Prince Ajibola Adedoyin is the National President of Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON). He spoke with SEGUN KASALI about his life.

How was growing up in Katsina?

There was no big deal. I had the opportunity to learn how to speak their language. I went to Government College, Katsina. I used to playing football and tennis. It was fun-filled and relatively peaceful. I happened to be one of the favourites of my dad.

Really?

Yes. The favourite I am talking about is that of responsibility, not that of love and all that. In terms of responsibility, those born after were under my tutelage. My dad made sure I was responsible for the keys to the house, ensuring the kids go to school and all that. So, it was me they would call if anything happens. If they want anything, it was me they would come to meet. It got to a stage I was asking why I was the only one being given such enormous responsibility. But, I realised that the responsibility built me.

How?

In the sense that I became objective in my decision-making. I do not take sides in any situation but say things the way it should be. For instance, if they indulge in a fight now, I don’t want to care if you are from my mother’s side, I will beat you if you are the one at fault. It was a polygamous family. I remember I was the only one my dad gave opportunity to beat my younger ones in the house for any wrongdoing. Despite this, he still scolded me to a fault and to the extent that I felt like why was I the only one he always asked to do this or that. But, I later found out that it was for my own good.

What traits did you take from him?

I think boldness. He is also a calm person. I think he loves his family to a fault. He is the best disciplinarian I can ever think of. He can discipline you at any time because he loves you. He was the only one that could talk to me to stop and make me stop.

What were the challenges you encountered growing up?

Normal challenges like trying to get what to do and how to be successful. As a man, you have to take decisions that would help you become somebody in life. I studied civil engineering at the university. I was doing this before I started dealing in cars as well.

There must be unforgettable experiences…

I remember I was almost killed on my site in Maiduguri by Boko Haram. They killed one of my staff and even tried to kill my site engineer; they thought he was dead because they had stabbed him all around his body. I had taken the last flight from Abuja to Maiduguri because I was handling Department of State Services (DSS) residential building over there. This situation happened in 2009. When I arrived, I was taken to a guest house opposite the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID). When I arrived, I found out there was no network to call my wife that I had arrived. And later that night, Boko Haram struck. The director of DSS told me that it was that same night they got directive from the Villa to dismantle the terrorists. They called for a security meeting on Sunday and they finished around 7 p.m., not knowing one of them went to tell the Boko Haram leader that DSS team was coming to strike at 4:30 am. That was the plan.

What happened thereafter?

So, Boko Haram struck at 12 am while DSS was preparing to hit them at 4:30 am. They went to the base station to knock them off. That night, Boko Haram went to the stations and shoot sporadically, but they were not able to reach UNIMAID where I was because it was at the end of the town.

I just woke up and saw that the street was very quiet. So, I asked people and they narrated what happened. That was how I was stuck. Meanwhile, they attacked the DSS office that same night. When President Umaru Yar’Adua heard, he had to give an order to the Chief of Army Staff to dismantle the place within 48 hours. So, they had to fly all these machines from Plateau State and that was how army came into the matter. It was army that arrested the Boko Haram leader and handed him over to the police.

How did you manage to leave the area?

I had to leave where I was to go for the DSS office. One of the DSS guys came to my rescue because he was just uncomfortable knowing that people were running up and down. In fact, the hotel owner asked everyone to leave because he could not guarantee the safety of himself not to talk of his customers. So, the DSS official came to pick me up with a bike. Mind you, Maiduguri was already divided into two—one area was controlled by Boko Haram and the other by security agencies. In fact, Boko Haram must not see you with a Nigerian emblem because the next thing is death if they do. I never knew I had the emblem on my T-shirt, but God saved me all through till we got to the DSS office. The Boko Haram guys also did not notice the emblem on my shirt, having met some of them on our way. So, that was how I was able to escape.

How did you meet your wife?

I have known her for long but it was purely friendship. One day, I called her and said I hope she is still available. That was how we started; you see, beauty is for relationship but character is for marriage. So, don’t be focused on beauty but character because it is the sustenance of marriage. Someone that would respect you for who you are.

What would you love to be remembered for?

I would love to be remembered for good things. Again, I love fairness. If I am in a position to be good, I would try my best.

How did AMDON come to be?

This is an interesting question. It was not AMDON before. It was MODAN (Motor Dealers Association of Nigeria). But, there was a mistake along the line which now gave birth to AMDON. I initiated the AMDON. Even at MODAN, they were not registered and that was in 2001. That was when I veered into car business. (Sunday Tribune)