of the then North-Eastern State, who served from May 27, 1966, to July 25, 1975.
Represented at the event by his aide, Aliyu Modibbo Umar, the Vice President said the true measure of leadership should not be the length of time spent in office but the institutions established, lives improved and societies strengthened.
“We must recover the spirit of selflessness in public service and apply it to today’s challenges,” Shettima said.
He identified reconstruction, agriculture, education, transportation, energy, industrialisation, employment, environmental restoration, peace and security as areas requiring leaders to demonstrate a strong commitment to public service.
Shettima urged political leaders to think beyond immediate political considerations and build institutions capable of serving future generations.
“We must build beyond the next elections and think beyond political boundaries,” he said.
The Vice President described the legacy of Brigadier Musa Usman as instructive, particularly his contribution to laying the foundations for the development of the North-East.
According to Shettima, Musa Usman played a significant role in establishing a functioning administration, developing Maiduguri as a regional capital and fostering cooperation among communities that now constitute the six states of the North-East.
He noted that roads, railways, government institutions and residential districts developed during Musa Usman’s tenure contributed to transforming Maiduguri into a modern regional capital, with successive administrations building on the foundations laid during his time.
Shettima also commended the authors of Service and Impact for preserving an important part of Nigeria’s national history.
He noted that the development of the North-East was not shaped by administrators alone but also by public servants, traditional rulers, businesspeople, farmers, teachers and ordinary citizens.
The Vice President said the book should serve as a reminder to younger generations that enduring leadership is reflected in “the institutions built, lives improved, and society strengthened.”
Speaking at the event, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum described Musa Usman as a leader who combined integrity with impactful governance.
Zulum said the late military administrator laid important foundations in education, healthcare and economic development upon which the six states of the North-East continued to build.
He said Musa Usman also invested heavily in infrastructure and introduced initiatives aimed at unlocking the region’s economic potential, including the establishment of the Ashaka Cement project.
“What makes his record particularly worthy of remembrance is not only the number of projects undertaken, but the character with which he served,” Zulum said.
The governor described Musa Usman as a leader known for integrity, modesty, discipline and a strong sense of duty.
According to Zulum, Musa Usman belonged to a generation that regarded public office as a responsibility rather than an opportunity for personal gain.
“The title of this book, Service and Impact, is therefore most appropriate,” he said.
“Service without impact is incomplete, while impact without integrity cannot endure.
“Brigadier Musa Usman combined both. He served with honour, and the consequences of his service remain visible decades after his departure from office,” Zulum added.
In his keynote address, former Chief of Army Staff, Major General (retd.) Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu, described the publication as a reminder of the sacrifices associated with military service.
Nwachukwu said genuine service requires individuals to place the safety, security and freedom of others above personal comfort and, in some circumstances, their own survival.
He also paid tribute to Musa Usman’s wife, Jumai, for keeping the family together over the years.
Nwachukwu described the occasion as an opportunity to honour Musa Usman’s contributions to the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, the former North-Eastern State and the country.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Hassan Musa Usman thanked dignitaries and guests who attended the book presentation, describing their presence as a tribute to his late father.
Hassan said the idea for the book originated from his mother, Hajia Chioma Jumai Usman, who believed that Musa Usman’s life and contributions should be documented for future generations.
He added that his late sister also played a significant role in bringing the project to fruition before her death just over a year ago.
According to Hassan, the publication documents not only Musa Usman’s military career but also his vision, leadership style and enduring legacy.
He noted that Musa Usman became governor of the former North-Eastern State at the age of 27, despite initially aspiring to become a soldier rather than a statesman.
Hassan said his father governed the region for eight years, learning on the job while administering an area characterised by immense diversity and more than 100 ethnic nationalities.
One of the authors, Theophilus Abbah, said the research team was able to access several key personalities because of the goodwill Musa Usman had built during his lifetime.
“We were able to accomplish this because of the goodwill that Brigadier Usman had. If he hadn’t had that goodwill, we wouldn’t have been able to access the people that we had to interview,” Abbah said.
Another author, Mallam Mahmmud Jega, said the researchers discovered extensive records documenting Musa Usman’s activities while in office.
“We found the records were intact – all the speeches, the National Memorial programmes, and everything,” Jega said.
Jega said the authors also relied on newspaper reports and archival materials, particularly publications by the New Nigerian and other newspapers of the period.
He commended the Borno State History Bureau for preserving speeches, photographs and other historical materials documenting Musa Usman and other governors of the era.
The presentation of Service and Impact ultimately provided an opportunity for political, military and community leaders to reflect on the meaning of public service and the importance of building institutions whose impact can outlive individual administrations.
Shettima’s call for leadership beyond elections also highlighted the need for Nigerian leaders to prioritise long-term development over short-term political interests, with governance measured by its enduring impact on citizens and institutions.
