Last wish: Take care of poor, elderly and youth

RIYADH — The Interior Ministry’s Under Secretary for Regional Affairs, Ahmad Al-Senani, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the late Crown Prince Naif would become extremely angry whenever he heard that a citizen or an expatriate had come to the Interior Ministry and was not served.

Al-Senani said the prince’s last wishes were for the poor, elderly and youth to be taken care of.

“Prince Naif was a person with multiple skills and abilities. He was both extremely strict and lenient; he was the loving father who cared for citizens and at the same time a very tough person who dealt with terrorists and outlaws with an iron fist. In general, he was the last line of defense.

May Allah grant him paradise,” said Al-Senani who has served in the Interior Ministry for more than 10 years.

Al-Senani added that throughout the 10 years he worked under Prince Naif, he had carried out countless directives issued by the prince regarding citizens’ affairs.

“He used to write the word ‘urgent’ and ‘approved’ on citizens’ and residents’ paperwork so everything is completed and never returned to him again. Citizens’ affairs was on top of his agenda, whether it was providing assistance in a personal matter or medical help to citizens and residents alike, he always wanted the matter resolved as soon as possible.”

Al-Senani said the late prince, in his meetings with regional emirs, always instructed the emirs to put the need of citizens and residents on top of their priorities. He ordered them to serve the people, whether they are in cities or in rural areas and to always keep their doors open.

“Prince Naif always had good intentions toward people. He was very sharp and he knew what a person was like upon first glance. He hated bureaucracy. If he noticed someone returning to him with the same paperwork more than once, he would get angry with the officials and ask them why the paperwork had been delayed,” Al-Senani said.

As for regional development, Al-Senani said the prince was the first one to establish the concept of universal security adding, “For Prince Naif, universal security meant development and security coexisting side by side. There is no development without security and no security without development. Security needs to be enforced in order to have development.”

Al-Senani said that the late prince was constantly working, even when he was out of the country. “He issued a directive when he was in Geneva to appoint official spokesmen for the Kingdom’s regions.” — Okaz/SG