Like a human giraffe, sniffing down his nostril at mortals beneath his gaze, Kashim Bukar Shettima, affected the poise of a beautiful bride when he was making huge money. He paraded himself as the nearest thing beyond a tin-god so much so that friends, political and business associates worshipped the ground upon which he walked; albeit reluctantly.
Eventually, like all man-made deities, he stopped resembling a ‘god’ or something like one; he began to lose worth like the last fading smile of a cosmic Cheshire cat. Curiously, like a fading rose, Kashim Bukar Shettima quietly disappears from the social space even as you read. The owner of Sky Jet and the Barbedos Group of Companies, one of the largest business concerns in Nigeria has suddenly gone underground. Before he went underground, Kashim dominated the social scene and corporate business sector. His enterprise, Barbedos Group, flaunted a sound reputation and solid work ethics that is epitomized by the owner.
Known as a relatively soft-spoken and straight-talking man, it’s surprising to learn that Kashim emerged from very humble beginnings. But he attained success and eminence by dint of hard work. Subsequently, he nurtured many protégés and big players in the Nigerian social and business scenes. Some of them are still loyal to him while others have dumped him like a bad habit. The latter are the reason Kashim currently beats a retreat from the social arena; he is angry that people he helped to the top of the entrepreneurial ladder do not give a hoot about him. He tried to bounce back in the last government but all he could muster was a futile and feeble attempt.
