Mohammed Babangida’s amazing new year gift; Rewards Cook of Seven Past Nigerian Presidents, Heads Of State

Son of former military head of state, Mohammed Ibrahim Babangida, has rewarded a Nigerian cook, who served seven Nigerian leaders as chief cook, but still lives in penury.

Ugbaha Mohammed aka Dogo served three civilian presidents and four military heads of state beginning from the late president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

A national newspaper had reported that 73-year-old Dogo was squatting with a good Samaritan in an Abuja suburb after a house built for him by IBB’s Aide-de-camp (ADC), Nuhu Bamalli, was burnt down following an unrest in his community.

He reportedly returned to Abuja without a place to lay his head only to be accommodated by a-36-year-old lady, Faith Okolo who came to his rescue, when everyone left him in the cold.

He was said to be living in a thatched room Okolo provided for him at an Abuja suburb, Gbagalape, a remote community in Nyanya, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

After the newspaper report, Mohammed Babangida, whose father Dogo also served, immediately sent one of his aides, Barrister Kamar Alimi to the suburb with an undisclosed amount of money so that he could start a new life and settle down.

However, as part of his efforts at providing succour to some Nigerians in the New Year, Mohammed Babangida, gave Dogo some money to rent a suitable apartment and also set up a business.

“We’ve given him money for accommodation and for hiring a shop, ” one of Mohammed Babangida’s aides, Alimi said.

Alimi said that after reading the report of the newspaper last year, Mohammed immediately asked him to give Dogo some money and to also find out about the old man’s immediate needs, which he did.

Confirming the donation, Dogo thanked Mohammed Babangida for coming to his aid.

He said that amongst all the families that he served in Nigeria, it was only IBB’s family that assisted him in his time of need.

“I am very grateful to Mohammed Babangida because he saved me from continued thinking and worrying,” Dogo said.

“I no longer think as I used to do because of this donation.

“Among the prominent families we served in this country, it was only IBB’s family that came to my rescue.

“My entire family and I are grateful to Mohammed Babangida. In fact; the donation is beyond the quotation I gave him,” Dogo added.

Dogo reportedly served the late second republic president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, head of the Interim National Government (ING); Chief Ernest Shonekan, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Dogo started life as a soldier during the Nigerian civil war before fate turned him to a presidential cook.