TheCable

BY ADNAN MUKHTAR TUDUNWADA

“From Allah we are and unto Him shall we return”, it was exactly 25th April 1993 at about 4pm that you left us in this world, today marks 25 years of your departure, I am always with you in my thought and in my prayer; I wish you were here with me.

I am writing this tribute on this medium for the sixth time, not for any reason but for your “prayers”, yes prayer! It is the best gift to the dead. My hope and prayer is for this kind of tribute by my son or daughter in my honour after I demise.

I am in lost of words to describe you father, you are everything to me, had it been you are alive, you could have been My counsellor, teacher, cheerleader, caretaker, best friend and my most ardent supporter, life without you has been challenging.

I was told of how generous, kind, loving, caring, religious, brave, strong, thoughtful, hopeful and selfless you are.

Daddy, I was told by Mommy about your religious attitude and incorruptible mind, she cited many places where you denied to take bribe as a Magistrate; you bought three copies of the Noble Qur’an for your three children to read not knowing that you were about to leave this world.

Alhamdulillah that there are always in use, I always read that copy of the Qur’an so that Allah SWT will reward you for the good deed.

Before the death of your mother Hajiya Hauwa, she told us about you in tears, “you were a good and obedient son she was always proud of, she will later pray for the repose of your soul”.

When I go through your certificates, I feel proud and honored for having you as my father, the legacies you left gave me courage and inspirations in life.

You left a good track record that I am always following as the saying goes “Kyan Da Yagaji Ubansa” Yes Baba, I will be following your footsteps in sha Allah.

Last year, while I was holding a picture that you snapped at the popular Yubena photos of Dendeli Quarters in fagge, I came across my maternal Uncle Umar Usman Tudunwada, after I greet him, he introduced me to some of your friends whom were Alhaji Mukhtari Yau kura and Alhajina Judge, that time nothing came out of their mouth other than your kindness and intelligence.

According to them; “you were a man with qualities of patience, you hardly fight, you always came first during the terminal examinations at the prestigious Tudunwada Special Primary school”.

They pray for the repose of your soul, Mukhtari was indeed a gentleman that helped the weaker ones, your death was one of the shocking one in the history of Tudunwada community; you died at a time the community, your family and associates need you must, at your 30’s; the future in you was very brighter, the community was hopeful that their son is growing bigger and becoming influential but it is the will of Allah; He wants it that way, we love you but Allah the Beneficent and the Merciful love you must.

Mukhtari Adamu, My Lawyer Father, My Comrade, My Friend, My Mentor and role model would be remembered as always for his good works, accomodative posture of parents, elder guests and neighbours alike amongst other individual virtues synonymous to him.

When you passed on, some good people came to our aid, i cannot forget the magnanimity of Former Kano State Chief Judge Hon. Justice Shehu Atiku, Alhaji Rabiu Garba, Engr Hussaini El-Yakub, Alhaji Suleiman Yahaya, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Umar and Dr Kalli Algazali.

Father, your immediate descendants are the beginning of your progeny. The children you left behind are in their primes.

Ameer that was named after you and Sayyada Fatima your grandchildren are growing up and are doing very well, we are praying to Allah to guide and lead them to an ultimate triumph.

You have gone but will never ever be forgotten, to friends, he was the life and soul of the party and a true friend to them, and them to him, a friend for life.

Baba, you cannot believe how very proud I feel to call you my Dad, I love you, you will forever be in my heart, always in our hearts, you are a Father Like No Other.

It is my prayer to Allah to forgive your shortcomings and multiply your good deeds while your grave and that of the Ummah be lightened up with the endless life of Jannatul Firdaus.

Life and times of Mukhtari Professor (1958-1993)

M A Abubakar popularly known as Tanko Barrister, Tanko Comrade or Professor by friends and associates was born and brought up in Tudunwada Quarters of Nassarawa local government on the 21st of August 1958 to the family of Malam Adamu and Hajiya Hauwa.

A hardworking and intelligent gentleman started his distinguished legal career as a legal officer with the Kano state Ministry of Justice in 1982. He was between 1983 and 1987 a state counsel in Kwara and Kano states.

He was appointed senior magistrate grade II in the Kano state judiciary in November 1988. He was at different times a senior magistrate grade I and chief magistrate grade II all in the Kano state judiciary.

An articulate advocate of social justice, the former student leader attended Tudunwada Special Primary School between 1965-1971, Lautai Government Secondary School Gumel where he exhibited qualities of good conduct and held the position of House Captain between 1971-1976, CAS Zaria and the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained a Bachelors of Law degree in 1982.

He was called to the Bar at the Nigerian Law School Lagos in 1983, he holds the certificates of legal drafting, and advanced practice and procedure, both of the Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies.

The social justice advocate was a member of many professional and social organisations including the Commonwealth Association of Nigeria and was the national publicity secretary of the Magistrate Association of Nigeria.

He was also the national secretary of his alma mater, Lautai Government Secondary School Gumel.

He served as secretary general Student Union Government of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria between 1979/1980, also as speaker of the Students Representative Council of the university in the 18th Kongo Republic Parliament as stated in his certificates of honour signed by the president of the union Comrade Hassan B Salisu, the parliamentary secretary of the SRC Ignatius I Chive, director Institute of Administration and patron of the union, Professor A.Y Aliyu and Dr Ango Abdullahi, then vice-chancellor of the university and patron of the union.

He was a honorary member of the World Federation of Mental Health, an associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, he was nominated as attorney general and commissioner for justice by then governor of Kano state Arc. Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya. Before his death, he was serving with the Nigerian Hotels Limited as company/secretary legal adviser.

He died as a result of a ghastly motor accident on his way from Bauchi to Kano along with his friend Malam Yusuf Muhammad Karachi Tudunwada; the accident which claimed the lives of 10 was a terrible one. He was survived by his aged Mother Late Hajiya Hauwa Adamu, Wife Hajiya Amina Usman Tudunwada and three children.

May the gentle soul of Mukhtari Professor, that of his Friend Alhaji Yusuf Karachi Tudunwada and all the departed rest in jannatil firdaus.

Adnan Mukhtar Tudunwada is a public affairs commentator and journalist with Daily Nigerian and News Digest. He pens this tribute from Wailo, Bauchi to commemorate the 25th year anniversary of the death of his father Barr. Mukhtar Adamu Abubakar.