By Olayinka Gabriel

MR REBO USMAN EHWAN, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of Nigeria who hails from Donga Local Government Area of
Taraba State. Mr Ehwan who has been running his private accountancy
firm since 1993 in Yola and Jalingo also has to his credit services to his
home-state Taraba and Nigeria in various capacities as Special Adviser
to the Governor on Economic Matters, Special Adviser on Due Process,
Commissioner of Finance, Commissioner of Water Resources and Rural
Development, Commissioner for Economic planning, Chairman Forum of
Commissioners of Finance in Nigeria, member of the Technical
Committee set up by the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria on
the out-of-court settlement of the case filed in the Supreme Court by
some State Government (chairing the harmonized committee for the
final report), Chief of staff government house administration, and host
of other ad hoc State and National assignments.
Rebo has EXCELLED in both his private and public life
HIS PRIVATE LIFE

1. Mr Ehwan, is an outstanding example of a man who believes that with
hard work, you can attain any level of achievement in life. (He tells the
story of how, at the age of 13 in 1972, he had to leave his village for the
city in search of a vacation job to enable him pay for his Common
Entrance examinations since both of his parents were sick, and at the
point of death. That was how he secured admission into a government
secondary school then.) While in Yola working, he struggled and
completed the qualifying examinations of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, in 1990, a thing then thought to be
impossible for Northerners, especially those residing in that part of the
North.

2. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, and also obtaining a
license to practice as a Chartered Accountant, Mr Usman turned down
all the privileges of going out in search of lucrative jobs but instead
chose to remain in Adamawa/Taraba States and set up his private
practice in order to, according to him, demonstrate to his people that it
was possible for those of them in the North to excel in the field of
accountancy. His second reason was that his practice would assist
indigenous businessmen and women meet statutory requirements for the
conduct of their businesses. As a matter of fact, he turned down an
opportunity to work at Ashakacem Plc in 1992 as Chief Accountant after
attending their screening exercises and excelling. I call this
SELFLESSNESS!
He audit firm Rebo Usman and co is one of the leading audit firm in
Nigeria, the firm has consulted for many state governments and even
the Federal Government of Nigeria, the firm became the first ingenious
firm from the North Eastern state to Consult for World bank.

3. It is worthy of note here that Mr Usman has kept faith with his
dreams because, on commencement of his practice, he has nurtured a
number of indigenes of Taraba State who are now Chartered
Accountants. A good example is the current Chairman of Jalingo and
District Society of the Institute of chartered accountants of Nigeria
(ICAN) and the only female chartered accountant from Taraba state,
she held from Ardo Kola Local government. I must state that though
from far away Oyo State, I am a beneficiary of his vision. He picked me
up as a Diploma holder, but today, I am a Chartered Accountant and I
have excel in my chose carer as the Registrar and CEO of Taraba
Business School, one of the leading Business School in Nigeria. Before
me, he nurtured one indigene of Osun State who joined him with a
secondary School certificate and qualified as a chartered accountant
five years later. He runs a practice that has consulted up-to World Bank
level, thus living out his vision that even people from Taraba State can
stand out anywhere.

4. In furtherance of his belief that good things can come out of the
North, nay Taraba State, Mr Usman in the year 2000 saw the pathetic
state of education in Taraba State and resolved to contribute his quota
to the improvement of that sector in the State. His vision was to set up
a school that would be capable of competing with schools in any other
part of the country, and yet affordable for the middle class. He used
the funds he generated from his consultancy services under the World
Bank-assisted National Water Rehabilitation Project to establish Grace
Junior Academy Nursery Primary School in Jalingo. This school which has
since stood out to be the best in Taraba State in so many facets placed
the State in third position in the 2008 NTA/ETV National Science and
Technology Expo in the primary school category. The secondary school
arm of the school Rhema Christian Academy which turned out their first
graduates in 2012 produced the best result in Taraba State with their
candidate making eight ( distinctions and a credit. In 2010, the
junior secondary school arm of the school again placed Taraba State on
the third position of the NTA/ETV National Science and Technology
Expo. dome years ago, a Primary 6 pupil of the school, Master Auwal
Haruna competed in the National Mathematics competition of the
TURKISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL and won their scholarship under the
Silver Category. Today product of the school have become Medical
Doctors, Accountants, and other respected displine With this, I see him
as a man of VISION worth celebrating.

5. Another thing worth celebrating in the life of Mr Usman is his quiet
humanitarian service to children in the schools who are orphaned while
schooling there for various levels of sponsorships and scholarship, and
the admission of two children identified within the community each
academic year who are assessed to be the poorest of the poor for 100%
scholarship from primary school up to graduation in his secondary
school. Over 300 children have so far benefitted from this programme
by philanthropy organization, Grace Usi Care Trust For Needy Children,
over 50 of whom are still benefiting from the programme from the
school in. The scheme has four level of beneficiaries, Silver Gold and
Diamond. The fact that he has been doing all these without any political
motives gives me the reason to see him as an achiever worth
celebrating.
6. A visit to Mr Usman's humble community of Kpanten in Donga Local
Government Area gives you a vivid picture of one given to the pursuit of
better life for the poor. His passion for community development is
clearly visible as you are greeted on arrival there with the Garri
processing company and the fish farm which he believes are potential
sources of economic empowerment in the community. What baffles me
most in this is the fact that in spite of the frustrations he is
experiencing as a result of the community's inability to key into his
vision for them, he remains positive that they would soon get to
appreciate the importance of what he is doing for them. I see in this
man SELFLESSNESS in its practical sense!
HIS PUBLIC LIFE
1. AS ECONOMIC ADVISER TO THE GOVERNOR OF TARABA STATE IN
2003
As Economic Adviser to the Governor of Taraba State, Mr Usman is
credited with the honour of developing for Taraba State, a Cassava
Programme that led to the eventual establishment of many large-scale
cassava farms in Taraba State and a Cassava Flour Mill in Jalingo in
collaboration with a Dutch company. The company produces and sells
cassava flour to a number of food processing companies in Nigeria
today.
2. AS COMMISSIONER OF FINANCE, TARABA STATE
Mr Usman's appointment as Finance Commissioner in 2007 saw an
unprecedented introduction of sanity into the whole system. Of note
here is the risk he took in ensuring that payroll fraud was brought to
the barest minimum. The unbelievable reduction of the State's salary
bill by about N227 Million PER MONTH during his service in that Ministry
is what stands out for him up-to date.
3. AS CHAIRMAN, FORUM OF COMMISSIONERS OF FINANCE OF
NIGERIA
As Chairman, Forum of Commissioners of Finance of Nigeria, Mr Usman
established a Permanent Secretariat in the Federal Ministry of Finance
and developed a robust interaction between the States and the Federal
Government, a system which the States are thriving on up-to date.
4. AS COMMISSIONER OF WATER RESOURCES AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT
In June 2011 Mr Usman was appointed Commissioner of Water Resources
and Rural Development. The Governor then gave him a mandate for the
actualisation of the AfDB Jalingo Urban Water Project, a project which
had remained elusive as a result of the State's inability to meet the
requirements of the Bank in the past. This project was launched by the
Governor himself on 24th October, 2012, just before the unfortunate
plane crash the following day. Only few people know that the water
revolution now experience in Taraba State was actually initiated by
Rebo. This goes to show why under three Governors, Mr Usman has
served Taraba State for Fourteen (14) Years continuously.
6. As Chief of Staff, Rebo designed and implement the Rescue Watch
initiative that see Special advisers visit grassroot and report directly to
the Governor. This initiative has been adjudge as one of the best
approach to governance, an initiative that has train over 1,000 women
and youths in various Trade, skills and vocation at a minimal cost as
attest by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Taraba state, Arc
Darius Dickson Ishaku.
Rebo is an hero like no one. Mr Rebo retired as Chief of staff
government house and retire from politics.
Look at how Kefas Sule put it "Rebo Ehwan Usman is not your usual
upfront politician. He is more of a strategist whose knack for details
and nuances sometimes broaches the fine line considerations in the
political internet of things. He is smart and can be fiercely loyal in a
way that only a few understand . But in the very murky ocean of
politics, when only a few swim with your ideas it becomes a burden that
can breakdown the flow of the movement that happens in your mind and
needs more numbers to generate the ripples.
Sir, I heard you resigned as Chief of Staff, I have no issues with that.
But I also hear a thing about you resigning from politics. I know that
cannot be true, because you cannot resign from being yourself. Except
if it is to keep the hounds off the track and show up when they least
expect.
Interesting developments are happening in the political landscape of
Taraba State. Some of us are watching, working and hoping for the
best. There will be more vibrations, tremors and upsurges in the days
ahead, as the GRAND MASTER HIMSELF, the MOST HIGH GOD executes
His will for our beloved State.
Congratulations and happy political hibernation period for the steel-
willed Rebo Ehwan Usman"
The unfortunately thing is that we hardly since the song of our heroes.
Let me join Kefas Sule and other well meaning Nigerian to say
Congratulations and happy political hibernation period for the steel-
willed Rebo Ehwan Usman"