[b]There has disquiet about the true origin of Vice President Namadi Sambo. He has been rumoured not to be from Kaduna State after
all. While some claim that his father hailed
from Bauchi State, others said he came from
Edo State, but settled in Zaria where he
married his mother.
The speculation that VP Namadi’s root is
from Edo State or thereabouts appears to be
a firmly held conviction in many quarters of
Kaduna State.
Others have gone further to insinuate that
the name Namadi appears a deliberate
contraption, an attempt at the hausanization
of the name Nnamdi, an Igbo name, which
might have been his original name from
birth.
But in this interview, Vice President Sambo
clarified the issue insisting that he is a true
Northern born with roots in Zaria, Kaduna
State. Excerpt:
Question: Unlike past Vice Presidents whose
origins are well known, there are allegations
and complaints over your origin not being
from Zaria. Can we have your geneology?
Ans: I am from Zaria in Kaduna State of
Nigeria.
Question: Why has your origin been
shrouded in secrecy?
Ans: I am not aware of my origin being
shrouded in any secrecy. I have a large
family that is well known.
Question: Where exactly is your family
homestead?
Ans: In Zaria. The land where ABU is located
belongs to my great grand parents.
Question: At your time, most children from
an Islamic background attended Local
Education Authority (LEA) Schools. Why did
you attend Baptist Primary School, Kakuri,
Kaduna a mission school?
Ans: The Baptist Primary School was close to
our residence, as a child and at that period,
religion did not play any significant role in
the choice of schools to attend. Muslim
children go to Christian schools and
Christian children attend Muslim schools.
Question: We heard you were nicknamed
“Escape” after an alleged ordeal with death.
How true is the story that you were once
taken to the morgue after collapsing/
fainting during some night-out while still in
the University?
Ans: That is not correct. The nickname
“Escape” was acquired during my
secondary school days, because then I was
a day student and I won all the prizes in all
subjects after our annual promotion
examinations.
It was a common occurrence at that period
that we give ourselves nicknames just for
the likeness of such nicknames, such as
Bronco, Marcopolo etc. The only time I went
to hospital during my University period was
on the occasion of my having a car accident
when I was driving my newly acquired
sports car, a fiat 124, while driving from
Kaduna to Zaria at the bridge at Rigachukun.
Question: Has your name Namadi any
connotation or linkage with the name
“Nnamdi” Azikiwe?
Ans: No. No relationship. In the Hausa
community if you are born on a “Sallah
day” after Ramadan you are given the
name Namadi, meaning that you belong to
the Holy City of Madina. I was born on
“Sallah” day which Muslims consider an
important holy and good luck day. I am
therefore always thankful to Almighty Allah
for delivering me to the world on a
“Goodluck day.”
Question: What is your link with Bauchi
State?
Ans: I attended Kobi Primary School, an LEA
Primary School, in Bauchi to complete my
Primary School Education as my parents
were transferred to Bauchi. I was also
employed by the Bauchi State Government
when it was created in 1976. I was the first Architect of the State.[/b]

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