By Idris Mohammed
“Wheresoever’ you may be, death will overtake you Even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high ‘Quran 4:78
Today is exactly one year since you left this sinful world. Daddy your memory is still fresh in my mind. We have taken solace with the fact that, you have left an indelible footprint of honesty, generous and uprightness for us to emulate.
But we cannot change what we don’t have control over, death is the reality from which none can escape. It draws nearer every day, every minute, and every second. It was exactly around 2:30 pm on 11th December 2017, I received the sudden and sad news of the death of my hero, beloved father and the pillar of the family.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this tribute to my beloved father who personally declared us as his friends. “Babanmu” as I usually call him is an amiable man of God whose love for worshiping Allah always reflected in all his deed, he always reads Qur’an and preaches to us be good ambassadors where ever we find ourselves.
He was among the first settlers in the area he lived; his love for his community is easy reflected in how he took a personal interest in knowing the names of the siblings of those he relates with.
He was a man that wasn’t opportune to have more western education but had a great passion for his children, especially the way he devoted his life towards raising us with sound and qualitative education.
He was very caring, loving and accommodating father that taught his family how to relate and respect one another. I can remember, there was a time that he called me and advised me to make friends that will only add value to my life.
In a nutshell, he was a very kind and loving person. One can hardly see him angry when sometimes you offend him and after that, you seek forgiveness, he easily forgives and forgets.
His apt and up to date knowledge on National and International issues especially politics always amazes me, he was cosmopolitan and traveled a lot within Nigeria and some neighboring countries, there was no part of Nigeria that you may mention that is unknown to him.
There was a time he trekked from Sokoto to Lagos state with the purpose of transacting his business of buying and selling of cattle and kola nut. Due to his exposure, he could have been able to live in different parts of Nigeria because he had great knowledge of other tribes.
The man was a historian; this made some of my friends very closed to him because they enjoyed learning a lot from his faculty of knowledge and experience especially on the issues of World War II, the traditional system of government and colonial administration in Nigeria. Though we missed his fatherly guidance, his ideal honesty, hard work, and humility in service will remain fortitude to us.
As we bid him farewell today till we meet again in Jannatul Firdausi, my joy rest in the knowledge that he came, fought a good fight and has gone to join his creator waiting for when the rest of us will meet him again.
May the almighty Allah comfort the family he has left and also the entire Muslim Ummah. We all miss him.
Adieu my beloved father (Alhaji Mohammed).
Idris Mohammed, a Public commentator can be reached on idrismpyar@gmail.com
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