By Pius Ogundimu
It is the eyes of a child that fears a painted devil, so goes a popular saw, but when the painted devil is a ravishing female sitting atop Nigerian Ports Authority, she becomes an enigma of sort. If by virtue of her sass and unrivalled wiles, she wins the heart of Mr Minister, she succeeds getting him to wag his tail in utter submission to her craziest whim.
If she is devious enough, she exploits her position to amass great fortune for herself, often at the nation’s expense.
With unparalleled dexterity and finesse, she wields power like a utility weapon; sometimes like a hideous cloak, often like a deadly dagger. She adds inordinate vile to her already chilling nature and thus becomes terror to the most valiant of men.
She is Hadiza Bala Usman, the former NPA head honcho, and she could ruin a man with an imperceptible smile. Yes, Hadiza is as scary as that. And men and women who had been on the receiving end of her Machiavellian and ruthless plots have only gory stories to share.
The several victims of Hadiza are however, ecstatic over her suspension. That puts paid to her reign of terror; prior to her dire straits, Hadiza had mindlessly bullied and treated with disdain anyone who dared cross her path.
However, not all of Hadiza’s victims can confidently say that they have survived her cutthroat plots against them
There is no gainsaying Usman is manically haughty and high-handed. Many of her staff claim that she is a control freak who brooks no confrontation from anyone no matter how highly placed the fellow is; once you cross her path or incite her wrath, you are get in serious trouble and she always supported by the power that be.
